On Saturday, the Trojan defense did its best work, forcing four turnovers in the first half to set up four successful scoring drives against the Utes. After getting pushed around a little on the front seven, beat several times on downfield passing plays, and getting banged up against the Fighting Irish last weekend, the defense decided to buckle down and get back to their form from early this season.
"We all took it personal, especially us in the backfield," said redshirt junior safety Josh Shaw. "Especially letting guys catch easy routes. We said no more of that. At some point it has to become personal. We came out here and had to create turnovers, we knew we had to win on defense."
"Winning" on defense included limiting the Utes to 201 yards of offense, holding them scoreless after their first drive of the game, having eight different players contribute to 10 tackles for a loss, earning six sacks, and forcing a fumble and three interceptions. J.R. Tavai had 11 total tackles, Hayes Pullard and Anthony Sarao each had nine total tackles, but perhaps the most intriguing story from this dominant defensive performance was freshman Leon McQuay III who had three tackles, one pass breakup, and most notably his first career interception in the second quarter.
Leon McQuay has been off to a fast start at USC from day one. An early entrant this past spring, McQuay got into the playbook and onto the field before most of his peers had even graduated high school. That extra experience is now proving to have been a fundamental aspect of his success as the true freshman is being asked to step up and perform on the most elite of stages with the Trojans battling injuries in the secondary. While an extra semester of practice surely helped, teammate Josh Shaw believes much of McQuay's excellence comes naturally.
"One way to describe Leon is that his athletic ability is 'freakish'," said Shaw. "That guy is a freak. He can do it all. I really haven't seen a freshman who can come in and do some of the things that he does. He's just got it."
On top of being naturally gifted, McQuay has football in his blood. His grandfather, the late Leon McQuay, was a running back at Tampa and then in the NFL. The freshman is also continually described as a student of the game. Perhaps it's just part of his character, considering he was one of five finalists for the 2012-2013 Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award given to the top African-American high school male scholar athlete in the country.
Interim head coach Ed Orgeron said the coaching staff believed they were getting two of the best safeties in America when they recruited McQuay and fellow freshman standout Su'a Cravens. Orgeron added that the time and focus McQuay has put in through fall practice prepared him perfectly for his breakout performance on Saturday.
Interim head coach Ed Orgeron said the coaching staff believed they were getting two of the best safeties in America when they recruited McQuay and fellow freshman standout Su'a Cravens. Orgeron added that the time and focus McQuay has put in through fall practice prepared him perfectly for his breakout performance on Saturday.
"Leon is a great example of what we talked about all week; someone who was going to get their chance to step up and he stepped up. He's been ready, he's been working hard, and I'm awfully proud of him," said Orgeron.
McQuay said he didn't know he was going to get the starting gig until Friday but was completely ready to step up for his team nevertheless.
"I knew my responsibilities, I knew the playbook, I just had to get in there and be confident," McQuay explained.
At age 18, McQuay is a unique athlete who has a lot going for him. He is the sole member of his team studying music industry, owns a pet snake, and manages his own beat production company. He's earned a starting spot in this Trojan secondary in only his second semester at USC. He stands amongst an impressive defensive class of freshmen who, with time under defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast's tutelage, can develop to be an intimidating and dominant unit in the Pac-12.
While already looking impressive in his freshman debut, McQuay knows he still has a lot to learn. He has continually emphasized the key role upperclassmen have had in helping him develop in the secondary, most notably the talented and versatile Shaw. The defensive veteran says he's never seen a freshman perform consistently at the level of McQuay and is excited to see what lies in his future.
"That guy is a great player," said Shaw. "Every single day all he does is give it his all. For the next three or four years Trojan Nation should be very excited with the play of Leon McQuay and Su'a Cravens."
The Trojan secondary will face one of the top quarterback-receiver tandems in the nation in Oregon State's Sean Mannion and Brandin Cooks this Friday. The Beavers lead the nation in passing yards (420.8 ypg) and Mannion and Cooks both lead the country in multiple categories. The quarterback leads the nation in yards passing and touchdown passes (30), and in the Beavers loss to Stanford on Saturday, he still went 41 of 57 for 271 yards and one touchdown. Cooks leads the nation in receptions and yards and will be the most potent threat the Trojan secondary has faced all season. With freshmen like Leon McQuay ready to step up and rise to the occasion, don't count USC out in this week's clash in Corvallis.
