NFL Draft analyst Chad Reuter released his Top 50 College Football Players of 2017 recently, and no school has more players in the Top 20 than USC.USC QB Sam Darnold comes in at No. 3 overall, behind Houston DT Ed Oliver and Heisman winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville.
Darnold trew for 3,086 yards and 31 TD last season, finishing with the second-best Total QBR (86.8) in the nation. He won the Archie Griffin Award as the 2016 College Football MVP, earned Rose Bowl Offensive MVP honors and was named a Freshman All-American.
USC's two other players in the Top 20 are LB Cam Smith (No. 14) and CB Iman "Biggie" Marshall (No. 16).
Smith, whom Reuter compared to Trojan great Brian Cushing, led the Trojans with 83 tackles last year and was named a Sophomore All-American.
Marshall posted 51 tackles, 8 pass deflections and 3 interceptions on his way to Sophomore All-American honorable mention and All-Pac-12 honorable mention.
Reuter notched USC LB Porter Gustin as the No. 28 player in the nation in 2017, calling him "an excellent run defender" and "an all-around talent worth watching anytime you get the chance." Gustin led the team with 13.0 tackles for loss this year and ranked second in tackles (68) and sacks (5.5).
USC's final player on the list is junior RB Ronald Jones II, slotted at No. 43. Jones, whom Reuter described as "a dynamic ball carrier who's speedy and elusive," led the team with 1,082 yards and 12 TD last season.
In total, only Alabama (7) has more players on the list than USC (5), while no school has more players in the Top 20.
These five Trojans kick off their 2017 season on September 2 against Western Michigan.
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