This weekend, five Trojans saw their dreams come true at the 2017 NFL Draft, adding to USC's unparalleled draft history.CB/RET Adoree' Jackson was the first Trojan off the board, going in the first round (18th overall) to the Tennessee Titans. USC has had five first-round safeties selected in the past, but Jackson became USC's first true cornerback ever taken in the first round.
The next day, USC WR JuJu Smith-Schuster was drafted in the second round (62nd overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. USC has now had a receiver taken in the first two rounds in four of the last five drafts, but Smith-Schuster is the highest Trojan drafted by the Steelers since Troy Polamalu in 2003.
On Saturday, USC All-American Zach Banner was selected in the fourth round (137th overall) by the Indianapolis Colts.
Banner represented the 499th NFL Draft pick in USC history, so Trojan fans waited with bated breath to learn who might become Mr. 500.
Nearly 100 picks later, the Kansas City Chiefs made USC the first school to produce 500 all-time NFL Draft picks by selecting safety Leon McQuay III (sixth round, 218th overall). Minutes later, though, USC added another, bringing its all-time tally to 501 NFL Draft picks, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected DT Stevie Tu'ikolovatu (seventh round, 223rd overall).
Jackson, Smith-Schuster, Banner, McQuay III and Tu'ikolovatu helped USC extend its streak of consecutive years with a player drafted, which reaches all the way back to 1939. Michigan is the only other school who can claim such a streak.
After the draft ended, nine more Trojans got another shot to make a mark.
Wide receiver Darreus Rogers, who caught 56 balls for 696 yards and 4 TD last season, earned an undrafted free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
Wideout Isaac Whitney and guard Jordan Simmons both signed with the Oakland Raiders, where they'll aim to make an impression on Trojan alum and current Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio.
Guard Damien Mama is also headed to the AFC West, signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
All-American tackle Chad Wheeler got the call from the New York Giants, while WR De'Quan Hampton signed with the Detroit Lions, LB Quinton Powell signed with the New Orleans Saints, TE Taylor McNamara signed with the Cleveland Browns and RB Justin Davis will stay in L.A. to show his stuff for the Rams.
The 2017 NFL season begins on Thursday, Sept. 7, when the New England Patriots host the Chiefs.
USC is the first school to reach 500 all-time #NFLDraft picks! #USCtotheNFL
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