USC Football: USC Trojans All-Time NFL Offensive Unit

The University of Southern California, situated in Los Angeles, has undoubtedly been an elite football factory throughout their program's history.

Producing an astonishing and top-ranked 472 NFL players (74 of which have been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft—also tops for college football), many Trojans enjoy fairly successful careers in the NFL after making their way through the collegiate ranks.

In fact, the Trojans currently have 11 players in the NFL Hall of Fame (Frank Gifford, Ron Mix, Morris Badgro, O.J. Simpson, Willie Wood, Anthony Munoz, Ronnie Lott, Lynn Swan, Ron Yary, Marcus Allen, Bruce Matthews), and more will certainly be added to this list as more and more Trojans cycle through the ranks of the NFL.

Whether it be coming into USC as an elite player and developing their skills under a pro-style offense or the specific type of coaching at USC that breeds player to be greater than their potential, USC Trojans are always special players in the NFL.

Though there are certainly a great number of strong defensive players in the NFL that have come out of USC (Clay Matthews III and Troy Polamalu immediately come to mind), a lot of offensive players from USC have impressed audiences in the NFL as well.

Here is a list of the USC Trojans all-time NFL offensive unit based on their performance in their NFL careers.

Offensive Tackle: Ron Mix

Ron Mix is the first man on this list and is probably the one that was smartest on and off the field. 

Beyond being a professional football player, Mix obtained a Juris Doctorate in Law degree and was dubbed as "The Intellectual Assassin" on the field. In fact, in 10 years of play in the NFL, Mix received only two holding calls, a remarkable achievement for a player at any level. 

Originally drafted as the No. 1 pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1960, Ron decided to take his talents to the then AFL, where he was also a first pick.

Mix played for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers from 1960-1969 and also played for the Oakland Raiders in 1971 and 1972.

Mix was one of the most dominant players on the field, and this was reflected by nine straight AFL All-Star appearances, as well as being named to the All-time AFL-team. 

In 1963, he helped the Chargers win the AFL Championship and is known as one of the greatest linemen in the history of professional football.

He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1979 and was also elected into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1980. 

Offensive Guard: Bruce Matthews

Another one of those Trojan linemen who eventually held back the attack of opposing defensive lines, Bruce Matthews is part of one of the most dominant football families in America that has produced Clay Matthews, Clay Matthews Jr., Bruce Matthews, Clay Matthews III and now, Casey Matthews.

Bruce played 19 years in the NFL for the Oilers, who eventually would become the Titans. 

Drafted ninth overall by the Oilers, Matthews is now considered as one of the best linemen in NFL history. He made appearances in 14 Pro Bowls and was elected to the 1990s NFL All-Decade Team.

He finished his career with appearances in 296 games, the most of any NFL linemen all-time, while also starting 229 consecutive games in a row. 

Matthews joined the NFL Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2007, the first year that he was eligible for the extraordinary honor. 

He is now an offensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans and will go down in history as one of the NFL's best linemen. 

Center: Ryan Kalil

During his time with the Trojans, Ryan Kalil was a dominant force on the offensive line, and that has been reflected in the NFL ranks. As a USC Trojan, Kalil was consistently one of the top offensive linemen in the Pac-10 and was also named a Sports Illustrated All-American in 2005.

He was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers and was the first center off the board in that draft.

Named the full-time center for the Panthers in 2008, Kalil has done nothing but impress coaches and dominate opposing defensive lines. He made the Pro Bowl in 2010 after Shaun O'Hara of the New York Giants pulled out of the game and was also the first-alternate center in the 2009 Pro Bowl.

On August 19, 2011, Kalil signed the largest contract ever for a center, with a six-year, $49 million dollar deal that will keep him with the Panthers for years to come.

Kalil was also given the franchise tag in 2011 and surely has a bright future ahead of him in the NFL.

Offensive Guard: Brade Budde

Brad Budde was an impressive football player at USC. The first freshman to start the first game on the offensive line for the USC Torjans, Budde excelled at the collegiate level. He was named as a first team All-American in 1979 and was also the first USC Trojan to win the Lombardi Award in 1979.

After college, Budde went on to be drafted in 1980 by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 11th pick in the draft, where his All-Pro offensive guard father, Ed Budde, had played football as well.

Brad enjoyed a fairly successful career with the Chiefs and played with them through the 1987 season.

After retiring, Budde was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998 and joined the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Offensive Tackle: Ron Yary

One of the most dominant linemen in the history of USC as well as the NFL, Ron Yary had one of the most prolific careers of any Trojan in the NFL.

A two-time All-American at USC who led the way for RB O.J. Simpson, Yary won a National Championship with the Trojans in 1967.

The first pick in the 1968 NFL draft, Yary played with the Minnesota Vikings from 1968 through 1981 and finished up his career by playing in 1982 for the Los Angeles Rams.

He was the first lineman in the history of the draft to be selected first overall and was definitely worth the pick, being selected to the Pro Bowl seven times as well as earning All-Pro Honors during six years of his career. Yary was also elected to the 1970s All-Decade team and helped lead the Vikings to 11 division titles during his tenure with the team.

Considered as one of the best offensive linemen in the history of the game, Yary made appearances in four Super Bowls, all with the Vikings.

A highly intelligent player who possessed all the assets of a quality player, Yary showed his true strength by only missing two games due to injury during his entire career and was one of the most reliable players of his generation.

Ron Yary was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and eventually was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001.

Wide Receiver: Keyshawn Johnson

One of the greatest Trojans to grace the grounds of the Coliseum, Keyshawn Johnson was a two time All-American during his time at USC.

After finishing an impressive collegiate career, Keyshawn was drafted with the first overall pick in the 1996 draft by the New York Jets and took his talents to the NFL ranks.

One of the most dominant receivers during his time, Keyshawn played with the New York Jets, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys, and finished up his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers in 2006.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and was an All-Pro selection in 1998.

During his time in Tampa Bay under head coach Jon Gruden, he became the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2002.

He retired in 2007 after decideing to pursue different career paths despite many teams still wanting his services.

He is currently an analyst for ESPN.

Wide Receiver: Lynn Swann

Lynn Swann may be one of the greatest Trojans to ever play football at both the collegiate and professional level. As a Trojan, Swann was an All-American and helped the Trojans to an undefeated national championship season in 1972.

Described as one of the most graceful, fast and fluent players of his time, Swann was drafted 21st overall in the 1974 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had one of the best draft classes in the history of the NFL.

During his career from 1974 to 1982 (all with the Pittsburgh Steelers), Swann amassed 51 touchdowns and 5,462 yards and was one of the best players of the decade.

Swann collected four Super Bowl rings during his time with the Steelers and was selected as the MVP of Super Bowl X after recording four catches for 161 yards, a Super Bowl record.

Other than collecting Super Bowl titles, Swan was also elected to the 1970s All-Decade team and made appearances in three Pro Bowls.

He joined the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001, and will always be considered one of the best wide receivers to play the game of football.

Tight End: Charle Young

Charles Young was another dominant player to come out of USC and burst onto the NFL level. An All-American who won a National Championship with USC in 1972, Young eventually played 13 memorable seasons in the NFL.

Drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973, he earned Rookie of the Year honors and was considered as one of the up-and-coming stars in the NFL.

Young played 13 seasons in the NFL, split between the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, and finished up his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 1985.

He was selected to four Pro Bowls and made appearances in Super Bowl XIV and XVI.

Charels Young finished his career with 418 receptions for 1,250 yards and nine TDs.

Though he is not in the NFL Hall of Fame, Young was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Full Back: Sam Cunningham

Known as Sam "Bam" Cunningham to most of his constituents, Cunningham was yet another player who helped lead the Trojans to a 1972 National Championship. During his time with the Men of Troy, he was one of the most dominant full-backs in the nation and changed the way the position was played. He was selected as an All-American during the 1972 season and was eventually the 11th overall pick by the New England Patriots in the 1973 NFL Draft.

Cunningham played his entire career with the Patriots, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 1978, and was the team's leading rusher in the years of 1973 and 1975-1979.

He finished his career in 1982 with 5,453 rushing yards, 1,905 receiving yards and a collective total of 49 touchdowns.

Sam "Bam" Cunningham would be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2010.

Running Back: Marcus Allen

Marcus Allen is the greatest of all the great running backs to come out of what is known as "Tailback-U."

Drafted 10th overall by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1982, Marcus Allen enjoyed one of the most heralded careers as a running back until his final season in 1997 with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Over his career, Allen rushed for an astonishing 12,243 yards and 123 touchdowns and was selected to appear in six Pro Bowls.

Marcus Allen also was the main factor in a Raiders victory in Super Bowl XVIII over the Redskins, where he was honored as Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 191 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

He was decorated with awards throughout his entire career and is considered to be one of the greatest running-backs to ever play the game. Marcus won Rookie of the Year in 1982 and was the NFL Offensive MVP as well as NFL MVP in 1985, and was a two-time All-Pro selection during his astonishing career.

Marcus Allen was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Quarterback: Carson Palmer

One of the greatest quarterbacks to play at USC, Carson Palmer has enjoyed his fair share of success in the NFL.

Selected first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2003 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman Trophy in 2002, Palmer immediately took his talents to the NFL level.

Palmer was named to the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006, including being selected as the Pro Bowl MVP in the latter year. Though he has been mired by injury and surrounded by a lack-of-talent through his career, that has not stopped Palmer from amassing 22,810 yards through the air, as well as 154 TDs.

Besides the Pro Bowl honors in 2005, Palmer also won the Fedex Player of the Year Honors due to his performance that season, where he led the Bengals to an 11-5 record, as well as a division title and their first winning season since 1990.

Palmer briefly retired before the 2011 season due to conflicts with the Bengals front office and has since been traded to the Oakland Raiders, where he is looking to show that he can still play the game of football at an elite level.