University Southern California Trojans
1998 USC Football Preseason Notes
June 21, 1999 | Football
August 6, 1998
THE SCHEDULE
The 1998 schedule presents the challenges that USC fans have come to expect (the Trojans have played slates ranked among the nation's Top 5 in 4 of the past 5 years), but it is a bit more palatable than past years. That's because Troy plays 7 home games--including 5 of its first 6--in the Coliseum in 1998, the 75th anniversary of Trojan football in that historic stadium.
Playing so many games in familiar confines could be critical to this Trojan squad as it gets used to a new coaching staff. Hackett's debut will come in front of a national audience as USC hosts Purdue on Aug. 30 in the Pigskin Classic. Other home contests see Troy playing Notre Dame (which USC has defeated the past 2 years), likely Pac-10 favorites Arizona State and Washington, plus California, Oregon State (as former USC assistant Mike Riley makes his return to the Coliseum) and San Diego State (coached by ex-USC head coach Ted Tollner). USC doesn't take to the road until its fourth game of the year, but it'll be demanding--at Florida State. The other away games are at UCLA (which owns a 7-game winning streak over Troy), defending Pac-10 champion Washington State, Stanford and Oregon.
DATE OPPONENT TIME (TV) Aug. 30 Purdue (Pigskin Classic) 11:30 a.m. (ABC) Sept. 12 San Diego State 7:30 p.m. (FSW2) Sept. 19 Oregon State 7 p.m. (FSW2) Sept. 26 at Florida State 3:30 p.m. (ABC) Oct. 3 Arizona State 4 p.m. (ABC) Oct. 10 California TBA Oct. 17 at Washington State TBA Oct. 24 at Oregon TBA Oct. 31 Washington TBA Nov. 7 at Stanford TBA Nov. 21 at UCLA TBA Nov. 28 Notre Dame 5 p.m. (ABC)
1997 RESULTS
(6-5 overall, 4-4 5th place tie Pac-10)
7 Florida State 14 21 Washington State 28 27 at California 17 35 UNLV 21 7 at Arizona State 35 20 at Notre Dame 17 24 Oregon 22 0 at Washington 27 45 Stanford 21 23 at Oregon State 0 24 UCLA 31
RETURNING STARTERS (15)
OFFENSE (7) WR R. Jay Soward OG Travis Claridge WR Billy Miller QB John Fox TE Antoine Harris OT Ken Bowen OT Rome DouglasDEFENSE (8) LB Chris Claiborne CB Daylon McCutcheon LB Mark Cusano S Rashard Cook S David Gibson CB Antuan Simmons DE Sultan Abdul-Malik DT Marc Matock
KICKERS (1) PK Adam Abrams
OTHERS RETURNING WITH CAREER STARTS S Grant Pearsall (12) WR Larry Parker (11) CB Ken Haslip (8) TB Chad Morton (7) PK Adam Rendon (6) WR Mike Bastianelli (4) FB Marvin Powell III (4) FB Ted Iacenda (4) S Darnell Lacy (3) OT-OG Faaesea Mailo (3) TB Malaefou MacKenzie (2) QB Mike Van Raaphorst (2) OG-C David Pratchard (2) DE Lawrence Larry (2) DT Aaron Williams (1)
PRE-SEASON RANKINGS...
Here's a look at where the 1998 Trojans are ranked by various pre-season prognosticators:
National Pacific-10
College Football Preview 11th 1st
GamePlan 17th 4th
Football News 18th 3rd
The Sporting News 20th 3rd
Lindy's 21st 3rd
Athlon 27th 5th
Bob Griese's 37th 6th
Street & Smith's NR 5th
...AND PRE-SEASON HONORS
Senior CB Daylon McCutcheon (Bob Griese's), junior LB Chris Claiborne (The Sporting News, Street & Smith's) and junior OG Travis Claridge (College Football Preview) have been named to 1998 pre-season All-American first teams. McCutcheon, Claiborne, Claridge, junior WR R. Jay Soward, sophomore DE Sultan Abdul-Malik, senior DT Marc Matock, senior WR Billy Miller, senior OT Ken Bowen and sophomore TB Malaefou MacKenzie were named to various pre-season All-Pac-10 first teams.
Also, 4 of USC's position units are ranked high nationally by various publications: wide receivers (No. 1 by Lindy's), defensive backs (No. 4 by The Sporting News and Athlon), linebackers (No. 4 by College Football Preview) and special teams (No. 6 by Lindy's).
RETURNING STARTERS
The 1998 USC team features 15 returning starters (7 on offense and 8 on defense), plus the placekicker, from 1997. Back are 82 squadmen from 1997, including 48 who saw action last fall and 30 who have started at least once in their career. Thirty-two players on USC's 1997 season-ending 2-deep return.
LAST YEAR
John Robinson's 1997 USC squad went 6-5 overall (4-4 for a fifth-place tie in the Pacific-10 Conference), but Troy was not that far from having a successful season in 1997. Playing the nation's second-most difficult schedule while facing 7 bowl-bound teams, all of the Trojans' 5 losses came against teams ranked in the final AP Top 18 and whose combined record was 48-12. Three of USC's defeats were by just a touchdown, including 2 coming in the fourth quarter.
USC PRE-SEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE
For the first time since 1993, USC will conduct its pre-season practices at UC Irvine. Troy's 1998 drills there run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 28. (From 1984 through 1993, except for 1986, USC held some of its pre-season camp at UC Irvine.)
HACKETT
Energetic and innovative Paul Hackett, a one-time USC assistant coach who has been on coaching staffs that have won a national championship in college and a Super Bowl in the pros, returned to Troy as its head football coach on Dec. 17, 1997.
Regarded as one of the game's most progressive offensive coaches, he has 29 years of experience as a college and professional assistant and head coach. He has tutored some of football's top players--including Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Jerry Rice, Andre Rison, Tony Dorsett, Steve Bartkowski, Charles White, Brian Sipe, Herschel Walker, Danny White, Dwight Clark and Vince Evans--and has worked under such head coaches as Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, Marty Schottenheimer and Robinson. Before coming to Troy, Hackett was the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive coordinator for 5 years (1993-97). The Chiefs advanced to the NFL playoffs in 4 of those years, including 1997. Before that, he was at the University of Pittsburgh (1989-92), the first season as the quarterbacks coach and then 3 seasons as the Panthers' head coach (posting a 13-20-1 record).
Hackett began his coaching career for 3 seasons (1969-71) at his alma mater, UC Davis. He next was an assistant at California for 4 years (1972-75). Then, at age 29, Hackett moved to USC for 5 years (1976-80), where he was in charge of the quarterbacks and receivers for the first 2 years and then the quarterbacks and passing game the final 3 years. During his Trojan tenure, USC was the 1978 national champion, won 4 bowl games (including 3 Rose Bowls), posted a 50-8-2 record and produced a Heisman Trophy winner (Charles White). Hackett began his pro coaching career as quarterbacks coach with the Cleveland Browns for 2 seasons (1981-82). He next was the quarterbacks and receivers coach with the San Francisco 49ers for 3 years (1983-85). The 49ers won Super Bowl XIX in the 1984 season. He then became the pass offense coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys for 3 years (1986-88) before returning to the college ranks at Pitt.
A 3-year starting quarterback at UC Davis (1966-68), Hackett collects old music juke boxes filled with 1950s and 1960s rock 'n roll music. A rock music fan, he sat in the front row at the final Beatles concert, held in 1966 in Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Born on July 5, 1947 in Burlington, Vt., he shares a birthday with former USC head coach John McKay.
QUOTING PAUL HACKETT
THE 1998 TROJANS
"First, we must earn back our respect. Our next goal is to go to the Rose Bowl. When that happens, then you set yourself up for good things. Until we reach those goals, though, we won't be satisfied and we won't be able to rest. Rebuilding is not part of my philosophy. We are planning and expecting to win.
"We will play to our strengths. Our main strength is our experience on defense, particularly in the secondary. Offensively, there is an excitement of the unknown, of who will come to the front in key positions. And on special teams, I'm excited about the attacking, pressing style we'll deploy.
"After our primary goal of going to the Rose Bowl, defeating UCLA and Notre Dame are the principal focus of this team. We must find a way to continue the momentum against Notre Dame and turn the tide against UCLA.
"I love our players' attitudes and their willingness to do what it takes. I saw that right away in the winter and summer conditioning program and in spring practice. If they are as receptive to our coaching in the fall as they were in conditioning and spring ball, I'll be a very happy coach when all is said and done."
THE OFFENSE
"The foundation for our offense will be power running out of the I formation or with two tight ends. The other theme will be balance. To do that, we'll have to devise multiple formations where we can run or pass. So, the base is power running out of two-back sets and then we'll expand for balance.
"We must establish an attitude and priority for power running. It's about wearing people down, about having patience and believing in what we are doing. We must commit to a running game while showing balance on offense. The question is, 'Do we have a runner to do the things that it takes in a power running attack?'
"We must have a powerful blocking fullback and tight end. Power running is primarily about lead back blocking. That person is vital to the runner's success. We must find a multi-talented player with a strong blocking mentality.
"As for having balance offensively, that's mostly driven by the quarterback position. I know we have outstanding wide receivers and good young tight ends. All eyes will be on the passers and runners. And finding stability in the offensive line will be important, too."
THE DEFENSE
"Our defensive philosophy centers around the four-man line and pressure defense. With a lot of returning players on defense, including an extremely strong secondary, we can have multiple alignments and take chances which will allow our speed to show itself. Attacking, pursuing, speed, multiple...that's the best way to describe what our 4-3 defense will be like."
THE SPECIAL TEAMS
"We will make a major commitment to special teams. This can be a weapon for us. Our special teams will be attacking and pressing all the time. There can't be many better kickers around than Adam Abrams. And we'll dip into a stockpile of receivers, running backs and defensive backs to field dangerous return teams. But we have a big hole to fill at punter."
CLAIBORNE
Anchoring the middle of USC's defense is one of the nation's elite defensive players, junior pre-season All- American LB Chris Claiborne (76 tackles, 16 for losses, 1 fumble recovery in 1997). A strong candidate for All-American honors and the Butkus Award, he was an All-Pac-10 first teamer in 1997 after being a Freshman All-American first team pick in 1996.
Always around the ball, he already has posted 192 tackles in his time at Troy (including 6 games in double figures). He was USC's co-leader in sacks last season with 7.
McCUTCHEON
Headlining USC's secondary is senior pre-season All-American CB Daylon McCutcheon (45 tackles, 4 for losses, 7 deflections, 2 interceptions in 1997), an All-American and Thorpe Award candidate who has started the past 3 seasons. He was a pre-season All-American last fall after earning 1996 All-Pac-10 first team acclaim. A true triple-threat player, look for him again on defense, special teams and offense in 1998. He is one of the nation's finest coverage corners (he has 7 interceptions, 31 deflections and 143 tackles in his career). He also is a dangerous kickoff returner with a 19.9 career average. And he played wide receiver and tailback in 1997 (making 3 catches for a 13.7 average and gaining 26 yards with a TD on 3 carries).
SOWARD
Junior WR R. Jay Soward (48 catches, 17.3 average, 8 TDs in 1997, plus 26.3 average and 1 TD on kickoff returns, 7.4 average on punt returns, and 6 carries, 101 yards, 16.8 average, 2 TDs rushing) enters 1998 as perhaps college football's most exciting and explosive player. A flanker, he's a strong candidate for All-American honors and the Biletnikoff Award. In his career, he has scored a touchdown every 5.6 times he has touched the ball (18 TDs on 107 plays) and those scores have averaged 53.5 yards. Thirteen of his TDs have been on receptions, 3 on kickoff returns (the NCAA career record is 6) and 2 on reverses. He has had 4 games with 100-plus receiving yards. He has been a thorn to UCLA, having caught 14 passes for 441 yards (31.5 average) and 4 TDs in 2 outings. He already ranks fifth on USC's all-time kickoff return chart (834 yards) and 24th on its career pass catching list (66 grabs).
R. JAY SOWARD'S CAREER LONG PLAYS (40-PLUS YARDS)
YARDS PLAY OPPONENT YEAR 98 (TD) KOR Arizona State 1996 97 (TD) Rec. Illinois 1996 95 (TD) KOR Washington State 1997 80 (TD) Rec. UCLA 1997 78 (TD) KOR Washington State 1996 78 (TD) Rec. UCLA 1996 78 (TD) Rec. UNLV 1997 66 Rec. UCLA 1996 65 (TD) Rec. California 1997 60 (TD) Rec. UCLA 1996 56 KOR Houston 1996 49 KOR Notre Dame 1996 44 (TD) Rec. UNLV 1997 40 Rec. UCLA 1997
QUARTERBACKS
The Trojans have all 3 quarterbacks from last year's roster back in 1998. A year ago, they had 22 snaps and 5 pass attempts between them. This year, each is seasoned.
Efficient sophomore Mike Van Raaphorst (21-of-46, 45.7%, 218 yards, 1 TD, 2 interceptions in 1997) emerged from 1998 spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback. He started against Washington and Stanford while appearing in 5 games in 1997. He won the starting job mid-season and likely would have held onto the spot except for a season-ending ankle sprain late in the Stanford contest. He's also an outstanding student, with a team-best 3.68 GPA as a journalism major.
Juniors John Fox (153-of-280, 54.6%, 1,940 yards, 12 TDs, 8 interceptions in 1997) and Quincy Woods (4-of-9, 44.4%, 22 yards, 1 interception) enter 1998 sharing the backup duties. Fox started 9 times last fall (the first 7 games and the final 2). He was solid, though not spectacular, in 1997 despite being hampered all season with an ankle sprain and already ranks 15th on USC's career passing ladder. Known for his poise and strong arm, his best outing of 1997 was a 355-yard, 2-TD performance against UNLV while hitting 23-of-32 aerials. Woods proved equally adept at passing and running while appearing as a reserve in 5 games last fall.
Two prep All-Americans-- Carson Palmer (Santa Margarita High in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and Jason Thomas (Dominguez High in Compton, Calif.)--join the quarterback mix this fall as freshmen.
RUNNING BACKS
Both the tailback and fullback spots have depth, but the players are relatively inexperienced.
At tailback, junior Chad Morton (30 carries, 214 yards, 7.1 average, 1 TD in 1997, plus 25 tackles, 5 deflections and 2 interceptions and an 8.6 punt return average) and sophomore Malaefou MacKenzie (96 carries, 332 yards, 3.5 average, 3 TDs in 1997, plus 5 catches, 4.4 average) come into the 1998 campaign listed as co-staters. Morton has proven to be one of USC's most versatile players, starring on defense (free safety and cornerback), offense (tailback and wide receiver) and special teams (he's 16th on Troy's career punt return list). He has started 7 games in the secondary in his career (4 at free safety in 1997) and has made 48 tackles and 2 interceptions. But this lightning-quick jitterbug has also gained 385 career yards (a stellar 6.9 average per carry) with 3 scores in 6 games as a tailback at USC. He had 109 yards (with a 69-yard non-scoring burst on his first carry of the season) on just 7 carries last year against Stanford (he also had a 49-yard TD run versus UCLA in 1997) and 143 yards (with a 73-yard TD) on 13 tries against Oregon State in 1996. Also a fine student (3.41 GPA in sociology), he earned 1997 Pac-10 All-Academic first team honors.
The hard-running MacKenzie was second on the Trojans in rushing in 1997 and started twice (just the third USC first-year freshman to ever start at tailback). He gained 104 yards (with 2 scores) against UNLV off the bench.
It's possible a trio of prep All-Americans will work into the tailback mix as freshmen: Miguel Fletcher (Alemany High in Mission Hills, Calif.), Sultan McCullough (Muir High in Pasadena, Calif.) and Frank Strong (Franklin High in Stockton, Calif.).
More unsettled is the fullback corps, which includes senior Marvin Powell III (1 reception, 7.0 average in 1997, plus 3 tackles), who played tight end last year after starting 4 games at fullback in 1996 (he has yet to carry the ball as a Trojan), and sophomores Ted Iacenda (1 carry, 0 yards in 1997, plus 1 reception, 5.0 average and 5 tackles), a 4-game starter in 1997 who has suffered season-ending shoulder injuries the past 2 years, and Brennan Ochs (most of his action has been on special teams), among others. Ochs came out of 1998 spring drills as the starter, but Powell and Iacenda didn't get a complete look in the spring because of injuries.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The Trojans are loaded at the wide receiver spots. Five players have started on the NCAA Division I-A level and all claim at least 49 career catches.
Besides the previously-mentioned Soward, USC can turn to other equally-effective wide outs. Big and fast senior Billy Miller (56 catches, 11.6 average, 2 TDs in 1997) topped Troy in receiving (fifth in the Pac-10) last fall and should start again at split end. He had a catch in all 11 games of 1997, had a trio of 100-yard performances and had 4 games with at least 8 clutches. He ranks 17th among Trojan career pass catchers (76 receptions). Sure-handed Mike Bastianelli (33 catches, 11.4 average, 3 TDs in 1997), another senior, didn't start last season, but played often enough to rank third on the team in catches. He has 58 career receptions. Then there's senior Larry Parker, who redshirted last season because of a foot injury, but has 49 career catches. He started all of 1995 and grabbed 25 tosses. Also a fine punt returner, he is 19th on Troy's career list with 304 yards.
TIGHT ENDS
He's only a sophomore, but Antoine Harris (12 catches, 13.3 average in 1997) is a veteran, having started all of last season while being the first true freshman ever to start at the position at USC. A dominating blocker and able receiver, he earned Freshman All-American second team laurels in 1997. His late stepfather was actor/comedian Robin Harris. Redshirt freshman Lonnie Ford (1 catch, 5.0 average in 1997) missed the second half of 1997 with a broken clavicle, but has similar skills to Harris.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Perhaps the key to Troy's offensive success will be how its line develops. Because of various injuries, spring drills didn't fully clarify the personnel here.
Three players return as starters, led by junior pre-season All-American right OG Travis Claridge (6-6, 310). Big, strong, tough and aggressive, he has started all 23 games of his USC career (he was a Freshman All-American first team member in 1996). Look for him to garner some national honors in 1998.
Both 1997 tackles are back as seniors: Ken Bowen (6-8, 335), a starter on the right side the past 2 years and one of the team's biggest players, and Rome Douglas (6-7, 305), who has 14 starts on the left over the past 2 seasons (including 4 in 1997). Entering the 1998 season, Bowen and Douglas are listed as possible starters on the right side along with Matt Welch, a J.C. All- American last year at Santa Ana (Calif.) College who was enrolled at USC for 1998 spring drills. Douglas also is a backup on the left to untested sophomore Brent McCaffrey, who put on an impressive showing in the spring and won the starting job.
Juniors Jason Grain and Donta Kendrick go into 1998 as the co-starters at left guard. Like Welch, Kendrick was at USC for 1998 spring practice after a J.C. All-American season at Sacramento (Calif.) City College. Junior Matt McShanewon the starting center job, but he doesn't have any appreciable experience.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Like on offense, the line is USC's top concern on defense. Sure, there are some good players here, but lack of depth is the worry.
Senior DT Marc Matock (26 tackles, 5 for losses, 4 deflections, 1 interception in 1997) and sophomore DE Sultan Abdul-Malik (26 tackles, 15 for losses, 3 deflections in 1997) return as starters. The beefy Matock, who saved USC's win over Oregon last fall with a blocked field goal, should clog up the middle. Abdul-Malik earned Freshman All-American first team notice in 1997 and tied for the USC lead in sacks (7).
Senior Lawrence Larry (11 tackles, 3 for losses, 1 fumble recovery in 1997) enters 1998 as the starter at the other end spot, while junior Aaron Williams (15 tackles, 3 for losses, 1 deflection in 1997) has won the other tackle job. Both have seen considerable time in the past and have even started during their careers (Larry twice and Williams once). Among the help arriving this fall is junior DT Darren Collins, a former Marine who transfers in from Santa Rosa (Calif.) College.
LINEBACKERS
Not too far behind the previously-described Claiborne in ability is senior LB Mark Cusano (74 tackles, 9 for losses, 3 deflections, 2 interceptions in 1997), who like Claiborne has been in the starting lineup the past 2 years. Cusano will return to the strong side (his 1996 spot) after handling the weak side last season. He is Notre Dame's worst nightmare because of his instrumental plays in USC's wins over the Irish the last 2 years (a game-ending pass deflection in overtime in 1996 and a late fourth-quarter interception to set up the winning field goal in 1997). He could collect some national honors in 1998. Redshirt freshman Darryl Knight (he sat out most of 1997 with an arm injury), whose brothers Ryan and Sammy played at USC, had an impressive spring and won the starting weakside linebacker role.
SECONDARY
USC's strength on defense is in the secondary, where there is a slew of experienced and talented defensive backs.
The cornerback spot opposite the already-mentioned McCutcheon will be manned by sophomore Antuan Simmons(71 tackles, 8 for losses, 3 deflections, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception in 1997) or senior Ken Haslip (3 tackles, 2 deflections in 1997). Simmons, a 1997 Freshman All-American first teamer, started the first half of last season at rover linebacker and the last half at strong safety. He was USC's tackle leader in 3 games last fall. Haslip started at cornerback in 1996 (getting 21 stops and a pick) and was versatile enough to even see brief early-season action at wide receiver in 1997 (he didn't catch a pass).
USC will choose from 3 safeties, each who has started for a season. There's hard-hitting senior Rashard Cook (79 tackles, 8 for losses, 6 deflections, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions in 1997), Troy's tackle and interception leader last fall when he started the first part of the year at strong safety and the last part at free safety, where he'll start in 1998. Some 67 of his stops in 1997 were solo. Then there's equally hard-hitting junior David Gibson (66 tackles, 20 for losses, 3 deflections in 1997), who started the last half of 1997 at rover linebacker but has been moved to safety for 1998. He topped USC in tackles for losses last year (20) and the Pac-10 in forced fumbles (5). He was the Trojans' leading tackler 3 times last season. Finally, there's just-as-hard-hitting senior Grant Pearsall, who redshirted 1997 because of a knee injury, but registered 66 tackles as the starting strong safety the year before. Gibson and Pearsall enter 1998 as co-starters at strong safety.
SPECIALISTS
USC sports one of college football's best placekickers in senior Adam Abrams (10-of-11 field goals, 25-of-27 PATs in 1997), who was the Pac-10's most accurate field goal kicker in 1997 (90.9%). He's back for his fourth season handling the placement duties and is riding a streak of 10 consecutive field goals and 21 straight PATs. Twice, his field goals proved to be game winners (Notre Dame last year and Northwestern in the 1996 Rose Bowl). In his career, he has nailed 28 field goals and 79 extra points. Also an outstanding student (he made the 1997 Pac-10 All-Academic first team), he's a candidate for Academic All-American honors with his 3.36 GPA in business administration. The biggest question mark on special teams is who will be the punter. Though green, redshirt freshman Mike MacGillivray answered that with a fine outing in the spring.
ANNIVERSARIES
The 1998 season marks a number of special USC anniversaries:
Anniversary Event 20th USC's last national championship team (1978) 30th O.J. Simpson's 1968 Heisman Trophy-winning season 60th USC's upset of unbeaten, unscored-upon Duke in 1939 Rose Bowl 70th USC's first national championship team (1928) 70th The 70th USC-Notre Dame game 75th USC's first football game in the Coliseum
ROSTER ADDITIONS/DELETIONS
Late in the summer, USC added 2 new players who don't appear in the 1998 media guide. Chad Pierson, a 6-2, 220-pound freshman fullback/linebacker from Oxnard (Calif.) High (he'll wear jersey No. 47), rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a 1997 senior (and he blocked for a 2,000-yard tailback). His 1997 honors included All-CIF Division III first team, Los Angeles Times All-Ventura County MVP, Ventura County Star Ventura County MVP and All-Channel League Offensive MVP. He ran for 721 yards on 90 carries (8.0 avg.) With 7 TDs as a 1996 junior. He also starred in baseball at Oxnard, hitting over .400 as an outfielder.
Matt Childers, a 6-4, 250-pound junior defensive lineman (he'll wear No. 93), transferred in from Kansas State, but he'll have to sit out the 1998 campaign. He signed with the Wildcats last spring from Cabot College in Hayward (Calif.), where he was coached by former Trojan assistant Tony Caviglia. As a 1997 sophomore at Chabot, he earned Super Prep JUCO 100, Prep Star Top 100, J.C. Athletic Bureau All-State Region II first team and All-Golden Gate Conference first team honors while notching 17 sacks. In 1996 as a freshman, he made the All-Golden Gate Conference honorable mention while posting 12 tackles for losses and 8 sacks. He prepped at Castro Valley (Calif.) High, winning All-League Defensive MVP honors as a 1995 senior. He was All-League first team as a 1994 junior. He also played soccer, baseball and volleyball at Castro Valley. Also, 2 players who appear in the 1998 media guide will not be with the Trojans.
Redshirt freshman WR Rod Perry Jr., the son of ex-NFLer Rod Perry who sat out the 1997 season with a knee injury but was an often-used reserve centerfielder on USC's 1998 College World Series champion baseball team, has given up football and is expected to transfer. Freshman P/PK Jeff Weichman, who missed 1998 spring practice because of intestinal problems, will not be with the Trojans because of medical reasons.
RANDOM NOTES
