Astoundingly, USC players make up exactly half of ESPN.com's Pac-10 All-Decade team: QB Matt Leinart, TB Reggie Bush, WR Dwayne Jarrett, C Ryan Kalil, OT Sam Baker, DT Sedrick Ellis, DE Kenechi Udeze, LB Rey Maualuga, LB Keith Rivers, S Troy Polamalu, S Taylor Mays and P Tom Malone.... more »
Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster, joining linebacker Clay Matthews and wideout Steve Smith as the three Trojans who will be in the NFL all-star game in Miami on Sunday (4:30 p.m. on ESPN).Also, rookie linebacker Brian Cushing was originally on the roster but had to withdraw because of lingering injury... more »
Some familiar names are on the ballot for this year's NFL Pro Bowl. Check out the former USC players under consideration: 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,... more »
Long overdue props to the man with the mustache. Pat Ruel has groomed offensive line juggernauts Ryan Kalil, Deuce Lutui, Sam Baker, Fred Matua and Winston Justice.
His draw is comparable to that of Ed Orgeron and has helped him win many recruits outside his position.
Possibly something that Carroll rubbed off on him:
"Pete's like a beautiful woman," Ruel said after taking the job. "The closer you get, you better look out. He is very charismatic. He can smile and make you feel like a million dollars."
Everybody should be feeling like a million bucks if the Golden Ruel can get Jeff Byers and company opening those truck-sized holes we saw against Nebraska last year.
A great weekend for the USC program cemented just how amazing the Trojans' 2003 recruiting class was. Sedrick Ellis, Sam Baker and Lawrence Jackson are the three latest members of USC's 2003 class, which I think should go down as the best recruiting class in modern college football history (i.e. when teams couldn't sign as many recruits as they want), to be drafted in the first round, joining Reggie Bush from two years ago. As of now, the Trojans have an astounding nine first-day draft picks from that class: Baker, Bush, Ellis, Jackson, Ryan Kalil, Steve Smith, Terrell Thomas, LenDale White and Eric Wright. (There also could be a 10th coming in 2009 when DT Fili Moala comes through.) Other USC '03s that have been drafted are John David Booty, Will Poole, Chauncey Washington and Thomas Williams.
You may watch this little Friday night walk-through tradition, and wonder how USC ever wins any games at all. But O-Line coach Pat Ruel does have 34 years of experience in both college and the NFL, and has molded such talents as Sam Baker and Ryan Kalil, so he must be doing something right. And with a bunch of hefty o-liners added in this month's recruiting class, this power-walking tradition is only going to get fatter.
ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman is doing a book signing for his look at college football recruiting, Meat Market, at the USC Bookstore Saturday before the Oregon State game. The book's main focus and character is former USC assistant head coach/defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron, now in his third tough season at the University of Mississippi. Feldman presents... more »
Mark Saxon, OC Register After three years with All-American Ryan Kalil, USC got used to a fast, intelligent, but occasionally undersized man in the middle of its offensive line. Now, it’s got an entirely different kind of center. Freshman Kristofer O’Dowd has manhandled opposing defenders through the first two games. Against Nebraska, he cleared what seemed like acres of room... more »
Charles Krupa/The Associated Press. As part of rookie hazing, the Patriots' Zach West, left, and Oscar Lua had their hair buzzed by veterans...
The game is bigger, faster and harder. With a whole new team and a whole new play-book, the incoming Trojan rookies are showing their youth when it comes to the NFL learning curve.
Inside: A player by player look at the Trojan rookies in the NFL.
From Wednesday's ESPN.com article,Washington Redskins: LB Dallas Sartz (strained hamstring) was sidelined morning Wednesday...Seattle Seahawks: Backup fullback David Kirtman broke his hand during practice Wednesday morning...Kirtman, a fifth-round draft choice from 2006 out of Southern California, was participating in a running plays drill with backs and linemen when he suddenly walked off the field with a trainer while holding... more »
LQ Singian, WeAreSC In this latest installment of our Exit Interview series, WeAreSC sits down with Ryan Kalil to discuss his Trojan career, his recent engagement, the prospects of his younger brother playing at USC and the role Keary Colbert has played in welcoming him to the Carolina Panthers. Click below to read more on this 2006 Trojan captain…... more »
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