This season, the strong-side and middle linebacker spots are no-brainers. Barring injury during Fall camp, two potential All-Americans and first round NFL draft picks have a lock on those two spots. Of course, I’m talking about Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga respectively.
Yes, there will be competition as usual. But both Cushing and Maualuga thrive on competition. Bring it on. The more, the better. There is no need to list their statistics. Suffice it to say that both are on the Chuck Bednarick and Bronco Nagurski Watch Lists.
But the real battle—a war, actually—during Fall camp will be for the starting weak-side linebacking spot between Luther Brown (No. 1 on the depth chart) and Kuluka Maiava (currently No. 2)
So, the question of the week for all USC fans on Bleacher Report and beyond: Who do you think will win the starting weak-side linebacking spot?
I will give my answer further on, but for now here are the stats.
Luther Brown is a 6'2", 235 lbs. redshirt junior from Lakewood, CA. He has been a backup linebacker and a special teams standout for the past two seasons. In 2007, he appeared in all 13 games and had 25 tackles.
He missed some of the 2007 spring practice with a left shoulder sprain and had to redshirt in 2005, his freshman year, due to back surgery.
Kaluka Maiava is a 6'0", 230 lbs. senior from Wailuku, HI. He had surgery on his thumb and wrist after the 2007 season and saw only limited action in this year’s Spring practice.
Like Luther Brown, Maiava was a backup linebacker and special teams player in 2007 and 2008. He appeared in all 13 games last season and had 44 tackles, including 4 1/2 for losses of 18 yards including two sacks that accounted for 11 yards in losses. He also had two pass blocks and one forced fumble. He started the Arizona State game at weak side linebacker.
But will Maiava start the Virgina game on the weak side or will Luther Brown? That is this week’s Trojan Challenge.
Others on the depth chart include Mike Morgan and walk-on Nick Garratt behind Brian Cushing, Chris Galippo, Uona Kaveinga, and walk-on Dan Deckas behind Rey Maualuga, and Malcolm Smith and Jordan Campbell behind Brown and Maiava.
Mike Morgan is a 6'4", 220 lbs. redshirt sophomore from Dallas. Last year, he played backup linebacker and was on special teams and saw action in all but the UCLA game. He had nine tackles.
Chris Galippo is a 6'2", 255 lbs. redshirt freshman from Corona and Servite High School. Galippo got into the first three games last season as a backup linebacker and special teams player before suffering a herniated disk that required surgery.
He had eight tackles. If the back is sufficiently healed and Galippo is good to go, he could see considerable action as a backup in 2008 and will definitely be in the mix in 2009 when Cushing, Maualuga and Maiva are gone.
Uona Kaveinga is a 6'1", 235 lbs. freshman from Hawthorne and one of Pete Carroll’s pleasant Signing Day surprises. A Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American and an ESPN 150, Kaveinga had 147 tackles, 29 for losses and eight sacks playing for Leuzinger High School in Lawndale last year.
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