Desperation, Not Glamor, Defines USC Pro Day

USC’s pro day this year looked much like one would expect. Cameras followed All-American left tackle Matt Kalil around while his older brother, the Carolina Panther’s Ryan Kalil, looked on from the stands. The light breeze cooled the sunglass-wearing media as the rest of the USC seniors tried to garner the attention of a scout or two.

Or so they hoped.

“Ellison, Kevin,” shouts the USC strength and conditioning coach that’s running the 40-yard-dash.

Wait a minute. Ellison ‘s last season at Troy was in 2008. He was subsequently drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round of the 2009 draft, but since then things haven’t go so well. The Chargers eventually waived him, and he was picked up by his old coach Pete Carroll and headed to Seattle in June of 2010.

Ellison was released by September and spent the 2011 season as the defensive coordinator for Cathedral High in Los Angeles, CA.

Ellison and his former teammate Josh Pinkard are finding themselves in a similar situation. Pinkard went undrafted in 2010 only to picked up by—take a guess—Seattle. He was released from both the regular squad and then the practice squad last September.

So they are both back to where it all began, to where they won Rose Bowls and national titles, in hopes that things go a little better a second time around.

But Marc Tyler is hoping to get it right the first time.

The senior running back had a soap opera college career. He came in recovering from a broken leg suffered late in his senior year, then proceeded to injure his hip, and then his toe, before earning a starting job in 2010. He then found himself in substance-related trouble in the offseason which prompted head coach Lane Kiffin and athletic director Pat Haden to suspend him for all team-related activities during fall camp and the season opener.

Tyler cleaned himself up in time to earn Kiffin’s praise and put together a few modest highlights. He even received an invitation to the NFL Combine, but that didn’t go so well.

“I was nervous. I think I was more nervous because I hurt my hamstring the day before. That whole night I was freaking out,” recalled Tyler. “I didn’t want to go out there and not do anything because I already  had the injury label.”

Tyler ran a 4.76 in the 40 at the combine and a 4.81 at pro day.

“I’m not going to come out here and blaze nobody. I’ve never been a numbers guy,” said Tyler. Even in the comfort of his own field, his calm demeanor couldn’t cover up the wonder in his eyes. What if he, the son of former UCLA and All-Pro running back Wendell Tyler, doesn’t get the chance to pursue the only career he’s ever imagined?

“I just want an opportunity to play for somebody and be able to go out there and show what I can do.”

That’s exactly what some of a few unknown walk-ons that were seen participating on Wednesday are hoping for too. Maybe for a few, they just want one last chance before they hang up their cleats.

And then there is Nick Garrett.

Garrett suffered a neck injury late in high school career that derailed his senior season and his recruitment. He still managed to achieve his childhood dream by becoming one of those unknown walk-ons but at the time he wasn’t sure to play at the next level.

He had shoulder surgery after his senior season, but it was hardly a setback since he had no plans to train for the draft . Instead he went to Europe, first for pleasure and then for business. Through a connection through an old high school coach, he played for a pro-am team in Austria.

Needless to say, it wasn’t exactly the competition he was used to. He led Europe in tackles the first four straight weeks as a linebacker while also playing running back and, no joke, coaching the team. The GM who was supposed to be the coach was too busy, so Garrett sat down with the assistant coaches and filled the void.

And what he found was that football filled a hole in his own life as well.

“I think I’m playing it for different reasons now. When I came here, it was my dream to play for USC and I didn’t know if I wanted to play further. But now I kind of have a new love for the game,” said Garrett.

“Might as well take advantage of this body that I have right now until I’m ready to settle down into a career.”

The clock is ticking for Garrett and everyone that participated in Wednesday’s pro day, but for most their time will never come. Pro day often carries more of a sense of desperation than hope and this year was no exception.

Most of the players on that field never had to fight for attention until now. Now they are begging, pleading to grab the eyes of even just one scout.

It only takes one chance. And these guys are running out of them.

Stephanie Graves is a Contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.