• 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
  
  

Check out this article from Len Pasquarelli at ESPN about the success four rookies from USC are having in the NFL this season. Here is an excerpt:

Putting four linebackers into the NFL in one year, all of them rookie starters at one point in the season, and with three of the defenders now regulars with their respective franchises, is a pretty remarkable feat. Then again, Brian Cushing (Houston), Clay Matthews Jr. (Green Bay) Rey Maualuga (Cincinnati) and Kaluka Maiava (Cleveland) all appear to be special players.

The quartet has combined to start 33 games through the first 12 weeks of the season. Cushing, a viable candidate for defensive rookie of the year honors, and Maualuga both have started every contest for their teams. Matthews, the son of former NFL standout outside linebacker Clay Matthews and a one-time walk-on at USC, has started eight games for the Packers, after opening the season as a situational pass-rusher

To read the full article, click here.

Former USC 'backers standing out [espn]

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)

(Read full post)

USC Football

McKnight proves he's no ordinary Joe
A great article on Joe McKnight!

Taylor Mays: Far and Beyond The Top Player in College Football " Behind the Box Score
Nice article on Taylor Mays

'Always Compete' reveals Pete Carroll's prankster side - CFB News
Here is a nice early look at the upcoming book on Pete Carroll

Pete Carroll on the Radio in SD
I haven't had a chance to listen to this yet

ESPN’s Reilly on the Neuheisel, Carroll relationship - UCLA - OCRegister.com
Another brief take

USC Basketball

Doug Haller : A conversation with USC's Kevin O'Neill
Nice interview of KO

Pac-10

Pac-10 football: Separating reality from spin | College Sports Hotline
A very observant piece from John Wilner

Former Player News

Myers and Hartman Interview Rey Maualuga
I haven't listened to this either but will later today...let me your thoughts.

Justice Shines
Some Wiston Justice news

Getting to know . . . Fili Moala - The Indianapolis Star

Patrick Turner Shinin' in camp - Phin Phanatic

All Sanchez all the time

Mark Sanchez Q&A: 'It's been a blast so far' - Sporting News
Mark is going to win the starting job...just wait

Jets coach Rex Ryan signals Sanchez-Clemens decision will be quick
Rex Ryan would like to name his starting quarterback by the third preseason game.

Mark Sanchez impressive in Jets scrimmage - BostonHerald.com
Mark Sanchez was very pleased with his performance in the Jets’ intrasquad scrimmage Thursday night.

StingRey: The Bengals are finding out rather quickly just how effective linebacker Rey Maualuga can be as a pass-rusher. I can tell you this, you’re not going to block him with a running back. Just ask Kenny Watson, who was thumped by Maualuga on a play when rushing the passer. Watson was left sprawled on the field like road kill. He had to shake out the cobwebs before being helped to his feet by teammates. - Springfield News-Sun

Clay Matthews is moving on up: "First-rounder Clay Matthews surpassed Jeremy Thompson as the Packers' starting right outside linebacker Monday. It took Matthews all of three practices to force the move. Coach Mike McCarthy is downplaying the change, but it's clear the job is now Matthews' to lose. Matthews is a more natural outside linebacker than Thompson, able play the run while also providing a pass rushing presence." - Rotoworld

Brian Cushing has new haircut: “I'm a lot cooler now at practice, so I'm happy about that,” Cushing said. “I had a pretty good feeling about what was going to go on. It was part of the rookie entertainment. I went up there and sang a song, and the second part of it was getting my hair cut...It's about two years right there, off in about 30 seconds. It's a lot quicker to cut than to grow.” -Chron.com

Kaluka Maiava has made Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini a fan – “He’s done a good job. He’s been working inside, both spots inside and some work on sub, which we haven’t gotten to at this point, but we will here shortly. He’s a guy that I thought was very smart when I interviewed him. I liked his style of play. I liked what he had done on special teams in college and I think that he’ll get a chance to contribute in a lot of different ways if he continues to progress.” -The Cleveland Leader

The Cincinnati Bengals have signed their second-round draft pick Rey Maualuga. ProFootballTalk.com is reporting that the deal is worth $4.66 million. $2.84 million of the deal is guaranteed.

Here is a quote from Rey’s Facebook page:

just signed my contract. its time to rumble in the jungle. here we come!! WHO DEY!!

Good Luck Rey!

Maualuga signs [Bengals.com]
Rey Maualuga agrees to terms [ProFootballTalk.com]

We spent a lot of time talking about quarterbacks this spring in the Pac-10, most particularly USC's quarterback competition -- did ya hear, Aaron Corp's No. 1 but this freshman Matt Barkley looks like the bees' knees!

The other general theme isn't new: After reviewing the tea leaves on the table, does any team have the karmic -- and talent -- potential to unseat USC from the top of the Pac-10?

The answer? Maybe.

What we learned. Or developed a hunch about.

1. Oregon State's quarterback situation is ... interesting: You have two starting quarterbacks who are seniors. One is going to sit. No other way to describe it. Lyle Moevao threw for 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns last year but he sat out spring practices with a shoulder injury, which is exactly what happened to Sean Canfield last year before he lost his starting job. By the way, Canfield went 3-0 -- two starts -- subbing for Moevao in 2008. Though he struggled in the spring game with three interceptions, Canfield played well enough throughout that he probably owns a slight lead heading into the offseason.

2. USC's defense may not be as good as 2008, but it's probably as good as anyone else: The 2008 USC defense had more future NFL players on it than any other unit in the nation. And the 2009 version might not be any different, though there's clearly youth and inexperience to fret about from the Trojans' perspective. Still, start with perhaps the best secondary in the nation, led by safeties Taylor Mays and Josh Pinkard. Then consider the breakout spring of end Everson Griffen, who could win the Pac-10 sack title if he remains focused. Further, word is the three new linebackers might not match the NFL-ready standard of Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing, but Malcolm Smith, Chris Galippo and Michael Morgan are faster. Toss in some impressive youngsters up front, and it's hard to imagine this crew not ranking among the nation's top 10 in just about every category.

3. The conference of ... running backs: The Pac-10 might feature the best collection of running backs in the nation. Five 1,000-yard rushers are schedule to return, including California's Jahvid Best, the conference's top Heisman Trophy candidate, and Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers, who won the conference's Offensive Player of the Year award as a true freshman. Toss in Oregon's LeGarrette Blount, a potential first-day NFL draft pick in 2010, and Stanford's Toby Gerhart and Arizona's Nic Grigsby, not to mention the six-deep stable of runners at USC, and the battle for first-team Pac-10 might be more arduous than All-American.

4. But can anyone block? Three teams that ran the ball well last year -- Arizona, Oregon and Oregon State -- lost three starting offensive linemen, including early-round NFL draft picks. Four others -- Arizona State, UCLA, Washington and Washington State -- were just lousy up front last fall. Even Stanford and California, which should be fairly stout, lost their best blockers from 2008. The conference's only sure thing up front is USC, which welcomes back its entire starting five, including All-American center Kristopher O'Dowd. Moreover, the teams that entered spring with questions on the line didn't get many answers three weeks later. O-line play might be the most critical issue facing the conference in 2009, even more so than at quarterback.

5. Sarkisian and Kelly bring new energy: Steve Sarkisian and Chip Kelly inherited completely different situations, but both made a mark by upping the intensity of practices. Sarkisian, of course, took over a lifeless program that Tyrone Willingham ran into the ground (uncharitable, but inarguable). He opened up practices and practically begged boosters and old Huskies greats to come visit. He also increased the tempo and energy level of practices -- heck, everything around the team -- which might do more than anything to get the Huskies a handful of wins next fall. Meanwhile, Kelly took over for one of the best coaches in the nation, Mike Bellotti, and brought a little East Coast volume to Ducks practices. He's not completely renovating the Ducks, who finished in the nation's top 10 last year, but he's going to add his own coat of paint -- which at Oregon, as you known, probably will be a fairly loud shade.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday in the AFC North:

• What position will Cincinnati Bengals rookie Rey Maualuga play next season?

Morning take: His natural position is middle linebacker. But he's not taking Dhani Jones, Cincinnati's leading tackler and leader, off the field next season. Maualuga needs to learn the outside linebacker position if he wants to play right away.

• Who is the best backup quarterback in Baltimore Ravens' history?

Morning take: This is an odd question. Has Baltimore ever had a great starting quarterback? (Joe Flacco needs to prove it beyond one year.)

• Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Larry Foote signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.

Morning take: Playing time was very important for Foote. He will get plenty of it in Detroit.

• Speaking of Detroit, the Cleveland Browns signed ex-Lions receiver Mike Furrey.

Morning take: Following the draft and free agency, the Browns are now stock-piled with receivers. Behind starter Braylon Edwards, who will step up and be the No. 2 threat?

The latest Sports Illustrated featuring Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews.