Here are some week 9 highlights of former Trojans now playing in the NFL. This week features
David Buehler, Dwayne Jarrett, Reggie Bush, Terrell Thomas, Steve Smith, Kevin Ellison, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga (Cinco Ocho), Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu and Brian Cushing.

Fight On!

(Video created by Eric Espinoza and the USC video operations department)

It's official: Rey Maualuga will be joining Keith Rivers and Carson Palmer in Cincy.

Steal of the draft. Just like Lofa Tatupu a few years back. People who passed will be made to pay.

Sedrick Ellis, 7th overall, Saints: 30 tackles, 4 sacks.
Keith Rivers, 9th overall, Bengals: 37 tackles (in 7 games), a forced fumble and an interception before being eliminated from the season by a crushing block from Hines Ward.
Sam Baker, 21st overall, Falcons: Started 5 games, played 7. Integral force in Matt Ryan and the Falcons impressive post-Vick turnaround.
Lawrence Jackson, 28th overall, Seahawks: 29 tackles, 2 sacks.
Chilo Rachal, 2nd round - 7th pick, 49ers: Started 6 games, played 8.
Fred Davis, 2nd round -17th pick, Redskins: 3 receptions for 27 yards. If Sanchez lands there, Davis may get a increase in passes thrown his way.
Terrell Thomas, 2nd round, 32nd pick, Giants: 45 tackles, a blocked kick, a forced fumble and an interception.
John David Booty, 5th round, 2nd pick, Vikings: Has yet to get his feet wet.
Thomas Williams, 5th round, 20th pick, Jaguars: 1 tackle, 1 forced fumble.
Chauncey Washington, 7th round, 6th pick, Jaguars: 4 carries, 9 yards. 1 reception, 9 yards.

So the big winners last year were Terrell Thomas and Keith Rivers until...

Here are our thoughts on the guys that stood out in last nights presentation. Full bios and direct quotes from Pete Carroll after the jump.

John Martinez, OL, 4-STAR
Just a nasty, pancake blocking guard. He can get down field too (a la Jeff Byers). Highlight after highlight he would pull from his guard position, run and then just destroy someone. They want him to play center. He will be a cornerstone of a future O-line group.

Kevin Graf, OL, 4-STAR
This guy is 6'6" and 315 pounds. He looked like the green giant against his high school peers.

Matt Barkley, QB, 5-STAR
Not much needs to be said. #1 player in the country. Big arm. Can read defenses. Dedicated. His eyes were nearly popping out of his head when he spoke to the coaches following Mark Sanchez's departure.

De'Von Flournoy, WR, 4-STAR
Holy cow. Not sure if we have ever seen a highlight reel like his. There were over 20 plays. And not one that didn't go for a touchdown. Very impressive speed and sense of other players around him.

Jacob Harfman, K, 2-STAR
A little shorter than David Buehler but definitely of the same mold (a big, physical kicker). He can do it all — placekicking and punts. He was 3 for 3 over 50 yards and has kicked a 70 yarder in practice. He has incredible hangtime on his kickoffs if anyone ever does decide to take it out, they will be met with the Trojans special teams before getting to the 20. The ball just explodes off his foot.

Hebron Fangupo, DT, 4-STAR
Great penetration up the middle, even while drawing double teams on every play.

James Boyd, DE, 4-STAR
An incredible athlete that was actually the starting QB for his high school too. He is a freaking defensive end! He plays basketball too (and averages 25 points and 22 rebounds).

Devon Kennard, DE, 5-STAR
A prototypical freak defensive end. Hopefully with a more malleable attitude than Everson Griffen.

Frankie Telfort, LB, 4-STAR
He ran a 4.39. He is a cerebral player. He wants to major pre-med. He has a cool name. He has potential to be a really, really special player.

Jarvis Jones, LB, 4-STAR
A mean hitter that doesn't take any wasted steps before blowing up his opponent. Impressive.

Jawanza Starling, DB, 4-STAR
Another mean hitter. He is going to play baseball for SC too.

Wanted to give an update - I get the wires off Tuesday so I'll be able to eat again. It's been too long. I've lost 20 pounds but I should be able to put that back on pretty easy. At least I hope so. I am anxious to find out what I can't eat. I know it will be soft stuff to start so I'll be looking for some mac and cheese, some fish, stuff like that. I used to go to sleep and have dreams about food. I get so tired during the days, I'd be watching TV and some food commercial would come on and I'd start to dose and immediately start dreaming about the food in the commercial.

All we can say is, Hines Ward better retire after this season -- otherwise next year's first Bengals-Steelers matchup could bring a world of hurt for the Steelers' aging receiver.

The wires come off Tuesday!! [Yardbarker]

A rare breed indeed. If there is a scarier white dude than Brian Cushing, please let us know.

A wicked linebacker with a soft heart. You would never know it without reading TrojanWire.

Mark Sanchez, Garret Green, Malik Jackson and Brian Cushing.

One of the more famous Song Girls lately. Tune into Know Your Song Girls to find out who. More cheerleaders after the jump.

Keith Rivers was dealt a season-ending blow that broke his jaw last Sunday. He was having a productive season and was tied for 2nd in team tackles prior to this injury.

Keith Rivers was dealt a season-ending blow that broke his jaw last Sunday. He was having a productive season and was tied for 2nd in team tackles prior to this injury.

• Ryan Kalil (C, Carolina)
• Deuce Lutui (G, Arizona)
• Sam Baker (T, Atlanta Falcons)
• Matt Cassel (QB, New England)
• Carson Palmer (QB, Cincinnati)
• Justin Fargas (RB, Oakland)
• LenDale White (RB, Tennessee)
• Reggie Bush (both as RB and Kick Returner, New Orleans)
• Lawrence Jackson (DE, Seattle)
• Mike Patterson (DT, Philadelphia)
• Sedrick Ellis (DE, New Orleans)
• Willie McGinest (LB, Cleveland)
• Keith Rivers (LB, Cincinnati)
• Lofa Tatupu (LB, Seattle)
• Brian Kelly (CB, Detroit)
• Troy Polamalu (SS, Pittsburgh)

Click here to vote for your favorite Trojans.

-- Adam Rose

Matt Cassel (QB, New England)

Reggie Bush (RB, New Orleans) is still a human highlight reel, but also still not an every down back. He returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown with ridiculous speed -- and a taunting wave. On offense he ran 10 times for 28 yards and made 7 receptions for 63 yards. The Saints lost to Washington, 29-24.

LenDale White (RB, Tennessee) split carries with Chris Johnson, but touched the rock 18 time for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Lawrence Jackson (DE, Seattle) had a big day. The rookie made 5 tackles, but, most impressively, had two sacks in a 33-30 overtime loss to San Francisco.

Troy Polamalu (S, Pittsburgh) overcame hamstring trouble to make 4 tackles and an interception in a 10-6 victory over Clevelend.

Keith Rivers (LB, Cincinnati) made 8 tackles in the loss to Tennessee.

Carson Palmer (QB, Cincinnati) doesn't seem his old self. After a lousy game last week, he was only 16-of-27 for 134 yards and 2 interceptions in a 24-7 loss to Tennessee. He also injured his ankle in the second half.

Justin Fargas (RB, Oakland) have 97 yards in week one and was holding off rookie Darren McFadden pretty well. Then he pulled his groing in the second quarter this week against Kansas City and McFadden had a great day. Before leaving, Fargas had 43 yards on 9 touches in a 23-8 victory.

Lofa Tatupu (LB, Seattle) made 5 tackles in the loss to the Niners.

Steve Smith (WR, NY Giants) made catches of 11 and 8 yards, as well as a tackle after a turnover. New York won 41-13 over St. Louis.

Matt Leinart (QB, Arizona) saw mop-up duty in a 31-10 victory over Miami. He completed a 15 yard pass on 2 attempts. Kurt Warner seems to have the job on lock for now.

Fred Davis (TE, Washington) saw the first pro action of his career and made a 6 yard catch in the victory over New Orleans.

Frostee Rucker (DE, Cincinnati) made 5 tackles in the loss to the Titans.

Sedrick Ellis (DT, New Orleans) made 4 tackles in the loss to Washington.

Brian Kelly (CB, Detroit) had three tackles in a 48-25 loss to Green Bay.

Willie McGinest (LB, Cleveland) made one tackle in the loss to Pittsburgh.

LaJuan Ramsey (DE, Indianapolis) had a tackle in an 18-15 win over Minnesota.

Also played: Sammy Knight (S, NY Giants).

Monday Night Football: Mike Patterson (DT, Philadelphia) will be playing against Dallas.

-- Adam Rose
Photo by Rich Kane / US Presswire

Reggie Bush (RB, New Orleans)

Matt Cassel (QB, New England) may have become the hottest commodity in fantasy football this weekend when Tom Brady went down. But will he actually become the long-range starter? For more on his performance, click here.

Matt Leinart (QB, Arizona) didn't see any action against the 49ers. Crazy thought ... he will probably be a backup in week two, but his former backup (Cassel) could be leading the defending AFC champion.

Carson Palmer (QB, Cincinnati) was also upstaged by his former backup (again, Cassel). Still dealing with a broken nose, he was just 10-of-25 for 99 yards and an interception. He also picked up 15 yards on 3 carries. The Bengals lost to Baltimore, 17-10.

Keith Rivers (LB, Cincinnati) made a big impact in his first game as a pro, recording 10 tackles (9 solo) in the loss to the Ravens.

Frostee Rucker (DT, Cincinnati) had six tackles and forced a fumble.

Troy Polamalu (S, Pittsburgh) had a good game despite being hampered with a hamstring problem. He made three tackles and nabbed an interception in a 38-17 victory over Houston.

LenDale White (RB, Tennessee) ran 15 times for 40 yards and a touchdown, but seems to be losing the starting job to rookie Chris Johnson.

Lofa Tatupu (LB, Seattle) made 8 tackles in a 34-10 loss to Buffalo.

Dwayne Jarrett (WR, Carolina) had catches of 25 and 11 yards in a 26-24 win over San Diego.

Steve Smith (WR, New York Giants) made grabs of 8 and 7 yards in Thursday's 16-7 win over Washington.

Willie McGinest (LB, Cleveland) had three tackles in a 28-10 loss to Dallas.

Sedrick Ellis (DT, New Orleans) made a pair of tackles in the win over Tampa Bay.

Lawrence Jackson (DE, Seattle) made two tackles in the loss to the Bills..

Mike Patterson (DT, Philadelphia) had a pair of tackles in a 38-3 shelling of St. Louis.

Shaun Cody (DT, Detroit) made two tackles in a 34-21 loss to Atlanta.

Monday Night Football: With a pair of games tonight, John David Booty (QB, Minnesota), Keary Colbert (WR, Denver), and Justin Fargas (RB, Oakland) could all see some playing time.

-- Adam Rose
Photo: Crystal LoGiudice-US PRESSWIRE

And so was the Saints offense, which Reggie Bush aided with 163 total yards, including a 42 yard romp for a touchdown. Sedrick Ellis and the Saints D-Line now under Ed Orgeron also looked great.

Other USC notables were Keith Rivers with 9 tackles in his debut with the Cincinnati Bengals.

And coming of an injury, Pro Bowl Safety Troy Polamalu had his first interception in nearly 2 years.

Dwayne Jarrett caught a couple passes (36 yards) for the revived Carolina Panthers who beat San Diego on the road in dramatic fashion.

And in spelling injured Tom Brady, Matt Cassel was 13 of 18 for 152 and a TD -- leading the New England Patriots to a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. (Rumors are rampant that Tom Brady tore an ACL and Cassel will be the Pats QB the rest of the year.) Certainly we wish Tom Brady well, but it would be cool to see a guy that never took a snap as a starting QB at USC be prolific in one of most dominant offenses in the NFL.