USC Football: 10 Greatest Trojan Players in NFL History

When it comes to producing outstanding NFL players, there is no program that can match the University of Southern California.

Boasting more players in that league's Hall of Fame than any other, USC has been a pipeline for excellence at the professional level.

But who are and were the best ever?

This slideshow will attempt to rank the all-time great NFL Trojans, both past and present.

It won't be easy to assign a rank on this list of greatness and I am sure there will be arguments aplenty.

But what can't be argued is that some legendary players have graced the field of many NFL stadiums.

And they came from a program that wears the cardinal and gold.

Note: Unless noted otherwise, statistics provided by http://www.profootballhof.com/

No. 10: Frank Gifford

This list goes old school with the inclusion of Frank Gifford at No. 10.

It's not so much that he was a great player who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1977 or that he was named all-NFL four times, All Pro seven times or that he played on both sides of the ball including 1956 when he was named the NFL's player of the year.

While all of that is great and bears witness to Gifford's excellence, it only provides half of the story.

The other half was the celebrity of Gifford, whose matinee idol good looks and effervescent personality made him the toast of the entertainment industry and whose presence on the Hollywood scene gave USC a sort of notoriety that money couldn't buy.

That kind of high profile advertising helped draw recruits to the comfortable climes of Southern California and replenished the talent pipeline for the Trojans for years.

No. 9: Bruce Matthews

One day Bruce Matthew's nephew, Clay Jr., may very well find himself on a list such as this, but in the meantime, he will have to look to his uncle for inspiration on how a long and distinguished career in the NFL may very well result in an induction to the Hall of Fame.

Bruce Matthews, who comes from a long line of NFL players (brother Clay starred both at USC and the NFL at linebacker and Clay Jr.'s brother, Casey, currently plays there as well), was an outstanding offensive lineman who played—and excelled—at every position across the line.

After being named to the 1990's all NFL team, Matthews retired with 14 Pro Bowl appearances, nine at guard and five more at center.

At the time of his retirement, Matthews played in more games (296) than any other positional player in NFL history.

Accomplishment and consistency demand that Matthews makes a list such as this.

No. 8: Lynn Swann

"Poetry in Motion."

That is the phrase most often used to describe the graceful fluidity that marked the play of wide receiver Lynn Swann.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001, Swann's numbers weren't particularly overwhelming but anyone who ever saw him play couldn't forget the magnificence that he brought to the field of play.

Named NFL MVP for Super Bowl X, Swann was named to three Pro Bowls and retired with 51 touchdowns.

No. 7: Junior Seau

Very few Trojans graced the No. 55 the way linebacker Junior Seau did while he was a member of the men of Troy.

When Seau took his considerable skill to the NFL, the excellence just kept on coming.

A ferocious hitter with a great nose for the ball, Seau was named to the Pro Bowl 12 times while making All Pro on 10 occasions.

Named the AFC's player of the year in 1994, Seau's name will soon be called for induction into the Hall of Fame.

No. 6: Ron Yary

Though there have been many great Trojan offensive linemen in the NFL, few have had the impact of Ron Yary.

The first player selected overall in 1968, Yary went on to an NFL career that included being named to six straight Pro Bowls while being named all NFC in eight more.

Incredibly durable, Yary only missed two games in a career that culminated in his being inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2001.

No. 5: Anthony Munoz

Still another great offensive lineman from USC, Anthony Munoz was quite possibly the most feared lineman of his era.

Blessed with tremendous size and quickness, Munoz was his quarterback's best friend from his tackle position and was named to 11 straight Pro Bowls from 1980 to 91.

Selected to the NFL's all-time 75th anniversary team, Munoz was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

No. 4: O.J. Simpson

In his era, there were few running backs who could match the combination of raw speed and graceful fluidity that O.J. Simpson brought to the NFL field of play.

Post career travails aside, Simpson was one of the most feared tailbacks in NFL history.

The first tailback to go for over 2,000 yards in a season, Simpson went for over 11,000 yards rushing for his career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Too bad it all went downhill from there...

No. 3: Ronnie Lott

Speaking of fear, there haven't been too many players in the NFL that instilled that emotion in opposing players more than Ronnie Lott.

Incredibly tough, Lott's bone-jarring hits made the middle of the field a treacherous place for wide receivers.

Extremely versatile, Lott earned All Pro honors at three different positions in the secondary (cornerback, free and strong safety), and he finished with 63 interceptions over a long career that celebrated his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2000.

No. 2: Troy Polamalu

With his trademark flowing mane of hair, Troy Polamalu has been wreaking his own personal brand of mayhem in the NFL for years.

A five-time All Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Polamalu has transformed the strong safety position with his incredible athleticism and instincts for the ball.

Named the 2010 NFL defensive player of the year, Polamalu will be fit for his Hall of Fame jacket as soon as he is eligible.

No. 1: Marcus Allen

Quite possibly the greatest Trojan of all time, Marcus Allen certainly merits consideration as the greatest NFL Trojan of them all.

Named MVP of the league in 1985 and Super Bowl XVIII, Allen went on to a career that saw him rush for over 12,000 yards, 5,441 yards receiving and a spectacular 145 touchdowns.

Considered one of the greatest short-yardage running backs, Allen was money whenever the tough yards were needed.

Always a class act, Allen was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

Conclusion

The problem with "top 10" lists is that when you are trying to determine the 10 greatest Trojans of anything, you are stuck with leaving many qualified athletes out of the story.

Guys like Willie Wood, Ron Mix and even Red Badgro, all Hall of Famers, are left on the outside looking in.

And other great Trojans who probably should be in the Hall, aren't even considered.

Still, the 10 Trojans listed here all merit their place on a list such as this although the order can and should be argued.

In compiling this list, I was struck by the excellence of a USC program that has sent more players to the Hall of Fame than any other.

Trojan fans are lucky to follow a program that offers such a rich tapestry of excellence and continues to do so.

Lucky indeed.