USC Trojans 2008 Starting D-Backs, Best in the Nation.

Why is the man in the picture smiling?  Because this former defensive back from the College of the Pacific is checking out the best college D-backs in the nation as they do their thing at practice.

One of the reasons, USC is highly ranked once again (No. 2 in the Coaches Poll and No. 1 in a few other polls) is their defensive backfield. Even though the Trojans lost a couple of All-Americans on the front four, their returning linebackers and defensive backs more than make up for the loss.

Their quickness, toughness, and all-out hard-hitting make this bunch the best you will find this side of the NFL, which is where most of these D-backs will eventually wind up.

At the right corner, stepping up in place of New York Giants prospect Terrell Thomas, is Shareece Wright. The 6-0, 180-pound junior from Colton had a lights out spring practice that propelled him into the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.

Wright, perhaps USC’s most physical corner, whether he is covering a receiver or coming up to stuff a running back, always brings 100 percent. In 13 games in 2007 as a backup corner and nickel back on passing downs and also on special teams, he accounted for 29 tackles, 3 1/2 for losses, and 4 deflected passes.

Joining Wright on the other corner is Cary Harris, one of the fastest and most reliable defensive backs in camp. Can Harris remain No. 1 on the depth chart at left corner and become be a three-year starter in 2008?

A two-year starter, the 6-0, 180-pound senior from Pacoima had 48 tackles, 2 for losses, 7 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble in 2007. Like Wright, Harris can go high in the air to deflect a pass and also come up fast to shut down a run. Although he had arthroscopic surgery on both ankles before spring practice, he has been a very reliable pass defender and has the most experience of any returning cornerback.

Although Harris and Wright are No. 1 on the depth chart, they will both have plenty of competition this fall as they to lock down the starting corner spots.

Pete Carroll once called Josh Pinkard the best athlete on the team. But that was before Pinkard was forced to sit out the last two seasons with two separate knee injuries. Recovering from knee surgery, the 6-2, 210-pound redshirt senior from Oxnard didn’t get in any contact work during spring practice.

So, it remains to be seen how far along he is in regaining the previous form he showed in 2005, his sophomore season. Playing in all 13 games that year, Pinkard had 54 tackles (third on team), including, plus a team-best 7 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

If Pinkard can come anywhere close to that level, he will provide needed backup at both the corner and safety spots.

You can add Kevin Thomas to that comeback list along with Pinkard. The 6-1, 185-pound redshirt junior will be battling back to compete for playing time after missing most of the last two seasons with a variety of injuries.

A starter in 2006 before breaking his left foot against Arizona State, he could give both Wright and Harris some tough competition for a starting corner spot. In the four games that he played in 2006, Thomas had 10 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection.

The real threat to the returning starters and their backups comes in the form of a USA Today All-USA first team, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American and ESPN 150 defensive back.

T.J. Bryant, another one of those Pete Carroll signing day surprises, could become one of the greatest defensive backs at USC since Ronald Mandel Lott. There is no limit to this young man’s athleticism or his potential. Barring serious injury, he can become as productive as he wants to be.

In this summer’s team drills, the 6-1, 190-pounder has already shown great prowess and a natural ability to play corner, and I expect that to carry over into fall camp. In his last two seasons at Lincoln High School in Florida, Bryant totaled 15 interceptions and 27 pass deflections. He also hurdled for Lincoln's track team, with bests of 14.6 in the 110-meter high hurdles and 38.02 in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

Like Bryant, another speedster that may see time in the defensive backfield is Brian Baucham. Besides playing running back and defensive back at West Torrance High School, the 5-11, 190-pound Baucham also ran track with a best of 37.26 in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He won the 2008 California state meet and was second at both the 2008 CIF Division II and CIF Masters meets.

Last year at West Torrance, he rushed for 1,593 yards on 186 carries for an 8.6 average. With 20 TD, he is also adding three receiving touchdowns and two on kickoff returns.

In 2006, he compiled 1,990 yards on 265 carries for a 7.5 average with 22 TD. As a defensive back he had 52 tackles and 4 interceptions and scored twice on defense and twice on special teams.

With the current logjam at running back, Baucham will start out the fall camp competing at a cornerback spot.

Like Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga at the linebacker spots, senior Kevin Ellison and junior Taylor Mays have a lock down on the safety spots. And not just any lock down. These two are as tough as they come.

Kevin Ellison’s hit two years ago on DeSean Jackson is legendary.

Last year the First Team All-PAC-10 safety had 57 tackles, eight for losses of 27 yards, 2 sacks and 6 pass deflections. The 6-1, 230-pound senior from Inglewood is on the Bronco Nagurski Award Watch List like Cushing and Maualuga. He is also a potential All-American and a Jim Thorpe Award candidate.

Joining Ellison on the Nagurski Watch List and as a Thorpe Award candidate is free safety, Taylor Mays. Like cornerback, Cary Harris, the junior from Seattle is in line to become a three-year starter.

At 6-4 and 230 pounds, Mays looks more like a linebacker than a safety. But his 4.3 speed and his hard-hitting make him a load for opposing offenses to deal with.

In 2007, he was named to the Sporting News All-American First Team and was third on the team with 65 tackles. He also had 6 pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

He had arthroscopic surgery on his ankle prior to spring practice, but appears ready for fall camp. With his size and speed, there is only one question regarding Mays’ status.

Will he decide to forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft in 2009? If he does, he will join teammates Ellison, Cushing and Maualugo as a first-round prospect.

Although he is considerably smaller than Mays (and what safety isn’t?), sophomore Marshall Jones, looks to be the backup free safety and the apparent successor to Mays whenever Mays decides to enter the NFL draft.

A Super Prep All-American and a Prep Star All-American, the 6-0 sophomore from Oaks Christian packs a lot of wallop in his 185-pound frame. He was also a sprinter for Oaks Christian's track team and had a personal best of 10.6 in the 100 meters and placed fifth at the 2007 CIF Division IV meet in the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.69.

Jones saw limited action last year in just four games as a backup safety. However, in his senior year at Oaks Christian, he had 96 tackles, 2 sacks and 6 interceptions, returning 2 for TD for the Division III California State Champions.

Backing up Ellison, will be Will Harris and Drew McAllister.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2007, the 6-1, 200-pound Harris played in 10 games and was credited with 5 tackles. McAllister, a 6-1, 200-pound freshman from Danville was a Super Prep All-Farwest and a Prep Star All-West as a senior defensive back and quarterback at Monte Vista High School. He had 51 tackles, 10 pass deflections and 1 interception. On offense, he threw for 2,222 yards with 16 TD and ran for 337 yards and 8 TD.

One other player will join the mix at safety next year. Shane Horton, a 6-1, 210-pounder from Notre Dame High School recently transferred from UNLV and must sit out the 2008 season. As a true freshman at Las Vegas, Horton was credited with 35 tackles, 1 sack, 1 blocked pass and an interception.

Now for my prediction. The starting defensive backfield will consist of Mays and Ellison at safeties and Wright and Harris at the corners. However, I feel strongly that T. J. Bryant will see a considerable amount of playing time and not just as a backup. After several games into the season, I believe Bryant will be the starting corner in place of Harris.

What’s your opinion? Let’s hear from you, USC fans. And what do you think Taylor Mays will do? Will he decide to remain at USC for his senior year or will he enter the 2009 NFL draft?

And if that’s not enough to think about, here’s one more. Who will go higher in the NFL draft? Ellison, Maualuga, Cushing or Mays should he decide to turn pro?