Final draft [ESPN Insider]

Historical Perspective: USC has sent 446 players to the League via the draft. 42 have been picked in the 7 years since Pete Carroll arrived, including 11 in the first round.

No Rush: For four USC draft picks, an extra year in school may have rewarded them with a big payday. Gary Klein explains in Sunday's LA Times.

No Hype: An interesting forum post found that 10 first rounders in this draft were given two stars or fewer coming out of high school (by at least one of the top recruiting services).

The Trojans:

• Sedrick Ellis (DT) - New Orleans - 1st round, 7th pick
  • Times-Picayne's blog story
  • The Saints traded up to get Ellis
• Keith Rivers (OLB) - Cincinnati - 1st round, 9th pick
  • Enquirer article
  • Enquirer video interview
• Sam Baker (OT) - Atlanta - 1st round, 21st pick
  • Journal Constitution article
  • The Falcons traded up to get protection for new quarterback Matt Ryan
• Lawrence Jackson (DE) - Seattle - 1st round, 28th pick
  • Post-Intelligencer article
  • The Seahawks actually traded down from 25th
• Chilo Rachal (OG) - San Francisco - 2nd round, 8th pick (39th overall)
  • Chronicle article
  • Transcript of Chilo's conference call
  • Local reaction is that the 49ers had a boring draft
• Fred Davis (TE) - Washington - 2nd round, 17th pick (48th overall)
  • Post article
  • The Redskins got two receivers as well as pass-catching Davis
• Terrell Thomas (CB) - New York Giants - 2nd round, 32nd pick (63rd overall)
  • Post blurb (seriously, this was the best coverage we could find in the New York press)
• John David Booty (QB) - Minnesota - 5th round, 2nd pick (137th overall)
  • Star Tribune article
  • LA Times article
  • Booty slipped lower than some though he might, but the Vikings traded up in the 5th round and now it's a great match.
• Thomas Williams (OLB) - Jacksonville - 5th round, 20th pick (155th overall)
  • Times-Union article
• Chauncey Washington (RB) - Jacksonville - 7th round, 6th pick (213th overall)
  • Times-Union article

Then the Jaguars double-dipped into the Trojan talent pool, grabbing runningback Chauncey Washington with the 6th pick of the 7th round. Washington came to the Trojans in the same '03 class as Lendale White and Reggie Bush. But injuries had him sidelined in '03 and redshirt in '04 and '05. But as they saying goes, patience ended up being Washington's greatest virtue.

With the departure of Bush and White to the NFL, and USC's tailback situation in question, Washington was the back who stepped up. He led the Trojans in rushing in 2006 with 744 yards and 9 TDs. Then in 2007, Washington kicked it up a notch. Even with young-uns Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson as viable tailback options, Chauncey Washington was the choice for O.C. Sarkisian and Pete Carroll. Washington received more than double the carries as any other tailback, and led the Trojans with 969 yards and 10 TDs. 220 of his near 1,000 yards came from a remarkable career-high game, with Washington running all over a very soggy Cal Bears.

Washington is a sizable north-south runner with excellent vision, power and blocking ability, reminiscent of the Lendale White style of game. He should become a solid combo punch along with Jacksonville's Fred Taylor (1202 yards, 5 TDs in 2007) and Maurice Jones Drew (768 yards, 9 TDs).

Overall it has been an excellent two days for the Trojans, with 10 out of 12 players getting selected in the draft. Only guard Drew Radovich and center Matt Spanos remain undrafted. Both would be steals as free agent picks.

They are:

* SAM BAKER

* JOHN DAVID BOOTY

* FRED DAVIS

* SEDRICK ELLIS

* LAWRENCE JACKSON

* CHILO RACHAL

* DREW RADOVICH

* KEITH RIVERS

* TERRELL THOMAS

* CHAUNCEY WASHINGTON

* THOMAS WILLIAMS

Michigan QB Chad Henne won the North's offensive MVP, leading the North squad with a pair of TDs. John David Booty had a solid 6-12 for 72 yards, before he was intercepted by UTEP’s Quintin Demps in the end zone. Trojan tailback Chauncey Washington led the North's running backs with 38 yards on five carries.

Sedrick Ellis was the big-man, defensive MVP on the north. As reported by Ed Thompson of Scout:

While the turnover stopped a drive, the resulting field position ended up costing the South squad when USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis blew into the backfield to tackle Woodson for a safety. A combination of indecisiveness and the site of Ellis seemed to paralyze Woodson long enough to put his team behind by a count of 9-7. Ellis had a sack, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery on the day and earned Defensive MVP honors for the North...

With that many Trojan players on the field, it's going to be like a good old fashion USC football game.

Quarterback John David Booty will lead the Trojan camp. In addition to Booty, the game will showcase the likes of Sedrick Ellis, Lawrence Jackson, Sam Baker, Drew Radovich, Fred Davis, Keith Rivers and Chauncey Washington.

The Senior Bowl is scheduled for a January 26th, 3 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on the NFL network.

After taking several hundred photos at the Rose Bowl, I've only used a few in this blog. To do the Granddaddy of Them All some justice, here's a photo essay showing what it was like to be there on game day.

Crews put the finishing touches on the stadium in the early morning on January 1.

The Illini fanatic on the left painted his van orange and drove cross-country with a handful of friends. The car is plastered in signatures, notes, and sketches from fellow fans and rivals around the country.

It's one thing when coeds wear these shirts, but it's another when the lady in the picture was my mom's age.

Photogs line up to capture the glory that is, um, USC stretching.

The Color Guard prepares to take the field.

A traditional pregame fly-over.

The Illinois band member on the left literally was marching on the field before she hung up. She'd clearly adjusted to LA lifestyle faster than the football team.

Coach Pat Ruel leads the first Trojans out of the tunnel.

What followed was a frenzied sea of cardinal and gold.

Towards the back of the pack, guys like Sedrick Ellis seemed to savor the moment.

Traveler wasn't allowed to go more than a few feet from the tunnel, but did make an appearance.

Chauncey Washington takes off in his last game at USC.

Washington gets another handoff.

The offensive line snaps into action.

The Illini offense sputtered throughout the game.

Juice Williams' pitch to Rashard Mendenhall (5) just led to more lost yardage.

In the press box, LA Times writers pour over notes and statistics.

In another part of the press box, reporters frantically write copy to make their deadlines.

Hershel Dennis (34) moments after scoring the final USC points of the game. It was a touching moment for the 6th year senior who had overcome a series of serious injuries and only scored once before, against Notre Dame in 2003.

Pete Carroll cracks a smile while trying to answer questions for a mob of reporters.

Lawrence Jackson admires the Rose Bowl trophy.

Rey Maualuga, John David Booty, and Pete Carroll address the press after the game.

After coming out hot in the first quarter and a half SC started to let Illinois back into the game. It was puzzling to me why Zook didn't throw the ball more against SC's soft zone. That really could have been turning point in the game but Illinois never got the chance.

SC went with trickeration and they went after the ball getting 4 turnovers. The defense absolutely dominated Illinois and it was like they never knew what hit them, as they contained Williams and for the most part Mendenhall who could not get it going consistently. Rey Maualuga had the game of his life with tree sacks one INT and a forced fumble and it earned him defensive player of the game. There were some penalties in this game and not all of them legit so we need to work on that next season.

The offense for the most part worked like a charm though it was clear early on that we could run on these guys so I was disappointed when we would go into passing mode to gain yardage when all you had to do is run it. Chauncey Washington in his final game scored two touchdowns showing us what we needed from him all season. Joe McKnight had the play of the game in the 3rd qtr when a lateral pass was thrown over his head which he picked up on a bounce and went 65 yards being chased down Illinois' Vontae Davis. Booty who was named offensive player of the game, once again was dialed in on Mackey Award winner Fred Davis who he hit for some game saving plays including a TD.

Once SC settled in in the 3rd qtr they were starting to have fun. They had some lapses though, Mendenhall had a couple of long runs including a 79-yard TD Run. He is going pro no doubt about it and Arrelious Benn had a long TD catch.

So there you have it. We will have more tomorrow and more during the week. Another great Rose Bowl win for SC and another dominating performance for the defense as they came to play and set the tone early.

Leave your comments of rants here; this our postgame thread.

FIGHT ON!