• QB Mark Sanchez (New York Jets, 1st round, 5th overall pick) • 12 starts, quarterbacking a 6-6 squad that's one game out of the AFC playoff race
• LB Brian Cushing (Houston Texans, 1st round, 15th overall pick) • 12 starts, 5th in the NFL with 102 tackles (No. 1 among rookies), 3 INTs, 12 passes defended (best among all LBs)
• LB Clay Matthews (Green Bay Packers, 1st round, 26th overall pick) • 9 starts (appeared in all 12 games), 13th in the NFL with 7 sacks (No. 1 among rookies), 2 forced fumbles
• LB Rey Maualuga (Cincinnati Bengals, 2nd round, 38th overall pick) • 12 starts
• DL Fili Moala • (Indianapolis Colts, 2nd round, 56th overall pick) • Appeared in 6 games
• WR Patrick Turner (Miami Dolphins, 3rd round, 87th overall pick) • Appeared in 2 games
• LB Kaluka Maiava (Cleveland Browns, 4th round, 104th overall pick) • 3 starts (appeared in all 12 games), 33 tackles, 2 forced fumbles
• DL Kyle Moore (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4th round, 117th overall pick) • Appeared in 4 games
• K David Buehler (Dallas Cowboys, 5th round, 172nd overall pick) • Appeared in all 12 games, 20 touchbacks (No. 4 in the NFL) in just 60 kickoffs, 66.6 yard kickoff average
• CB Cary Harris (Buffalo Bills, 6th round, 183rd overall pick) • Appeared in 2 games
• S Kevin Ellison (San Diego Chargers, 6th round,189th overall pick) • 6 starts (appeared in 9 games), 36 tackles
  
  

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)

The Trojans’ very recent past was a bye week that gave the coaches a glimpse at the future.

Freshman safeties T.J. McDonald (right) and Jawanza Starling received a ton of invaluable reps, and it isn’t difficult to envision the pair starting side by side sometime soon.

The thing defensive coordinator and secondary coach Rocky Seto likes best about them? They’re quick studies.

“They learn their lessons,” Seto said late last week.

“They may be out of position (on one play), and then they get it, which is neat. They’ve taken, I don’t know, 70 reps the last couple days. Think about those 70 lessons.”

The coaching staff obviously was impressed from the start with McDonald, who became the second-string strong safety despite missing a large chunk of training camp because of a sprained ankle.

“Some guys come in a little more prepared than others,” said Seto, who compared McDonald to recent Trojan Kevin Ellison. It’s no coincidence that both come from football families, T.J. having played for father Tim McDonald, a former USC All-American and NFL All-Pro.

More from the USC blog:

• USC football: A most productive weekend
• USC football: The value and versatility of Garrett Green
• USC football: 5 games that mean something to the Trojans
• USC football: The latest on Stafon Johnson’s recovery
• USC football: Carroll hits recruiting trail feeling good
• USC football: Is Mustain No. 2 on the depth chart?
• USC football: Rick Neuheisel burns on Trojans
• USC football: Everson Griffen isn’t satisfied
• USC football: ‘Marvelous’ test results for Stafon Johnson
• USC football: Armond Armstead ahead of schedule

Post from: USC

TrojanWire has crossed enemy lines and will be publishing a Cal grad's weekly betting analysis for USC football.

Dr. Bob will be helping TrojanWire make weekly picks at the BetUS Sportsbook.

You can get Dr. Bob's Best Bet of the Week by subscribing to his service. Watch the ESPN video after the jump to see how Dr. Bob actually applied the BUAD 310 lessons you slept through.

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USC and Florida were about even in my ratings at the end of last season and it's a shame that the two best teams didn't get to face each other in the National Championship game. The reason for the Trojans' exclusion was a late September loss at Oregon State by a 21-27 count in a game in which USC out-played the Beavers 6.1 yards per play to 5.0 yppl but were -2 in turnover margin. USC may be able to afford one loss this season given the enhanced strength of the Pac-10 this season and the tougher non-conference schedule (at Ohio State and visiting a ranked Notre Dame team). While the Trojans could make it to the National Championship game with one loss, they should be favored to win each and every week, including at Ohio State (although they may not be).

Yes, USC must replace 8 defensive starters that were selected in April's NFL draft, including 4 in the first 2 rounds, but the Trojans' secondary is going to be just as good and most of the replacements along the defensive front 7 are going to be headed to the NFL when they're done kicking ass for the Trojans. FS Taylor Mays returns to lead the unit after earning 1st Team All-American honors last season and replacing departed defensive backs Kevin Ellison and Cary Harris will not be difficult, as new starters Shareece Wright and Kevin Thomas are better NFL prospects than either Ellison or Harris (both 6th round draft picks). In fact, Thomas defended more passes (7 broken up and 3 interceptions) as a back up last season than either Ellison or Harris did as starters. The question on the defense is the front 7, which employs 6 new starters and has to replace 4 players drafted in the first 2 rounds. There is always talent waiting to fill the holes at USC, but the holes are pretty big this year and the lack of experience may be a minor problem early in the season (we'll find out on September 12th). I don't expect the USC defense to be historically good as it was in 2008 (allowed a miniscule 3.7 yards per play to a schedule of teams that would combine to average 5.7 yppl against an average stop unit), but the Trojans should still rank among the best defensive teams in the nation.

While the defense has to replace many stars, the offense only has to replace one. Quarterback Mark Sanchez had an excellent season as the starter and will now be starting for the New York Jets. It's tough to imagine sophomore Aaron Corp or freshman Matt Barkley being as efficient as Sanchez was last season, but the same was said of Matt Leinart when he had to replace Carson Palmer and of John David Booty when he followed Leinart. The only bad year for the USC pass attack was in 2007 when the receiving corps lacked talent and experience after Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett left campus, but the Trojans' pass attack has rated between +1.8 yards per pass play better than average and +2.8 yppp in the other 6 seasons since 2002 and the average new starter during that time had a rating of +2.3 yppp. The receiving corps is loaded with talent and experience heading into this season and WR Damian Williams is poised for an All-American season after nabbing 58 balls at 15.0 ypc and 9 scores as s sophomore last season. I expect the new USC quarterback to be about 2.3 yards per pass play better than average, which is down some from the +2.7 yppp rating of Sanchez last season. The rushing attack, meanwhile, should be even better than last season. The top 4 backs return to run behind the nation's best offensive line, which returns 5 starters (although C O'Dowd is questionable to start the season) and the Trojans could average over 6 yards per running play after averaging a stellar 5.6 yprp last season behind an inexperienced line that returned just 1 starter. Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight, and company should enjoy running through the holes that this year's Trojans' offensive line should create. USC averaged 6.7 yards per play in 2008 (against teams that would allow 5.1 yppl to an average attack), and I think they could be even better this season.

USC's special teams were a mixed bag last season, as the punting (33.0 net average) and punt returns (opponents averaged 36.7 net) were bad while the kickoff team was the 2nd best in the nation (21.8 yard line average opponent field position after kick-offs) and the kick return unit was good (26.5 average return). The Trojans must replace the punter (no problem there) and kicker David Buehler but the kick and punt return specialists are back. The departure of P Woidneck is likely to be a positive, but Buehler did a great job on kickoffs (although a bit worse than average on field goals) and I doubt the Trojans can repeat their great kick-off coverage stats. However, I expect more out of the punt return team and the kick returns should continue to shine. USC should once again be good overall in special teams.

The Trojans rank as my #2 rated team behind Florida entering the 2009 season, but that rating is contingent on Corp or Barkley continuing the recent tradition of great USC quarterbacks. The first big test is at Ohio State on September 12th, but I think the Trojans will be better than the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball even if the new quarterback isn't quite ready to play at typical USC standards. The Pac-10 schedule presents tough tests at Cal and at Oregon and a non-conference road game against a Notre Dame team that for once may actually be pretty good (although still likely to lose by 10 to 14 points to the Trojans). It will be a tough task for USC to come away from those 4 challenging road games with 4 wins, but I'd favor the Trojans in each of those games. An 11-1 season and another BCS bowl win is the most likely outcome (unless that BCS bowl game is against Florida), as USC tends to slip up in one Pac-10 game every year.

WR Patrick Turner, 3rd round, 87th overall, Miami
OLB Kaluka Maiava, 4th round, 104th overall, Cleveland
DE Kyle Moore, 4th round, 117th overall, Tampa Bay
PK David Buehler, 5th round, 172nd overall, Dallas
CB Cary Harris, 6th round, 183rd overall, Buffalo
S Kevin Ellison, 6th round, 189th overall, San Diego

*DL Fili Moala was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in 2nd round (56th overall pick) on Saturday.

**UCLA did not have anyone drafted for the first time since 1997. FUCLA!

No. 1

	Kevin Terrell/Getty Images
	USC's Taylor Mays is the Pac-10's only returning consensus first-team All-American.

Taylor Mays, S, USC: The good news here is no one will disagree with this one. No one who regularly reads the Pac-10 Blog could possibly question ranking No. 1 the conference's only returning consensus first-team All-American, the most important member of the Trojans' All-Universe 2008 defense and the almost certain first Pac-10 player taken in the 2010 NFL draft. Oh, and the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Mays also is the best all-around athlete in college football. And possibly all of football. One of the great fascinations of the 2010 draft will be who goes first between Tennessee's Eric Berry -- also a mega-talented safety -- and Mays, with both likely going in the top 10. You know how many teams use Cover 2 to prevent offenses from making big plays downfield in the passing game? USC did that. Only it played Cover 2 with Mays playing the role of two safeties as a lone centerfielder. Sure, Mays' zero interceptions last year is a hole on his resume, even though his role limited his opportunities for picks. And a few folks snicker that a handful of Mays' team-high nine pass deflections in 2008 should have been interception. Mays, who's started 38 consecutive games, has yet to demonstrate great hands (which Berry has). But USC had the nation's best pass defense in 2008 because of Mays. The Trojans gave up only six touchdown passes all season. Foes completed only 52 percent of their passes and averaged 134 yards per game. It wasn't mostly because of the Trojans' cornerbacks, who were good but didn't earn first- or second-team all-conference honors. It wasn't because of strong safety Kevin Ellison, who was more of a glorified linebacker. It wasn't because of an overwhelming pass rush; USC only had 29 sacks. Mays' presence was a giant sign posted in the secondary: "Don't even think about it." And few teams did. And when they did, well, you've seen the clips of Mays' bone-jarring hits.

2. Jahvid Best, RB, California
3. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
4. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
5. Kristofer O'Dowd, C, USC
6. Brian Price, DT, UCLA
7. Damian Williams, WR, USC
8. Syd'Quan Thompson, CB, California
9. Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon
10. Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon
11. Jake Locker, QB, Washington
12. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
13. Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona State
14. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon
15. Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
16. Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon
17. Charles Brown, OT, USC
18. Will Tukuafu, DE, Oregon
19. Josh Pinkard, DB, USC
20. Reggie Carter, LB, UCLA
21. Stafon Johnson, RB, USC
22. James Rodgers, WR, Oregon State
23. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, DE, Washington
24. Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State; Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
25. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
26. Tyson Alualu, DE, California
27. Devin Ross, CB, Arizona
28. Keaton Kristick, LB, Oregon State
29. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
30. Everson Griffen, DE, USC

The others are Georgia and Tennessee, according to the reports. (Pete Carroll vs. Lane Kiffin — this time it’s personal!) Charles eliminated Florida.

Charles is supposed to announce his decision March 6. If USC lands him, he’d help fill out an already strong class that lacks a tight end and is thin at receiver.

More from the USC blog:

• NFL draft: A real expert hints at future for Ellison, Pinkard
• USC basketball: Confrontation ’shocked’ Gibson
• NFL draft: How Mark Sanchez helped himself
• USC basketball: Johnson return ‘won’t happen’
• USC basketball: Marcus Johnson practicing
• NFL draft: Kevin Ellison’s transition?
• USC basketball: Hackett vs. Lewis vs. … the truth
• NFL draft: Kevin Ellison’s comeback
• USC basketball: Hackett, Lewis say they’re sorry
• USC basketball: Floyd calls players’ behavior ‘juvenile’

To hear the full news conference audio with Carroll, click play:

To hear from Kevin Ellison and Mark Sanchez, click play:

Parting thought: The game fit a pattern familiar from a few years ago -- slow start, explosive middle of the game, and coasting through the 4th quarter.

-- Adam Rose

LOS ANGELES -- A full day's worth of notes and quotes as coaches Pete Carroll and Jim Tressel talked to reporters on both ends of the USC-Ohio State showdown.

RECRUITING BATTLE

Carroll and Tressel don't know each other personally but that doesn't mean they don't know each other.

"We know them through recruiting," Carroll said.

They don't steal prospects from each other's states very often -- Ohio State has three players from California, USC one from Ohio -- but both programs recruit nationally.

Tressel noticed some familiar names when he looked over the USC roster.

"Gosh -- all of those guys were on our wish list," he said.

He then ticked off some of those names: center Kristofer O'Dowd, tight end Blake Ayles, receiver Ronald Johnson, quarterback Mark Sanchez and offensive guard Jeff Byers.

USC hasn't always won recruiting the recruiting battles either -- see Chris Wells and Ted Ginn, Jr.

CARROLL AND WOODY

The best anecdote of the day was Carroll talking about his year as an Ohio State assistant coach under Earle Bruce.

It just so happens that it was 1979, the season Ohio State lost in the Rose Bowl to USC and Charles White.

But Carroll's biggest thrill was looking out a window and seeing former coach Woody Hayes as he walked down the sidewalk.

"I had never seen him before," Carroll said. "So I dropped everything and took off across the parking lot and met him and I introduced myself."

Carroll said it was especially gratifying that Hayes knew who he was. They, of course, talked football.

"To me that was a really special moment," Carroll said.

QUOTABLE

Tressel to an L.A. audience about the poor performance in the 26-14 victory over Ohio on Saturday: "I've tried not to spend too much time looking back at that... We survived, I guess."

Carroll on the Ohio State-Ohio game:
"I don't think that has anything to do with it... They just won that game a little differently than everybody wanted them to and expected them to."

Tressel on the comments from Ohio State WR Ray Small suggesting that there is a "class" difference between the two schools: "It's disappointing when anyone talks... The only thing I can say about Ray is Ray doesn't have a malicious bone in his body and has no ill-intention... Those of us who speak to the press at times can error... Obviously it wasn't a good thing but he's a good kid."

USC safety Kevin Ellison, who was injured most of the 2005 season, on comparing OSU QB Terrelle Pryor to Vince Young: "I couldn't compare them right now. Vince Young was a totally different level. Terrelle Pryor is a freshman. I'm sure he'll be good a couple of years down the line. But you're talking about Vince Young, the second pick of the NFL draft."