NFL Draft Recap
17/May, 2012
In case you missed it, three Trojans were selected in the 2012 NFL Draft and several more have latched onto professional teams as undrafted free agents.
- 1st Round - LT Matt Kalil, Vikings
- 1st Round - OLB Nick Perry, Packers
- 4th Round - FB Rhett Ellison, Vikings
UFA - DT DaJohn Harris, Titans
UFA - RB Marc Tyler, Packers
UFA - WR Brandon Carswell, Raiders
UFA - LB Chris Galippo, Colts
UFA - DT Christian Tupou, Chargers
2013 NFL Draft Projections
17/May, 2012
USC football had only three players drafted in 2012, which was its lowest total since 2002. In this case, the stat reflects more on how loaded the Trojans are for next season more than any talent attrition in the program.
As the 2013 mock drafts start to come out, it is clear that USC players will dominate the headlines next April. For example, Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has three Trojans projected in his first round with QB Matt Barkley at No. 1, WR Robert Woods at No. 4 and S T.J. McDonald at No. 29.
Among the seniors, Barkley and McDonald are just two of the names to watch. C Khaled Holmes, DE Wes Horton, DE Devon Kennard, S Jawanza Starling and RB Curtis McNeal should all attract NFL interest.
The list of draft eligible underclassmen is headlined by Woods and CB Nickell Robey, but they can also opt to follow Barkley and McDonald down the four year path.
Just like 2002 when only CB Kris Richard and CB Chris Cash were drafted, the pipeline is only filling up with talent and the explosion begins next year.
(Source: usctrojans.cstv.com)
17/May, 2012
Matt Leinart signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders this week to serve as Carson Palmer’s backup.
The two Heisman Trophy winners are used to this scenario. Leinart was Palmer’s understudy in 2001 and 2002 before taking over for the 2003 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick.
Combined, the duo passed for 171 touchdowns in their Trojan careers.
The quarterback photo from 2001 has a few familiar faces with Palmer and Leinart joined by Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel, Hawaii head coach Norm Chow and Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian.
17/May, 2012
Do you want to see USC take on Oregon and/or Notre Dame at the Coliseum? Purchasing a mini-plan is the cheapest way to do it.
Click here to buy!
The Notre Dame + 1 pack is $150 per seat. The Oregon + 1 pack is $120.
30/April, 2012
USC quarterback Matt Barkley decided to put the NFL on hold and return for his senior season for what he called “unfinished business.” In fact, the theme of the 2012 season for USC football is: “unfinished business.”
Feeling they had something to prove led the Trojans to 10 wins in 2011. They were arguably the hottest team in the country during the last half of the season and were ranked sixth in the nation in the final AP poll. But because of the bowl ban, they weren’t allowed to play past Nov. 26.
Hence, ”unfinished business.”
“I think a lot needs to get done every year, and for us maybe more than normal just because we have something to prove,” Barkley said.
Does “unfinished business” entail USC returning to the top of the Pac-12 and finding the road back up the 110 to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl? Does it mean winning a BCS national championship? Perhaps, is it just a bowl game in a warm-weather state?
Whatever its meaning is, it underscores an important distinction this spring: USC is expecting big things come fall.
For a team coming off of two years of postseason bowl bans, many might say simply playing beyond the regular season would be considered a success.
With Barkley’s return, the Trojans figure to enter the 2012 season ranked in the top five, possibly even as high as No. 1. The team returns 19 starters, including two specialists after closing 2011 with four consecutive victories. Barkley figures to be a leading Heisman candidate. Even, Lane Kiffin is suddenly palatable these day.
In the final analysis, each person who follows the Trojans will have different criteria for what defines success for their team in the upcoming season.
What is certain is that those expectations will be huge for the cardinal and gold this year.
