University Southern California Trojans
USC Football Pre-Season Notes
July 29, 2003 | Football
July 29, 2003
Pre-Season Notes in PDF Format
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PRE-SEASON RANKINGS...
Here's a look at where the 2003 Trojans are ranked by various pre-season prognosticators:
| ? | National | Pacific-10 |
| The Sporting News | 6th | 1st |
| Athlon | 6th | 1st |
| CollegeFootballNews.com | 7th | 1st |
| Lindy's | 8th | 1st |
| Phil Steele | 10th | 2nd |
| SI.com | 13th | 2nd |
| Street & Smith's | 15th | 3rd |
...AND PRE-SEASON HONORS
OT Jacob Rogers (Athlon, Street & Smith's) and WR Mike Williams (Playboy) have been named to several pre-season All-American first teams. LB Matt Grootegoed, DE Kenechi Udeze , OG Lenny Vandermade and DT Shaun Cody were pre-season All-American second teamers by various media outlets, while WR Keary Colbert and DT Mike Patterson made pre-season All-American honorable mention.
WATCH LISTS
The following Trojans have made the official "Watch Lists" for national 2003 post-season awards:
OT Jacob Rogers Outland Trophy (top interior lineman)
OT Jacob Rogers Lombardi Award (top lineman)
LB Matt Grootegoed Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player)
LB Matt Grootegoed Lombardi Award (top lineman)
DE Kenechi Udeze Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player)
TE Alex Holmes Mackey Award (top tight end)
C Norm Katnik Rimington Trophy (top center)
PK Ryan Killeen Groza Award (top placekicker)
SCHEDULE
In terms of difficulty, it might be hard to match USC's 2002 schedule, which was ranked by the NCAA, USA Today/Sagarin and BCS as the nation's toughest-it featured 11 bowl-bound team, including 9 ranked by AP (and only 1 with a losing record) at the time of the game. But Troy's 2003 slate might not be far behind. USC-which has 3 byes in 2003-will face 8 teams that played in bowls last season, including 3 ranked in the final AP Top 20. The Trojans open on Aug. 30 at SEC power Auburn, picked by some prognosticators as a na-tional title contender in 2003. Then, after hosting BYU and Hawaii, USC ventures into the always-difficult Pac-10 campaign, with 4 of its next 5 games on the road (including its annual tilt with non-conference rival Notre Dame). The Trojans play at California, Arizona State, Washington and Arizona, and host Stanford, Washington State and crosstown foe UCLA. The Pac-10 finale is a home contest against Oregon State on "Championship Saturday" (Dec. 6, the latest USC regular season game since 1980).
RETURNING TROJANS
USC will call upon starters returning at 14 positions (6 on offense, 6 on defense and both kickers). In all, 77 squadmen return, including 56 who saw playing time in 2003 (49 were lettermen and 26 were on the season-ending 2-deep). Some 22 Trojans have started at least once in their career. Joining them will be 27 new players who comprise what some publications have ranked as the nation's premier recruiting class of 2003. Three high school All-Americans enrolled at USC in the spring of 2003 and participated in spring drills, while the other 24 newcomers (including 17 who were prep and junior college All-Americans in 2002) will begin in the fall.
WIN STREAKS
USC is riding an 8-game winning streak, its longest since capturing 10 in a row in 1988. The Trojans also have captured their last 9 home games (with 2 shutouts in their past 7 home outings). That's USC's longest Coliseum win streak since getting 10 in a row during the 1987 and 1988 seasons. The Trojans went undefeated at home in 2002 (6-0) for the first time since 1987.
NEARING 700 WINS
USC is 5 victories shy of becoming the 10 th Division I team to collect 700 victories. USC's all-time record is 695-296-54 (70.9%).
25th ANNIVERSARY OF LAST NATIONAL TITLE
The 2003 season marks the 25 th anniversary of USC's last national football champion-ship. The 1978 Trojans, coached by John Robinson and led by such players as TB Charles White, QB Paul McDonald, OT Pat Howell, OG Brad Budde, OT Anthony Munoz, S Ronnie Lott, S Dennis Smith and LB Riki Gray, went 12-1 and beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Troy took the top spot in the UPI (coaches) poll, but finished second in the AP (writers) poll to Alabama despite beating the Crimson Tide earlier in the season. It was USC's eighth national championship.
LAST YEAR
Head coach Pete Carroll directed the 2002 Trojans to an 11-2 record, a No. 4 final ranking, a share of the Pac-10 championship (going 7-1), decisive wins over traditional rivals UCLA and Notre Dame and an impressive victory in the BCS' Orange Bowl...all while playing what was ranked as the nation's toughest schedule. Indeed, 2002 was a season of superlatives for Troy, which accomplished all this despite having several key starters miss significant parts of the season because of injuries. It was USC's most wins since 1979, its highest final ranking since 1979 and its most points (465) and touchdowns (60) since 1972. It was the first time since 1981 that USC beat the Bruins and Irish in the same season (and the first time in back-to-back games since 1978). The Trojans finished in the nation's Top 20 in nearly every team statistical category, and led the Pac-10 in total offense and defense and in scoring offense and defense. USC produced 2 All-American first teamers, including its first Heisman Trophy winner since 1981, and a pair of Freshman All-American first teamers. USC enters 2003 riding an 8-game winning streak (and a 9-game home winning streak).
GONE FROM 2002
It will be difficult in 2003 to offset the loss of such offensive stars as Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Carson Palmer, the Pac-10's career passing and total offense leader who set 33 Pac-10 and USC records, tailbacks Justin Fargas (who ran for 715 yards while starting 5 times in 2002), Sultan McCullough (USC's No. 8 career rusher with 2,800 yards, including a team-high 814 in 2002 while starting 5 games) and Malaefou MacKenzie (who ran for 939 yards and caught 76 passes in his career, and who started the last 7 games of 2002 at fullback), wide receiver Kareem Kelly (USC's career reception leader with 204 and the NCAA recordholder for consecutive games with a catch at 47), and 4-year starting offen-sive guard Zach Wilson. USC also lost some key starters on defense: 2-time All-American strong safety Troy Polamalu, the 2002 Thorpe Award finalist who was a 3-year starter with 278 tackles, 6 interceptions (3 for TDs) and 4 blocked kicks in his career, 2-year starting middle linebacker Mike Pollard (49 tackles in 2002), free safety DeShaun Hill (54 tackles and a team-best 8 deflections in 2002), cornerback Darrell Rideaux (46 tackles, 7 deflec-tions, 2 interceptions in 2002) and tackle Bernard Riley, who had 19 career starts, including the last 7 games of 2002.
Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll brought big doses of experience, enthusiasm and leadership in his quest to revive the USC football program when he was named the Trojans' head football coach on Dec. 15, 2000 (he signed a 5-year contract). In 2002, just his second season at USC, his Trojans thrived despite playing what was ranked by the NCAA, Sagarin and the BCS as the nation's most difficult schedule (facing 9 AP-ranked teams and 11 bowl squads). USC- which beat Iowa in the Orange Bowl-posted an 11-2 overall record and a No. 4 ranking in the final polls, and won the Pac-10 championship while going 7-1. The Trojans also won their last 9 home games. It was USC's first 11-win season since 1979 and its highest ranking since 1988. Troy won its final 8 games (scoring at least 30 points in each), including blowouts of traditional rivals UCLA and Notre Dame (the first time USC beat both in the same season since 1981 and the first time in back-to-back games since 1978). USC led the Pac-10 in total offense (449.3) and total defense (284.9), as well as scoring offense (35.8) and scoring defense (18.5), and was in the NCAA's Top 25 in nearly every team statistical cat-egory on both sides of the ball. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Carson Palmer and safety Troy Polamalu were first team All-Americans. Carroll was 1 of 8 finalists for the 2002 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award and was 1 of 4 runners-up for the 2002 American Football Monthly Schutt Sports Division I-A Coach of the Year Award. After USC started off his opening 2001 season slowly at 1-4, Carroll stayed the course and got his troops to rally by winning 5 of their last 7 games (including the final 4 regular season contests) to finish at 6- 6 overall. USC, which won its last 5 Pac-10 games after beginning league play at 0-3, placed fifth in the conference at 5-3 and earned a berth into the Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl. Putting an exclamation point on the regular season was a 27-0 blanking of No. 20 UCLA, USC's first shutout in the crosstown rivalry since 1947 and the series' biggest margin of victory since 1979. The 51-year-old Carroll has 28 years of NFL and college experience, including 12 on the college level. He is 17-8 as a college head coach (all at USC); his losses were by a total of 39 points (4.9 average) and only 1 was by more than a touchdown (it was by 11 points). After starting off his Trojan career 2-5, he has gone 15-3. He is 7-0 in November. He was the head coach of the NFL's New England Patriots for 3 seasons (1997- 99) and New York Jets for 1 year (1994). He guided the Patriots into the playoffs in his first 2 seasons, winning the AFC Eastern Division title at 10-6 in 1997 and advancing to the second round of the playoffs, then posting a 9-7 regular season mark in 1998. His overall record in New England was 27-21 in the regular season (including 8-8 in 1999) and 1-2 in the play-offs. He owns the franchise's second-best winning percentage (54.9%). After serving as the Jets' defensive coordinator for 4 seasons (1990-93), he became the team's head coach the following season. His 1994 Jets went 6-10. Only 3 other Jets head coaches won more games in their rookie campaign. He spent the next 2 years (1995-96) as the defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, who won the NFC Western Division title both seasons. The 49ers were 11-5 in the 1995 regular season when they had the NFL's top-ranked defense and then went 12-4 in 1996. Carroll began his coaching career at the college level, serving as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Pacific, for 3 years (1974- 76), working with the wide receivers and secondary. He then spent a season as a graduate assistant working with the secondary at Arkansas (1977) under Lou Holtz as the Razorbacks won the 1978 Orange Bowl, and then a season each as an assistant in charge of the secondary at Iowa State (1978) under Earle Bruce (the Cyclones played in the 1978 Hall of Fame Bowl) and at Ohio State (1979) under Bruce. That Buckeye squad lost to USC in the 1980 Rose Bowl. He next spent 3 seasons (1980-82) as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Carolina State, then returned to Pacific in 1983 as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He entered the NFL in 1984 as the defensive backs coach of the Buffalo Bills, then held a similar position with the Minnesota Vikings for 5 seasons (1985-89). The Vikings advanced to the playoffs his last 3 years there, getting to the NFC Championship game in 1987. The 1988 team was 11-5 in the regular season and the 1989 squad won the NFC Central Division crown with a 10-6 mark. His secondary averaged 25 interceptions a season and led the NFL in passing defense in 1989. Carroll spent the 2000 season as a consultant for pro and college teams, doing charitable work for the NFL and writing a column about pro football for CNNSI.com. Carroll was a 2-time (1971- 72) All-Pacific Coast Conference free safety at Pacific and earned his bachelor's degree in 1973 in business administration. He received his secondary teaching credential and a master's degree in physical education from Pacific in 1976. He was a 3-sport (football, basketball and baseball) standout at Redwood High in Larkspur, Calif., earning the school's Athlete of the Year award as a senior. He played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. He then played football at Marin Junior College in Kentfield, Calif., in 1970. He was born on Sept. 15, 1951 in San Francisco. He and his wife, Glena, who played volleyball at Pacific, have 3 children: sons Brennan, 22, who played tight end at Pittsburgh (he previously played at Delaware) and is now an assistant at USC, and Nathan, 14, and daughter Jaime, 19, a junior at USC who played on the Women of Troy's highly-ranked volleyball team which competed in the 2000 NCAA Final Four. His late father-in-law, Dean Goranson, received his master's degree from USC.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW
Starters return at 6 positions on offense in 2003: wide receiver (Keary Colbert), tight end (Alex Holmes), both tackles (Jacob Rogers and Winston Justice), guard (co-starters Lenny Vandermade and Eric Torres, with Torres having started at every line position but center in 2003) and center (Norm Katnik). USC's top 2 receivers and its third-leading rusher are back. The offense, directed by coordinator Norm Chow, will attempt to replicate the success of last season's unit, which finished sixth nationally in passing efficiency (149.2, first in Pac-10), eighth in passing offense (306.8, second in Pac-10), eighth in total offense (449.2, first in Pac-10) and ninth in scoring offense (35.8, first in Pac-10). The Trojans scored 30 points in their last 8 games (a USC first) and tallied 40 points 6 times last fall (the most since 1972). USC had 400-plus yards of total offense in each of its last 9 games. And Troy held the ball more than 8 minutes longer per game than its opponents.
QUARTERBACKS
USC's No. 1 concern in 2003 will be finding a replacement for quarterback Carson Palmer, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner whose Pac-10 record 11,818 career passing yards and 11,621 yards of total offense were among the 33 Pac-10 and USC marks he set. The All-American first teamer completed 63.2% of his passes (309- of-489) in 2002 for 3,942 yards, 33 TDs and just 10 interceptions. Four players got a shot at the job in 2003 spring practice: juniors Matt Cassel (3-of-4, 75.0%, 27 yds in 2002), Palmer's backup the past 2 seasons who has thrown just 6 passes in his career, and Brandon Hance, who sat out last season after transferring from Purdue (he started 9 games there in 2001) and saw limited reps in practice after having surgery on his throwing shoulder, and sopho-mores Matt Leinart and Billy Hart, neither of whom has thrown pass at USC while seeing brief action (Hart also plays on the Tro-jan baseball team). The competition remained nearly even through-out the spring, with the left-handed Leinart emerging with an ever-so- slight edge...but the battle will continue in the fall. And don't count out heralded freshman John David Booty (Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La.), believed to be the first football player to graduate a full year early from high school and enroll at a major Division I-A university.
TAILBACKS
Last year, USC relied on 3 effective senior tailbacks to carry the load: Justin Fargas (who started 5 late-season games and rushed for 715 yards and 7 TDs), Sultan McCullough (a 5-game starter who led the Trojans with 814 yards and 8 TDs, and finished eighth on the school's career rushing list with 2,800 yards) and Malaefou MacKenzie (a 3-game starter at tailback and 7-game starter at full-back who ran for 939 yards and caught 76 passes in his career). In 2003, the only experienced tailback is promising sophomore Hershel Dennis (49 tcb, 198 yds, 4.0 avg, 1 TD in 2002, plus 4 rec 23 yds, 5.8 avg and 9 KOR, 151 yds, 16.8 avg). He was USC's No. 3-leading rusher and its top kickoff returner. Walk-on sophomore Andre Woodert, a converted safety, is also available. Joining them this fall as freshmen are a terrific trio of prep All-Americans: Reggie Bush (Helix High in La Mesa, Calif.), Chauncey Washington (South Torrance High in Torrance, Calif.) and LenDale White (Chatfield High in Littleton, Colo.).
| Mike Williams, a 2003 pre-season All-American, won Freshman All-American first team status last fall and was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year when he set NCAA frosh records for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and the Pac-10 frosh mark for receptions.  | |
With Malaefou MacKenzie gone, a new fullback must emerge. Sophomore Brandon Hancock (3 tcb, 8 yds, 2.7 avg in 2002, plus 2 rec, 15 yds, 7.5 avg and 4 tac, 1 FR), who started twice last fall, is the leading candidate. Other possibilities are junior Lee Webb (3 tac in 2002), who also has played linebacker at USC, and sophomore David Kirtman (2 tac, 1 FF in 2002). Walk-on redshirt freshmen Mike Brittingham, a converted safety, and Morgan Craig, a one-time quarterback, also are in the mix.
COLBERT AND WILLIAMS
Even though USC career reception leader Kareem Kelly-he had 204 catches, including 46 last fall, and set an NCAA record by catch-ing a pass in 47 consecutive games-is gone, the Trojans are in good shape in the wide receivers corps as a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (a first at Troy) are back. Both are playmakers who could win 2003 post-season honors and they form the top receiving duo in the country. Underrated, yet consistent, senior Keary Colbert (71 rec, 1,029 yds, 14.5 avg, 5 TD in 2002, plus 2 tcb, 36 yds, 18.0 avg, 1 TD) will start for his fourth season. He is sixth on USC's career receptions ladder with 138 grabs and a repeat of last season's 71- catch output will push him past Kelly as the school's all-time lead-ing pass catcher. Even if Colbert breaks Kelly's mark, Keyshawn-esque sophomore Mike Williams (81 rec, 1,265 yds, 15.6 avg, 14 TD) is poised to shatter the standard before his career concludes. The 2003 pre-season All-American won Freshman All-American first team status last fall and was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year when he set NCAA frosh records for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and the Pac-10 frosh mark for receptions. He was 16 th nationally in receiving yards (97.3) and 20 th in receptions (6.2) while starting twice. He caught a TD pass in 7 consecutive games (in-cluding 3 against Washington to tie a USC game record) and his 14 TD catches not only were the second most in the nation, but tied the USC season mark. He had 5 100-yard receiving games, including 4 in a row. He caught 13 passes at Oregon, a USC frosh record.
OTHER WIDE RECEIVERS
Dependable backup receivers need to emerge behind Keary Colbert and Mike Williams. But no other wide receiver on the roster caught a ball last year. The cast includes seniors D. Hale, a walk-on-turned- scholarship winner who has started once in his career (he caught 7 passes in 2001), and Sandy Fletcher (2 tac in 2002), junior Jason Mitchell (3 KOR, 35 yds, 11.7 avg in 2002), sopho-mores Greig Carlson (27 PR, 177 yds, 6.6 avg in 2002) and con-verted cornerback Justin Wyatt (10 tac, 1 dfl, 2 FR in 2002, plus 1 PR, 16 yds, 16.0 avg), and sure-handed redshirt freshman Chris McFoy. Hale missed the first half of 2002 with a fractured ankle, Fletcher was bothered midseason by an ankle sprain and Mitchell had an early-season back injury that allowed him to redshirt. Carlson, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship this spring, was USC's top punt returner in 2002. Wyatt was the surprise of 2003 spring drills after his switch to offense and also could be a factor returning punts and kicks. Two walk-ons also figure in: junior Steve Levario Jr. and redshirt freshman John Zilka. To that end, a pair of the nation's most highly sought-after high school pass catch-ers enroll at USC this fall as freshmen: prep All-Americans Whitney Lewis (St. Bonaventure High in Ventura, Calif.) and Steve Smith (Taft High in Woodland Hills, Calif.).
TIGHT ENDS
USC is well-stocked at tight end, with a returning starter and a pair of experienced backups. Senior Alex Holmes (29 rec, 320 yds, 11.0 avg, 2 TD in 2002, plus 5 tac, 1 FF), who has caught 58 passes in his career, is back as the starter. His 29 clutches last year were the most by a Trojan tight end since 1993. He is equally adept blocking and receiving. Behind him are junior Gregg Guenther Jr. (7 rec, 39 yds, 5.6 avg, 1 TD in 2002), who started once last fall, and sopho-more Dominique Byrd (1 rec, 10 yds, 10.0 avg in 2002, plus 2 tac). Guenther, USC's tallest player at 6-8, also stars on the Trojan men's basketball squad. Walk-ons Owen Hanson, a junior who is also on the Trojan men's volleyball team, and redshirt freshman Nick Vanderboom, a converted quarterback, add depth.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
The 2003 version of USC's offensive line might be Troy's best in years. Players return at 4 positions-only 4-year starting right guard Zach Wilson is gone-and there are some big-potential younger players angling for time. Both tackles return and they're good ones: senior Jacob Rogers, a 2-year starter who earned All-Pac-10 first team laurels in 2002, and sophomore Winston Justice, a 2002 Freshman All-American first teamer. Both are in line for 2003 post-season honors. They make up the nation's best bookend tackles. Senior Lenny Vandermade, a 3-year starter, returns at left guard (he also has started at center in his career) and should be recov-ered from a torn biceps which sidelined him for the last 4 outings of 2002 (he might be limited during spring practice). His fill-in is also back, senior Eric Torres, who started 7 times in 2002 at every line spot except center (Torres started all of 2001 at right tackle). He broke his left ankle in the Orange Bowl and missed spring drills. And reliable center Norm Katnik, another 2-year starter, returns. He also has started at guard and tackle in his USC tenure. Returning squadmen looking to work into the rotation are senior tackle Nate Steinbacher, who worked some at defensive tackle last fall, junior guard Travis Watkins and redshirt freshmen Fred Matua, a guard who was set to start the 2002 opener before a knee sprain side-lined him (he has the inside track for Wilson's right guard spot in 2003), center Kurt Katnik (Norm's younger brother) and guard Kyle Williams, plus walk-on redshirt freshman guard John Lanza. Com-ing aboard this fall are tackle John Drake (Long Beach City College in Long Beach, Calif.), a junior college transfer who is a junior, plus 4 freshmen: a trio of prep All-Americans in Sam Baker (Tustin High in Tustin, Calif.) and Drew Radovich (Mission Viejo High in Mission Viejo, Calif.) at guard and Ryan Kalil (Servite High in Anaheim, Ca-lif.) at center, as well as tackle Travis Draper (Paso Robles High in Paso Robles, Calif.).
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW
Six defensive starters return from 2002: linebackers Matt Grootegoed and Melvin Simmons, ends Kenechi Udeze and Omar Nazel, tackle Mike Patterson and cornerback Marcell Allmond. Others back with starting experience are tackle Shaun Cody, who started for his second year in 2002 before tearing a knee ligament midseason, as well as three cornerbacks-Kevin Arbet, Ronald Nunn and William Buchanon-and safety Jason Leach. The top 2 tacklers, plus the leaders in interceptions, tackles for loss, sacks, fumble recoveries and forced fumbles, return from 2002's domi-nant defense that was sixth nationally in rushing defense (83.2, first in Pac-10), sixth in total defense (284.9, first in Pac-10), fifth in turn-over margin (+1.4, second in Pac-10), 17 th in scoring defense (18.5, first in Pac-10) and 19 th in pass efficiency defense (102.5, second in Pac-10). Last year, USC held 9 teams under 100 yards rushing (including 7 times in a row) and no runner eclipsed the 100-yard rushing barrier. The Trojans allowed foes to convert just 27.6% of third downs. USC's +1.33 turnover margin the past 2 regular sea-sons is the best in the nation during that span (Troy has 71 takeaways while giving the ball away only 37 times the past 2 years).
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Simply put, USC's defensive line is the best in the nation. Nick-named "The Wild Bunch II" in honor of USC's famous 1969 defen-sive front, 4 key veterans-each could win 2003 post-season hon-ors- return from a unit that was sixth in the country last fall versus the rush (allowing just 83.2 yards per game) and let only 4 of 13 offenses run for more than 100 yards (no individual ever rushed for 100 yards). More than half of USC's 43 sacks last season were by defensive linemen. Both ends return: senior Omar Nazel (38 tac, 10.5 for loss, 6.5 sac, 7 dfl, 1 int, 1 FF in 2002) and junior Kenechi Udeze (44 tac, 16 for loss, 7.5 sack, 6 FF, 1 FR, 1 int, 1 dfl, 1 BLK in 2002). Udeze, a 2-year starter, set a USC record with his Pac-10 leading 6 forced fumbles. Also back is junior Mike Patterson (37 tac, 11.5 for loss, 5.5 sack, 4 FR, 1 dfl in 2002), who started 10 times at nose tackle and 3 at defensive tackle last fall. His 4 fumble recoveries topped the Pac-10. Look for him at nose tackle in 2002. Although tackle Bernard Riley-he had 19 career starts, including the last 7 games of 2002, when he posted 25 tackles-is gone, a familiar face will re-assume that defensive tackle spot. Junior Shaun Cody (20 tac, 1 for loss, 1 dfl, 1 FR, 1 BLK in 2002), a 2001 Fresh-man All-American first teamer, started the first 6 games of 2002 before tearing knee ligaments. He missed spring drills, but should be ready to go this fall. Among the returning squadmen pushing for time at end are junior Van Brown (4 tac, 1.5 sack in 2002) and sophomore converted linebacker Frostee Rucker (he sat out last year after transferring from Colorado State) and, at tackle, soph LaJuan Ramsey (1 tac, 1 FR in 2002) and redshirt freshman Travis Tofi. Then there's junior walk-ons Jay Bottom at end and Spencer Torgan (2 tac, 1 sack in 2002) at tackle. Seven new players enroll at USC this fall as freshmen. The ends are prep All-Americans Chris Barrett (Tustin High in Tustin, Calif.), Lawrence Jackson (Inglewood High in Inglewood, Calif.) and Alex Morrow (Rancho Cotate High in Rohnert Park, Calif.), plus Matt Spanos (Corona High in Corona, Calif.). The tackles are prep All-American Sedrick Ellis (Chino High in Chino, Calif.), plus Fili Moala (Western High in Anaheim, Calif.) and Ryan Watson (John Curtis High in River Ridge, La.).
LINEBACKERS
USC is solid at the outside linebacker spots, as junior Matt Grootegoed (81 tac, 16.5 for loss, 8 sack, 1 int, 4 dfl, 1 FR, 3 FF in 2002) returns on the strong side and senior Melvin Simmons (71 tac, 6.5 for loss, 2.5 sack, 2 int, 5 dfl, 1 FR in 2002) is back on the weak side. Grootegoed, a 2-year starter and 2003 post-season honors candidate who has a knack for always being around the ball, won All-Pac-10 first team honors in 2002 when he led the Trojans in tackles, tackles for a loss and sacks. Simmons was USC's No. 2 tackler last fall. But a new middle linebacker must be found now that Mike Pollard-a 2-year starter who had 49 stops last year-has departed. Among the possibilities are sophomores Os-car Lua (13 tac, 1 sack, 1 FR, 1 FF in 2002), who tore knee liga-ments prior to the Orange Bowl and missed spring practice, and Lofa Tatupu, who sat out last season after transferring from Maine, where he started in 2001 (he is the son of ex-USC and NFL fullback Mosi Tatupu). Other linebackers from last year's roster looking to get in the mix are juniors Bobby Otani (10 tac in 2002) and con-verted defensive end Daniel Urquhart and sophomore Dallas Sartz (8 tac, 1 for loss, 1 int, 1 dfl in 2002), plus a pair of walk-ons in sophomore Collin Ashton (3 tac in 2002) and redshirt freshman Matt Newhouse. Prep All-American Thomas Williams (Vacaville High in Vacaville, Calif.), along with Johnathan Turner (Corona High in Corona, Calif.), join the linebacking corps this fall as freshmen.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
While the biggest holes to fill on USC's defense are in the second-ary, the situation isn't as dire as it might appear. Granted, the Tro-jans lost 3 quality starters in 2-time All-American strong safety Troy Polamalu (the 2002 Thorpe Award finalist was a 3-year starter who amassed 278 tackles and 6 interceptions in his career), free safety DeShaun Hill (he had 54 stops and a team-best 8 deflections last season) and cornerback Darrell Rideaux (he notched 46 tackles, 7 pass break-ups and 2 picks in 2002). Most critically, the void left from the loss of Polamalu's leadership cannot be discounted. Only senior cornerback Marcell Allmond (34 tac, 1 int, 6 dfl in 2002, plus 5 KOR, 99 yds, 19.8 avg) returns as a starter...and the Trojans went 7-0 once he entered the lineup the second half of 2002. The one-time starting wide receiver also is a top-flight hurdler on USC's track squad. There are plenty of experienced options to fill the 3 open spots. In fact, 3 players have starting experience at cornerback: senior Kevin Arbet, who missed all of last season with a broken foot, junior Ronald Nunn (3 tac in 2002) and sophomore William Buchanon (19 tac, 1 for loss, 6 dfl in 2002). Arbet-who appears to have won the starting job for 2003-started 4 times in 2000 and was an All-Pac-10 first teamer as a special teams player in 2001. Nunn started USC's first 3 contests in 2002 before tearing knee liga-ments (he missed most of 2003 spring drills) and then Buchanon started the next 3 games (after converting from wide receiver) be-fore giving way to Allmond. And junior Jason Leach (30 tac, 1 for loss, 4 int, 3 dfl, 1 FR, 1 FF in 2002) started twice at strong safety last fall for an injured Polamalu, including in the Orange Bowl. He led Troy in interceptions in 2002. He has moved to free safety and should start there. Other cornerbacks back from last year's group are sophomore John Walker (2 tac in 2002, plus 1 PR, 4 yds, 4.0 avg) and a pair of walk-ons: sophomore Alex Gomez and redshirt freshman Kirk Shepherd. Identical twin freshmen cornerbacks Brandon Ting and Ryan Ting, who were 2002 prep All-Americans, graduated a semester early from James Logan High in Union City, Calif. and enrolled at USC this past spring. Keep an eye on fresh-man safety Darnell Bing, who originally signed with USC last year after a prep All-American career at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High but did not qualify for admission then. He enrolled at Troy this past spring and appears to have locked down the strong safety job. Battling for action at safety from last year's squad are sophomore Mike Ross (8 tac in 2002, plus 1 TD on a blocked punt recovery), plus 5 walk-ons in seniors Greg Farr and top special teams player Forrest Mozart (2 tac, 1 BLK in 2002, plus 1 PR, 23 yds, 23.0 avg) and juniors Chris Bocage, Matt Lemos and Kyle Matthews (1 tac in 2002). This fall, joining the fray are junior college transfer Will Poole (Ventura Junior College in Ventura, Calif.), a senior safety who started at Boston College in 2000 before earning J.C. All-Ameri-can laurels last fall, and 3 incoming freshmen who were prep All-Americans: cornerback Desmond Reed (Temple City High in Temple City, Calif.), safety Terrell Thomas (Rancho Cucamonga High in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and cornerback Eric Wright (Riordan High in San Francisco, Calif.).
SPECIAL TEAMS OVERVIEW
All of USC's specialists from 2002 return: the punter (Tom Malone), placekicker (Ryan Killeen), short snapper (Joe Boskovich), long snapper (Matt Hayward) and holder (Tom Malone), plus the top punt returner (Greig Carlson) and kickoff returner (Hershel Dennis). But there is still cause for concern in the performance of the special teams, which were an adventure at times in 2002. While Malone and Killeen were effective, USC was last in the Pac-10 in punt re-turns (7.2) and kickoff returns (17.5), and ninth in kickoff return cov-erage (24.1). Plus, the Trojans had 8 kicks blocked (3 punts, 3 PATs and 2 field goals), with one returned for a TD and another for a defensive PAT. And Troy gave up a 100-yard scoring kickoff return.
SPECIALISTS
Sophomore Tom Malone (42.1 avg in 2002) has proven to be one of the nation's top young punters. He earned Freshman All-American second team notice last fall. Nearly half of his 62 punts pinned opponents within the 20-yard line and 12 traveled at least 50 yards (including a 72-yarder). He is backed by a pair of walk-ons, senior Tommy Huff and sophomore Zach Sherwood. Junior Ryan Killeen (16-of-23 FG, 47-of-49 PAT in 2002, plus 2 tac), who was only sup-posed to handle the kickoff duty last year, took over the placekicking job during the third game of 2002 and was impressive. His 16 field goals were 3 shy of the USC season record, he hit his last 30 PATs (and missed just 2 out of 49 all year), he led Troy in scoring (95 points) and 27 of his 89 kickoffs were touchbacks. In an emer-gency, soph punter Tom Malone could kick, as could walk-on redshirt freshman John-Luke Del Fante. Both of USC's snappers-seniors Joe Boskovich (placekicks) and Matt Hayward (punts)-are back. It's the fourth season in that role for Boskovich, a one-time walk-on who earned a scholarship this spring, and the third year for Hay-ward. Both have been near flawless in their careers. Sophomore punter Tom Malone returns as the holder on all placekicks, with soph quarterback Matt Leinart and junior quarterback Matt Cassel possible backups. USC's top punt returner-sophomore wide re-ceiver Greig Carlson (27 PR, 177 yds, 6.6 avg in 2002)-and kickoff returner-soph tailback Hershel Dennis (9 KOR, 151 yds, 16.8 avg in 2002)-from last season are back. Other potential returners in-clude senior cornerbacks Kevin Arbet, who led USC in punt returns in 2001 (25 PR, 225 yds, 9.0 avg, plus 3 KOR, 53 yds, 17.7 avg), and Marcell Allmond (5 KOR, 99 yds, 19.8 avg in 2002), sophomore cornerback Justin Wyatt (1 PR, 16 yds, 16.0 avg in 2002), or any of several freshman, including safety Darnell Bing, wide receivers Whitney Lewis and Steve Smith, tailback Reggie Bush, and cornerbacks Desmond Reed and Eric Wright.
