USC Trojans Football: The Will Andrew Story
Coming out of nowhere, defying the odds, a never say never attitude or me against the world.
USC has another one of those in the likes of RS sophomore linebacker Will Andrew.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
In his senior season at Edison High School as a defensive end, Andrew recorded 75 tackles, seven sacks and a blocked field goal, which was good for second on the team in tackles and first in sacks. This earned him All-Star accolades from the Sunset League (Mater Dai, Servite etc.). During his recruiting process Andrew was ranked with 0-stars but liked; Air Force, Arizona, BYU, Stanford, USC and Utah.
None however offered him a scholarship to play football. Smaller schools like University of San Diego, who heavily recruited Andrew, offered him but his heart was set on USC.
He told Michael Lev, his parents attended USC, he grew up a Trojan fan and dreamed of wanting to play there saying, “ever since I was a little kid.”
Instead of giving up on his dream of playing football and someday hopefully in the NFL or enrolling at somewhere else, Andrew, all 6’2" 204 lbs. and a 3.9 GPA out of Huntington Beach enrolled at USC.
Andrew’s friend, Adam Goodman a former USC walk-on and Edison alum contacted then-Pete Carroll’s coaching staff that Andrew was interested walking-on to the team.
He redshirted his first year in 2009 and moved to linebacker from defensive end and got his weight up to 220 lbs., working hard on the scout team and in the weight room.
A year later in his first spring camp and due to injuries to Jarvis Jones (neck) and health problems with Frankie Telfort (heart), Andrew and fellow walk-on Ross Cumming received more reps then they were expecting and relished the opportunity.
This earned Cumming a scholarship from new head coach Lane Kiffin but Andrew did not have as much luck as he wasn’t an elite athlete.
Still though Andrew worked hard in the offseason and during the last Fall Scrimmage before playing against Hawaii he recorded five tackles and returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown.
Andrew appeared in three games during the 2010 season and recorded two assists against Cal. He was starting to live his dream of playing football for USC by seeing the field in his RS freshman year.
With a full year of spring practice, fall camp and a season, Andrew had started to get accustomed to Division-1 football at USC and with a little luck could maybe prove himself more to the coaching staff.
This past spring, Andrew was given some luck as all projected starting linebackers were injured and would not be participating in spring practice while healing. This gave Andrew even more reps then a year before and he did everything and then some to prove himself and show his talent.
He started to get noticed more when he made interceptions in four consecutive days, making tackles and getting the defense lined up.
When the Spring Game came Andrew was surprised to see himself as the starting middle linebacker with the first team defense. He tied for a team high in tackles with six and also recorded a sack and a pass breakup.
Andrew got his opportunity and seized it without any hesitation which earned him co-backup for MLB on the depth-chart behind then starter Devon Kennard. This now got people talking and wanting to know more about this walk-on.
Linebackers coach Joe Berry had this to say about Andrew to Michael Lev, after spring practice about who stepped up; “Will Andrew, I’ve got to give him some props, because he did a wonderful job—not just getting through spring ball but making plays.”
Like Burnett’s story this brings back strong memories of another walk-on, former USC linebacker Clay Matthews.
Both were deemed not athletic enough to play top Division-1 football, both walked on at USC and both are linebackers.
When Andrew was asked about Clay Matthews and his story and how he went from walk-on, to starter, to first-round draft pick and Super Bowl champion he had this to say to the Orange County Register, “just hearing his story gives me motivation. If someone did it, that means maybe I could do it too.”
The praise also came from Kiffin as well, who took great notice on how Andrew played.
“Will is playing extremely well. Really getting us lined up and making plays himself,” Kiffin said.
Once the Head Coach notices you, you know you have done something right.
With Andrew’s hard work and dedication who knows what the future will hold for him. He has proven himself on the field in front of the coaches and with his teammates. All that is left is to show it off on Saturdays in front of thousands of people and maybe, just maybe be the next Clay Matthews.
In case you missed them;
&
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
