Matt Grootegoed
First defensive line coach Jethro Franklin, and now secondary coach Greg Burns, who was instrumental in recruiting for the Trojans, is setting a pirate ship sail and heading east to the Tampa Bay Bucaneers.
How much is Monte Kiffin, Pete Carroll's bro, going to poach from USC?
Hopefully this SC-ification in Tampa will help Matt Grootegoed get some playing time in the NFL. [UPDATE] Our bad. Grootegoed was actually picked up by the Detroit Lions. Thanks Larry.
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Unbelievable that Matt Grootegoed got snubbed in the seven rounds of the NFL Draft. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award!
Grootegoed will make an impact--signing as a free agent with Tampa Bay--even if it's from the safety position or special teams.
USC cornerback Kevin Arbet also is expected to sign with Tampa Bay,
tight end Alex Holmes and offensive lineman John Drake are going to
Miami, fullback Lee Webb and wide receiver Jason Mitchell to
Jacksonville, safety Jason Leach to San Diego and kicker Ryan Killeen
to Detroit.
Grootegoed's choice will be Tampa Bay [OC Register]
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USC kept Matt Leinart, but lost leading Orange Bowl tackler, Lofa Tatupu, to the NFL. That combined with the loss of senior Matt Grootegoed could have
caused a linebacker shortage, if it wasn't for the fact that Keith Rivers has already seen significant playing time in blowouts, and new 5-star recruit
Rey Maualuga is the #1 on Lemanski Hall's and Rivals.com's lists of best inside linebackers. Lemanski Hall says:
Rey
Maualuga just flat out knows how to play football. He's hard-nosed, tough and aggressive. What impresses me most is his speed and his tackling. Also, when he
sees the play, he reacts with no hesitation. What I like about Rey is that he's always making plays behind the line of scrimmage.
This
comes as news that 4-star New Jersey linebacker, Brian Cushing, said that Southern Cal was his leader heading in to his official visit this
past weekend.
Maualuga tops Hall's list of inside LBs [USCfootball.com]
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Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart and three of his Trojan teammates made The Associated
Press All-America team. Defensive lineman Shaun Cody, linebacker Matt Grootegoed and all-purpose player Reggie Bush joined their quarterback on the first team.
USC defensive tackle Mike Patterson and linebacker Lofa Tatupu made the third team.
4 Trojans named first-team All-American [Daily Breeze]
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Here's the rundown of the non-Heisman awards, most of which were handed out last night at the Home Depot College Football Awards
Show:
Bednarik Award - David Pollack, Georgia
(Nation's best defensive player, presented by the Maxwell Football
Club)
Biletnikoff Award - Braylon Edwards, Michigan
(Nation's best defensive player, presented by the Tallahassee QB Club
Foundation, Inc.)
Butkus Award - Derrick Johnson, Texas
(Nation's outstanding linebacker, presented by the DAC of Orlando)
Walter Camp Award - Matt Leinart, USC
(Nation's best player, presented by Walter Camp Football Foundation)
Lou Groza Award - Mike Nugent, Ohio
State
(Nation's top placekicker, presented by the Greater Augusta Council)
Ray Guy Award - Daniel Sepulveda,
Baylor
(Nation's best punter, presented by the Greater Augusta Council)
Lombardi Award - David Pollack, Georgia
(Nation's best lineman, presented by the Rotary Club of Houston)
John Mackey Award - Heath Miller, Virginia
(Nation's best tight end, presented by the Nassau County Sports
Comm.)
Maxwell Award - Jason White, Oklahoma
(Outstanding player of the year,
presented by the Maxwell Football Club)
Bronco Nagurski Award - Derrick Johnson, Texas
(Outstanding defensive player, presented by the FWAA/Charlotte TD
Club)
Davey O'Brien Award - Jason White, Oklahoma
(Nation's outstanding QB,
presented by the Davey O'Brien Foundation)
Outland Trophy - Jammal Brown, Oklahoma
(Nation's best interior offensive or defensive lineman, presented by the
FWAA)
Jim Thorpe Award - Carlos Rogers, Auburn
(Nation's outstanding defensive back, presented by the Thorpe
Assoc.)
Doak Walker Award - Cedric Benson, Texas
(Nation's best collegiate running back, presented by the
SMU Athletic Forum)
Home Depot Coach of the Year - Urban Meyer, Utah
(Nation's Best Coach, presented by Home Depot)
Awards Watch [ESPN]
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USC senior Matt Grootegoed has been named one of three finalists for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top college linebacker. The
other finalists are Ahmad Brooks of Virginia and Derrick Johnson of Texas.
Matt Grootegood Named A Finalist For The Butkus Award [USC
Trojans]
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The Daily Trojan
href="http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/2004/09/16/Sports/Its-Just.The.Way.He.Works-720568.shtml">shows Matt Grootegoed some love
on Thursday, although the
writer's use of puns makes it difficult to get through. We here are all for some Trojan love, but any article that opens like this...
He's not that great, just real Grootegoed.
makes you kind of question where all those millions donated to the Journalism School are going.
C'mon DT--for Grootegoedness sake, could you try a little harder next time? Championship football deserves championship journalism, or at least something
that doesn't make us gag.
[from The Daily Trojan]
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Even without Mike Williams, USC will have no shortage of well-seasoned studs.
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