Greatest Players in USC Football History: The All-Time All-Trojans Team

Seven Heisman Trophy winners, 27 Hall of Fame players, countless All-America selections...

This the list of the all-time greatest USC Trojans football players in history, listed by position/unit. It's strictly based on College Football accomplishments, with no consideration given to the Pros whatsoever.

It's tough to compare players spanning over various different eras... the game changes, positions change, body-types change. It's also tough to weigh cumulative career accomplishments vs single season accomplishments. With those things in mind... taking into considerationg players' Honors and Awards, All-America selections, and contribution to their teams...

This is The All-Time All-USC Team, a 5-deep roster including the Head Coach position, 11 on Offense, 11 on Defense, and 5 on Special Teams.

Tell me what you think... add your suggestions, help improve the list.

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*Keys and notes are listed at the end.

Coach - John McKay

John McKay, Coach, 1960-1975

College Football Hall of Famer; Coach (1988)

1974 National Championship

1972 National Championship
1972 Football Writers COY
1972 Football Coaches COY

1967 National Championship

1962 National Championship
1962 Football Writers COY
1962 Football Coaches COY

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2nd - Howard Jones, 1925-1940 (4 National Championships)

3rd - Pete Carroll, 2001-2009 (2 National Championships)

4th - Elmer Henderson, 1919-1924

5th - John Robinson, 1976-1982, 1993-1997 (1 National Championship)

QB - Matt Leinart

Matt Leinart, QB, #11

2005 Unitas Award winner
2005 Walter Camp Award winner
2005 All-America
2005 All-Conf

2004 Heisman Trophy winner
2004 Walter Camp Award winner
2004 Consensus All-America
2004 Conf co-Off-POY
2004 All-Conf

2003 All-America *non-NCAA*
2003 Conf Off-POY
2003 All-Conf
2003 Team MVP

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*note: Backups are listed along with their single highest honor/recognition*

2nd - Carson Palmer (2001 Heisman)

3rd - Rodney Pete (1988 Unitas)

4rd - Morley Drury (1927 CAA), CFB Hall of Famer

5th - Gaius Shaver (1931 CAA), *would-be 1931 Heisman winner, as per ESPN's retro-Heisman selection

RB - Marcus Allen

Marcus Allen, RB, #33,

College Football Hall of Famer (2000)

1981 Heisman Trophy winner
1981 Unanimous All-America
1981 Walter Camp Award winner
1981 Maxwell Award winner
1981 Warner Award
1981 Conf POY
1981 All-Conf
1981 Team MVP

1980 All-Conf

note: Allen set the NCAA season record for Rushing yards/game (212.9) in 1981, and currently ranks 2nd all-time (Barry Sanders, 238.9 yds/g; 1988).

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2nd - Charles White (1979 Heisman), CFB Hall of Famer

3rd - Mike Garrett (1965 Heisman), CFB Hall of Famer

4th - Mort Kaer (1926 CAA), CFB Hall of Famer

5th - LenDale White (2005 Rivals 2nd Team AA), Touchdown Scoring leader

RB - OJ Simpson

OJ Simpson, RB, #32 -- nicknamed "Juice"

College Football Hall of Famer (1983)

1968 Heisman Trophy winner
1968 Unanimous All-America
1968 Maxwell Award winner
1968 Walter Camp Award winner
1968 Voit Award winner
1968 Warner Trophy winner
1968 All-Conf
1968 Team MVP

1967 Unanimous All-America
1967 *Runner-up*, Heisman Trophy
1967 Walter Camp Award winner
1967 All-Conf
1967 Team MVP

note: Simpson is named on Walter Camp's All-Century team (1999).

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2nd - Reggie Bush (2005 Heisman)

3rd - Ricky Bell (1976 UAA), CFB Hall of Famer

4th - Anthony Davis (1974 UAA), CFB Hall of Famer

5th - Jon Arnett (1955 AA), CFB Hall of Famer

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Fullback - Sam Cunningham
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Sam Cunningham, FB, #39 -- nicknamed "Sam Bam"

1972 All-America

note: Cunningham is credited with showing Alabama "what a football player looks like" (college football lore).

WR - Keyshawn Johnson... (1a) Mike Williams... (1b) Lynn Swann

Keyshawn Johnson, WR, #3

1995 Unanimous All-American
1995 Warner Award winner
1995 Conf Off-POY
1995 All-Conf
1995 Team MVP

1994 All-Conf

note: Johnson ranks 10th in the country, all-time, in career receving yards/game (3rd among players from BCS teams).

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Mike Williams, WR, #1

2003 Consensus All-America
2003 All-Conf

note: Williams scored 30 receiving TDs in only two seasons (as a true Freshman & Sophomore).

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Lynn Swann, WR, #22

College Football Hall of Famer (1993)

1979 Consensus All-America
1972 Warner Award winner
1973 All-Conf
1973 Team MVP

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4th - R Jay Soward (1998 2nd Team All-Conf)

5th - Erik Affholter (1988 AA)

WR - Hal Bedsole... (1a) Dwayne Jarrett

Hal Bedsole, WR/E, #19 - nicknamed "Prince Hal"

1962 Consensus All-America
1962 All-Conf

1961 All-Conf

note: Bedsole holds the USC career record for yards per reception (20.9), and may also hold the season record (25.1; 1962). He held USC's season receiving-TDs record for over 30 years (only 3 players have eclipsed it since).

Bedsole's production (stats) in terms of contribution to his team (percentage), is arguably unmatched by any USC WR. He accounted for over 25% of the team's scoring in a two year span (1961-62). Other WRs may have more yards, more TDs, more honors & awards, more fanfare (Johnnie Morton, Mike Williams, Dwayane Jarrett, Lynn Swann), but what Bedsole did as a receiver at USC in that era was remarkable.

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Dwayne Jarrett, WR, # 8

2006 Consensus All-America
2006 All-Conf

2005 Unanimous All-America
2005 All-Conf

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3rd - Johnnie Morton (1993 UAA)

4th - Steve Smith (2006 AA)

5th - Randy Simmrin (1977 Team Receiving leader)

TE - Charles Young

Charles Young, TE, #89 -- nicknamed "Tree"

College Football Hall of Famer (2004)

1972 Unanimous All-America
1972 All-Conf

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2nd - Fred Davis (2007 MacKey)

3rd - Garrett Arbelbide (1930 AA)

4th - Ralph Heywood (1943 CAA)

5th - Scott Galbaith (1989 All-Conf)

C - Ryan Kalil... (1a) Tony Slaton

Ryan Kalil, C, #67

2006 All-America *non-NCAA*
2006 Morris Trophy winner
2006 All-Conf

2005 All-Conf

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Tony Slaton, C, #73

1983 Consensus All-America
1983 All-Conf

1982 All-Conf

1981 All-Conf

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3rd - Stan Williamson (1931 AA)

4th - Dave Brown (1972 All-Conf)

5th - Norm Katnik (2003 All-Conf)

OT - Ron Yary

Ron Yary, OT, #77

College Football Hall of Famer (1987)

1967 Outland Trophy winner
1967 Unanimous All-America
1967 All-Conf

1966 Concensus All-America
1966 All-Conf

1965 All-Conf (DT)

note: Yary is named on Walter Camp's All-Century team (1999).

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2nd - Sam Baker (2006 CAA)

3rd - Anthony Munoz (1978 All-Conf)

4th - John Ferraro (1944 CAA), CFB Hall of Famer

5th - Don Mosebar (1982 UAA)

OT - Tony Boselli

Tony Boselli, OT, #71

1994 Consensus All-America
1994 All-Conf
1994 Morris Trophy winner
1994 Team MVP

1992 All-America
1992 All-Conf

1991 All-Conf

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2nd - Marvin Powell (76 AA), CFB Hall of Famer

3rd - Jacob Rogers (2003 CAA)

4th - Keith Van Horne (1980 CAA)

5th - Booker Brown (1973 CAA)

OG - Brad Budde

Brad Budde, OG, #71

College Football Hall of Fame (1998)

1979 Lombardi Award winner
1979 Unanimous All-America
1979 *Runner-up*, Outland Trophy
1979 All-Conf

1978 All-Conf

1977 All-Conf

note: Budde is named on Walter Camp's All-Century team (1999).

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2nd - Bruce Matthews (1982 CAA)

3rd - Taitusi Latui (2005 CAA)

4th - Johnny Baker (1931 CAA), CFB Hall of Famer

5th - Chilo Rachel (2007 All-Conf)

OG - Roy Foster

Roy Foster, OG, #64

1981 Consensus All-America
1981 Morris Trophy winner
1981 All-Conf

1980 All-America
1980 Morris Trophy Winner
1980 All-Conf

1979 All-Conf

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2nd - Pat Howell (1978 UAA)

3rd - Jeff Bregel (1986 CAA)

4th - Travis Claridge (1999 Morris)

5th - Mark Tucker (1989 AA')

DE - Kenechi Udeze

Kenechi Udeze, DE, #94 -- nicknamed "BKU"

2003 Consensus All-America
2003 All-Conf

note: Udeze shares the NCAA career record for Forced Fumbles. He lead the country in Sacks in 2003 (16.5; tied). In two years he had 42 Tackles-for-Loss... 51 TFLs overall in his 3-year career.

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2nd - Charles Weaver (1970 CAA)

3rd - Willie McGinest (1993 AA)

4th - John Grant (1972 AA)

5th - Paul Cleary (1947 CAA), CFB Hall of Famer

DE - Jimmy Gunn

Jimmy Gunn, DE, #83

1969 Consensus All-America
1969 All-Conf

1968 All-Conf

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2nd - Tim Rossovich (1967 CAA)

3rd - Lawrence Jackson (2007 All-Conf)

4th - Marlin McKeever (1959 AA)

5th - Bob Hooks (1952 All-Conf)

DT - Tim Ryan... (1a) Ernie Smith

Tim Ryan, DT, #99

1989 Consensus All-America
1989 *Runner-up*, Lombardi Award
1989 Warner Award winner
1989 All-Conf

1988 All-America
1988 All-Conf

note: Ryan had 55 Tackles-for-Loss, 19 passes-defended, 389 total Tackles for his career. In 1989 alone he had 20 sacks.

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Ernie Smith, T, #48

College Football Hall of Famer (1970)

1932 Unanimous All-America
1932 All-Conf

1931 All-Conf

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3rd - Harry Smith (1939 UAA), CFB Hall of Famer

4th - Shaun Cody (2004 CAA)

5th - Gary Jeter (1976 CAA)

NT - Sedrick Ellis... (1a) Mike Patterson

Sedrick Ellis, NT, #49

2007 Unanimous All-America
2007 Conf Def-POY
2007 Morris Trophy winner
2007 All-Conf
2007 Team MVP

2006 All-America *non-NCAA*
2006 Morris Trophy winner
2006 All-Conf

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Mike Patterson, NT, #99

2004 All-America
2004 All-Conf

2003 All-Conf

note: Patterson had 41 Tackles-for-Loss in his 3 years as a starter.

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3rd - Aaron Rosenberg (1933 CAA), CFN Hall of Famer

4th - George Achica (1982 CAA)

5th - Jesse Hibbs (1927 CAA)

LB - Junior Seau... (1a) Jack Del Rio

Junior Seau, LB, #55 -- given name, "Tiaina"

1989 All-America *non-NCAA*
1989 Conf Def-POY
1989 All-Conf
1989 Team MVP

note: Seau had 27 Tackles-for-Loss in 1989.

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Jack Del Rio, LB, #52

1984 Consensus All-America
1984 *Runnerup, Lombardi Award*
1984 Warner Award winner

1983 All-Conf

1982 All-Conf

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3rd - Lofa Tatupu (2004 AA')

4th - Matt Grootegoed (2004 CAA)

5th - Marcus Cotton (1986 All-Conf)

LB - Richard Wood

Richard Wood, LB, #83 -- nicknamed "Batman"

College Football Hall of Famer (2007)

1974 Consensus All-America
1974 All-Conf

1973 Consensus All-America
1973 All-Conf

1972 All-America
1972 All-Conf

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2nd - Duane Bickett (1984 AA)

3rd - Adrian Young (1967 CAA)

4th - Scott Ross (1990 AA)

5th - Willie Hall (1971 AA')

LB - Chris Claiborne

Chris Claiborne, LB, #55

1998 Butkus Award winner
1998 Unanimous All-America
1998 Conf Def-POY
1998 All-Conf
1998 Team MVP

1997 All-Conf

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2nd (tie) - Rey Maualuga (2008 UAA, Bednarik)

2nd (tie) - Damon Bame (1963 AA)

4th - Chip Banks (1981 AA)

5th - Dennis Johnson (1979 AA)

CB - Daylon McCutcheon

Daylon McCutcheon, CB, #1

1998 All-Conf

1996 All-Conf

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2nd - Danny Reece (1975 All-Conf)

3rd - Chris Hale (1988 leader in Passes defended)

4th - Will Poole (2003 All-Conf)

5th - Jason Seahorn (1993 All-Conf)

CB - Joey Browner

Joey Browner, CB, #47

1982 All-Conf
1982 Team MVP

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2nd - Nate Shaw (1966 CAA)

3rd - Mike Battle (1968 AA)

4th - Bob Robertson (1941 All-Conf)

5th - Jim Psaltis (1952 All-Conf)

S - Ronnie Lott

Ronnie Lott, S, #42

College Football Hall of Famer (2002)

1980 Unanimous All-America
1980 All-Conf
1980 Team MVP

1979 All-Conf

note: Lott is named on Walter Camp's All-Century team (1999).

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*See next Safety Position*

Tim McDonald... Mark Carrier... Troy Polomalu

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3rd - Dennis Thurman (1977 UAA)

4th - Charles Phillips (1974 AA)

5th - Darnell Bing (2005 AA)

S - Tim McDonald... Mark Carrier... Troy Polomalu

Tim McDonald, S, #6

1986 Consensus All-America
1986 All-Conf
1986 Team MVP

1985 All-America
1985 All-Conf
1985 Team MVP

note: McDonald is named on Walter Camp's All-Century team (1999).

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Mark Carrier, S, #7 -- "Aircraft"

1989 Thorpe Award winner
1989 Unanimous All-America
1989 All-Conf

1988 All-America
1988 All-Conf

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Troy Polomalu, S/Rov, #43

2002 Consensus All-America
2002 All-Conf

2001 All-America
2001 All-Conf
2001 Team MVP

*See previous Safety Position*

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3rd - Artimus Parker (1973 CAA)

4th - Taylor Mays (2008 CAA)

5th - Dennis Smith (1980 All-Conf)

Kicker - Quin Rodriguez

Quin Rodriguez, K, #11

1990 Conf scoring leader

note: Rodriguez lead the team scoring for 4 years, from 1987 to 1990. He holds the USC record for most career Field Goals kicked (57), and is tied for the season record (19; 1990).

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2nd (tie) - Mario Danelo (2004 team scoring leader)

2nd (tie) - Ryan Killeen (2006 team scoring leader)

4th - David Buehler (2008 All-Conf)

5th - Chris Limahelu (1974 All-Conf)

Punter - Tom Malone... (1a) Des Koch

Tom Malone, P, #14

2004 All-Conf

2003 All-America *non-NCAA
2003 All-Conf

note: Malone had the best punting average in 2003 in Div-1A (49.0 yds). but he was 5 attempts short of qualifing for the official recognition, as per the NCAA. His career average (44.0 yds; 2002-2005) ranks 2nd in USC history (Des Koch, 44.1; 1951-53)

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Des Koch

1953 NCAA leader in Punt Avg

1952 Conf leader in Punt Avg

1951 Conf leader in Punt Avg

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3rd - Jim Wren (1996 Conf Punt Avg leader)

4th - John Stonehouse (1995 Tm Punt leader)

5th - Mike MacGillivray (2001 Tm Punt leader)

Kick Returner - Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis, RB, #28

College Football Hall of Famer (2005) -- nicknamed "AD"

1974 Unanimous All-America
1974 *Runner-up*, Heisman
1974 Voit Trophy winner
1974 Warner Award winner
1974 All-Conf

1973 All-Conf

1972 Voit Trophy winner

note: Davis holds the NCAA career record for Kick-Return Average (35.1 yds), and Kick-Return Touchdowns (6 TDs) ;1972-74. He lead the country in KR average in 1974 (42.5 yds) as the 'declared' leader.

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2nd - R Jay Soward (1999 2nd Tm All-Conf)

3rd - Curtis Conway (1992 AA)

4th - Reggie Bush (2005 Heisman)

5th - Lou Harris (1971 Tm Rush leader)

Punt Returner - Jim Sears

Jim Sears, RB, #32

1952 Consensus All-America
1952 Voit Trophy winner
1952 Warner Award winner
1952 All-Conf

note: Sears' career Punt-Return average ranks about 5th in USC history (12.9), he ranks about 6th in PR yards (544), he shares the top spot in PR touchdowns with about 4 players (3 TDs). The Punt-Returner position is probably the most wide-open of all -- Reggie Bush, R Jay Soward, Mike Battle, Mike Garrett, Aramis Dandoy, et al... any may be as worthy a selection as Jim Sears is at this position.

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R Jay Soward, WR, #18

1998 2nd Team All-Conf

1997 2nd Team All-Conf
1997 Scoring Team Leader

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Mike Garrett, RB, #20

College Football Hall of Famer (2000)

1965 Heisman Trophy winner
1965 Unanimous All-America
1965 Voit Trophy
1965 Warner Award
1965 All-Conf

1964 All-America
1964 All-Conf

1963 All-Conf

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Reggie Bush, RB, #5

2005 Heisman Trophy winner
2005 Unanimous All-Allerica
2005 Doak Walker Award winner
2005 Conf Off-POY
2005 All-Conf
2005 Team MVP

2004 Consensus All-America
2004 Conf co-Off-POY
2004 All-Conf
2004 Team MVP

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5th - Aramis Dandoy (1953 AA)

All Purpose Runner - Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush, RB, #5

2005 Heisman Trophy winner
2005 Unanimous All-America
2005 Doak Walker Award winner
2005 Conf Off-POY
2005 All-Conf
2005 Team MVP

2004 Consensus All-America
2004 Conf co-Off-POY
2004 All-Conf
2004 Team MVP

note: Bush's 2004 All-America selection was as an "All Purpose" player... he had 900 yds Rushing, 500 yds Receiving, and 900 Returning. For his career he has over 3100 yds Rushing, about 1300 yds Receiving, and almost 2000 yds Returning.

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2nd - Mike Garrett (1965 Heisman), CFB Hall of Famer

3rd - Anthony Davis (1974 UAA), CFB Hall of Famer

4th - R Jay Soward (1998 2nd Tm All-Conf)

5th - Orv Mohler (1930 AA)

Fan - Giles Pellerin

Giles Pellerin, true fan

Pellerin attended 797 consecutive USC football games... a streak that began in 1926

- http://www.fighton.com/superfan.htm

Keys and Notes

Keys and Notes:

All-America selections listed are based on the NCAA's "officially" recognized selection organizations (at the time)... selections by non-NCAA recognized orgs are noted as such. Only "1st Teamers" are listed. UAA = Unanimous All-America, CAA = Consensus All-America, AA = All-America, AA' = non-NCAA All-America

The Voit Trophy was an annual award given to the top overall player on the West Coast (from 1951 to 1978)

The Warner Award is an annual award given to the top senior player 0n the West Coast (since 1949).

The Morris Trophy is an annual award given to the top Offensive and Defensive Linemen in the PAC-10 (since 1980).

The Team MVP, "Mike McKeever Award", is an annual award given to the most valuable player on the team, as per the team Coaches (since 1967).

Some stats listed may be from the NCAA record book (may not include Bowl game resluts), others from the USC record book (include Bowl game results).

Post your gripes... make your arguements... add your suggestions.