USC Football: 10 Players Who Could Avoid a Redshirt Year (and Help USC in 2011)

With so many new faces being welcomed to the Trojans in 2011, it is only natural for fans of the men of Troy to wonder which of these youngsters can help them in the upcoming year.

And now that fall camp is almost half over, the identities of these freshmen (and in a couple of cases, JC transfers) are becoming more evident.

Of course, there are other considerations for Lane Kiffin in regard to who he redshirts.

NCAA sanctions, which have taken 10 scholarships away each year for the next three years, means that strategical analysis will need to be applied to specific units in order to make sure those positions are not depleted in the future.

So even players who can help USC right now might still wind up taking a year off for the benefit of teams that will be fielded in upcoming years.

Having said that, this slide show will look at those players who distinguished themselves so far in the fall, and in doing so, have positioned themselves to play in 2011.

While there certainly is time to for other players to thrust themselves into the conversation for playing this year, these are the 10 players who have already opened eyes and may find themselves plying their trade for the cardinal and gold this season.

No. 10: Jeremy Galten

It's no secret that the Trojans are in dire need of offensive-line help and Jeremy Galten, one of two junior college O-linemen signed by USC (David Garness is the other) appears most ready to help in 2011.

Galten, a 6'5", 285-pound offensive tackle/guard from San Mateo JC in California, was especially effective in the spring when the Trojans were really hurting for bodies in the trenches.

Though he has tailed off somewhat now in the fall, Galten will be needed both as a possible rotation player and certainly if someone gets hurt.

No. 9: Isiah Wiley

It's not so much that the Trojans need defensive backs as it is that JC transfer Isiah Wiley has been a revelation in fall camp.

Wiley, a 6'1", 185-pound cornerback who has safety experience, has been outstanding so far in camp.

With his size, the Trojans would love to use Wiley opposite Nickell Robey on some of the league's taller receivers and if nothing else, perhaps rotate him in on some nickel packages.

Wiley also has a nasty disposition about him, too, as evidenced by his recent run-in with star wideout Robert Woods.

Between that attitude and those physical tools, look for Wiley to play a lot in 2011.

No. 8: George Farmer Jr.

Going into fall camp, most of those in the know would have bet the farm that wide receiver George Farmer Jr. would be a lock to play as a freshman.

He probably still is, but there is not the certainty that once was believed to exist.

Farmer has been good in fall camp but certainly not great.

Having said that, Farmer does have the ability to be as good as he wants to be, and it is almost inevitable that once he gets comfortable, he will dominate for a long time.

Whether that gets him out of a redshirt year in 2011 remains to be seen, but the smart money is on him playing this year.

No. 7: Max Wittek

USC made news last year by signing two top-flight prep quarterbacks, Max Wittek and Cody Kessler.

While there was little doubt about Wittek's ability, he had been out performed by Kessler early in the fall camp and it seemed like a redshirt year was destined to be in young Max's 2011 future.

But then two things happened.

First, Wittek got good really quick and second, redshirt freshman quarterback Jesse Scroggins injured his thumb, which required surgery and has left him on the sidelines for the next couple of months.

Now Wittek may not only stay on the active roster for USC in 2011, he may actually wind up as Matt Barkley's backup.

Coming out of nowhere, Wittek looks like a possible good bet to avoid the dreaded redshirt this year.

No. 6: Marqise Lee

How's this for irony?

George Farmer Jr., USC's marquee prep player who was signed in 2011 and one of the finest receivers in the nation, may not even be the best wideout from his high school that the Trojans signed last year.

Instead, that distinction may belong to his Serra teammate, Marqise Lee, who has been wowing everyone at fall camp with his steady and spectacular play.

Lee has been well prepared, consistent and smooth, causing head coach Lane Kiffin to compare him to former Trojan great Damien Williams.

Though nothing is for certain, if camp ended today, Lee would likely be on the active roster.

No. 5: Amir Carlisle

Yet another player who has excelled from the time fall camp opened, running back Amir Carlisle has played well beyond his age.

Carlisle, an extremely devout young man whose priorities at USC are focused on being not only the best player he can be but also the best person, Carlisle has done everything asked of him and more so far in camp.

After overcoming some early jitters, Carlisle has been a downhill runner, making single cuts and picking up yardage like a seasoned veteran.

And his knowledge of the playbook has also far exceeded expectations.

With Marc Tyler's maturity issues creating a possibility that he may not play a lot in 2011 and Curtis McNeal's recent injury, the likelihood of Carlisle avoiding a redshirt year is getting better by the day.

No. 4: Cody Kessler

Although Jesse Scroggins, USC's redshirt freshman quarterback, was named the backup to Matt Barkley coming out of spring camp, it didn't seem to matter to Cody Kessler.

Kessler, who along with Max Wittek is one of the two new Trojan signal callers signed last year, has played well beyond his tender age in both the spring camp and so far in the fall.

Beyond his athletic ability, Kessler has learned the playbook, and his calm leadership in the huddle has inspired the confidence of his offensive cohorts.

Now locked in a spirited battle with fellow freshman QB Wittek, Kessler just keeps getting better as time goes on.

And with Scroggins sidelined, he is almost certain to stay on the active roster here in 2011.

No. 3: Lamar Dawson

As the recipient of the fabled No. 55 jersey, much was expected of incoming freshman linebacker Lamar Dawson.

Last year's "Mr. Kentucky" prep football player of the year came to USC as the next big thing in Trojan linebackers and so far, he has not disappointed.

During the fall camp, Dawson stepped in when Chris Galippo got hurt, and though his play wasn't spectacular, it was steady and he didn't make mistakes.

For a freshman to run the defense and play well, it bodes good things for the future.

As well it should because as all Trojan fans know, No. 55, regardless of who is wearing it, has big shoulder pads to fill.

Dawson, so far, is doing it well.

No. 2: Aundrey Walker

For months prior to the start of fall camp, it was generally assumed that the Trojans would have to start one of their incoming freshman studs in the offensive line due to a lack of depth in the unit.

It was also assumed that the freshman in question would be Cyrus Hobbi.

Not so fast, Trojan fans.

Though it does appear that a true freshman will indeed start on that beleaguered line, it won't be Hobbi, who has failed to seize the opportunity so far.

Instead, Aundrey Walker, the massive O-lineman from Ohio, looks like he has one of the guard spots all but locked up.

Though still raw, Walker has the athleticism to pull it off, and though he may be somewhat shaky at first, as the season progresses, so will he.

No. 1: Andre Heidari

Although it may come as a surprise to some, the only freshman who is a "lock" not to get a redshirt year in 2011 is kicker Andre Heidari.

How did I come to this conclusion?

Simple. Lane Kiffin says so.

Though kicker Craig McMahon has the experience over Heidari, he doesn't possess the leg.

Heidari, who kicked a 46-yard field goal in the Trojans recent scrimmage at the Coliseum, has a cannon for a leg, and will regularly produce touchbacks on kickoffs in addition to the necessary long field goal.

With options other than Heidari being limited, the true freshman wins almost by default.

Having said that, it should be noted that Heidari will letter this year on merit.

And that is why he is the No. 1 freshman to avoid a redshirt and help the Trojans in 2011.

Conclusion

It should be noted that at the time of this writing, fall camp is only about half over.

That means there is a lot of time for any of the new players to make a move or for those who have distinguished themselves, to fall back.

In other words, this is a very fluid list.

And it must be emphasized that Lane Kiffin would love to redshirt as many of these guys as possible,

So, for a guy like Amir Carlisle, if Kiffin can bring back Marc Tyler and get D.J. Morgan's knee right, he may have the depth at tailback that would preclude the need for Carlisle to play in 2011.

Unfortunately, when a program is faced with scholarship reductions like the Trojans are, considerations for the future are paramount.

But if camp ended today, this list represents who has the best shot to play in the upcoming year.

How will this list look by the time the season starts?

Get back to me in a couple of weeks and we'll both know.

Check out this great companion piece on the most likely true freshmen starters by Bill N.