College Football 2011: USC Football's 7 Best Offensive Players

A couple of days ago I submitted for your perusal the seven best Trojan defensive players.

Not wanting to slight the other side of the ball, it is only fair that we now look at their offensive counterparts.

To be completely forthright, picking the best seven offensive Trojans was a good deal more difficult than picking those on the defense simply because USC has so many talented skill players.

Having said that, the criteria used were, for the most part, based on not only the individual's talent but also how much he will play and how valuable he is to the team.

Some of these players will be obvious, while some will not.

But all them will be critical components to the Trojans' offensive success in 2011.

Without further delay, let's find out who these "magnificent seven" are for this year's Men of Troy.

No. 7: Khaled Holmes

Forget for the moment that offensive lineman Khaled Holmes was named an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection at guard last year.

Or that at 6'4", 310 lbs., Holmes has the physical tools to be dominant up front.

No, the reason that Holmes is included in this list is because of what resides between his ears.

You see, in addition to all those necessary physical attributes, he is the "Einstein" of the offensive line.

Possessing genius football acumen, Holmes will be asked to move from his natural guard position to center, where the graduation of Kris O'Dowd has left a gaping hole at the spot that needs to get quarterback Matt Barkley the ball.

It takes a smart man to recognize defensive alignments, call out the appropriate schemes to fellow line mates, recognize snap counts and audibles and then still have the physical tools to get the ball to your QB.

Holmes has all of those tools, and the Trojans will be depending on him to get the job done in 2011.

That is why he starts this list at No. 7.

No. 6: Dillon Baxter

Okay, so this list is going out a bit on the limb by including sophomore running back Dillon Baxter in the lineup of best Trojan offensive players.

Sure, he was a "YouTube sensation" in 2010, where a scintillating glimpse was provided for what he could be.

That is why he makes the list—what he could be.

You know, that evil word: "potential."

Despite an uneven performance last year, when maturity issues tripped him up, Baxter makes this list simply because if he can get it together, he has the ability to be special.

Tremendously versatile and with more moves than a box full of slithering snakes, Baxter has the talent to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.

Now he just needs to be consistent to get the touches he needs to realize that potential.

If he can, he will not only justify his inclusion on this list—watch him move way up it too.

No. 5: Rhett Ellison

Some of the readers of this slide will no doubt remind the author that the Trojans are in possession of three magnificent young tight ends, all secured in the 2009 recruiting class.

They would be right, of course.

However, the least celebrated (at least coming out of high school) of the unit is also one of the most important and, for this year at least, talented of that group.

Rhett Ellison came to the Trojans as the unnoticed son of former Trojan linebacker Riki Gray (Ellison) and in the beginning of his USC career languished on the bench behind more high-profile tight ends such as Blake Ayles.

But soon it became apparent that Ellison had more of the tools that the Trojans needed at the position.

Not only did he have better hands than Ayles, but he was also a much better blocker, which is critical to the smooth operation of the Trojan offense.

Now, with the USC offensive line in a period of flux, Ellison will be counted on not only to make the tough catch but also to shore up the O-line with his textbook blocking.

To say that Ellison will crucial to the Trojans' success is an understatement.

But as long as he stays healthy, he can do it, and that is why Ellison makes this list at No. 5.

No. 4: Marc Tyler

Unfortunately, no matter how talented senior running back Marc Tyler is, it may not matter in 2011.

Or at least part of it.

Due to an extraordinary lapse of judgment, Tyler is currently facing punishments from not one, but two separate incidents involving alcohol consumption and inappropriate behavior.

How this plays out will go a long way toward the determination of how valuable he is to the team in 2011.

Then there is the litany of chronic injuries that Tyler has suffered throughout his Trojan career.

Having already survived a leg surgery and ankle sprains, among other things, Tyler needs to show the resilience to stay on the field of play.

If he can, he is the big back that the Trojans need for the upcoming year.

Having led USC last year in rushing, Tyler has the talent to do big things in 2011.

But he has to play in order to perform, and between a possible suspension and lingering injuries, that may not be a given.

No. 3: Matt Kalil

The biggest concern that faces this 2011 edition of the Men of Troy is the precarious status of their offensive line.

With only two starters returning from 2010's O-line, and one of those adopting a new position (as mentioned previously, Khaled Holmes will move from guard to center), the unit charged with opening holes for the running backs and protecting quarterback Matt Barkley faces challenges, to say the least.

However, the good news is that one of those returning starters is left tackle Matt Kalil.

Kalil, who has been named to several preseason All-American teams, is a tremendous athlete who combines his agility with great size to form a stout wall to protect Barkley's blind side.

Expected to be a very high draft choice if he makes himself available to the NFL after this season, Kalil will be crucial to the Trojans' success this season.

In a season where USC will only go as far as the offensive line takes it, it is comforting to know that at least the all-important left tackle spot will have one of the best in the nation in Matt Kalil.

Now all the Trojans have to worry about is the other four "big uglies."

No. 2: Robert Woods

As the Trojans head into the 2011 season, the one unit that is stacked is the wide receivers corps.

With such great athletes as Brice Butler, Brandon Carswell, Kyle Prater (if he is healthy), Markeith Ambles (if he can get his head straight), De'Von Flournoy and the bevy of incoming freshmen (George Farmer Jr., Victor Blackwell, Junior Pomee) on the roster, quarterback Matt Barkley has plenty to smile about these days.

But the biggest grin is reserved for sophomore Robert Woods.

Woods, who was named a freshman All-American last season, is simply electric.

In addition to the 65 receptions for 792 yards and six touchdowns in 2010, Woods averaged 25.6 yards on kickoff returns, where he also took one to the house.

That was good enough for Woods to rank 25th in the country in all-purpose yards.

All that as a true freshman.

Now Woods will enter the 2011 season as the Trojans' uncontested big play guy, and huge things are expected from him in the upcoming season.

If Woods was great in 2010, watch out this year.

You know opposing coaches will.

No. 1: Matt Barkley

It has been stated plenty of times by many people that as the Trojans' offensive line goes, so go the Trojans.

Well, yes, but not entirely.

Because no matter how well the O-line performs this year, if quarterback Matt Barkley isn't playing, the Trojans are in big trouble.

In addition to Barkley's big arm and football savvy, he is also the unquestioned leader of the offense.

With two full seasons under his belt since starting as a true freshman, Barkley is poised for a huge year in 2011.

For Trojan fans, the big season expected this year from Barkley may mean that USC will lose him to the NFL in 2012.

While that would indeed be sad for the Trojan family, it would mean that USC probably did well in 2011.

For all of the things Matt Barkley brings to the table, he reserves the No. 1 slot in this slideshow of the best Trojan offensive players.

Conclusion

So there they are.

Like the prior slideshow, which featured the seven best Trojan defensive players, there are plenty of players who probably deserve to be included in this list.

This list, like the other one, also omits a significant portion of Trojans, those being the incoming freshmen that have been so highly touted.

Among those youngsters, receivers George Farmer Jr., Victor Blackwell and Junior Pomee, quarterbacks Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, running backs Buck Allen and Amir Carlisle and offensive linemen Aundrey Walker, Marcus Martin and Cyrus Hobbi will all make future lists at some point in their Trojan careers.

That doesn't even count the less heralded youngsters such as lineman Cody Temple and fullback J.R. Tavai, among many others.

So what can Trojan fans take away from this list?

The same things we knew before.

If the Trojans can receive adequate protection from the offensive line, these seven players should lead them to glory in 2011.

If not, well, it could be a very long year.