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.
Final draft [ESPN Insider]
Draft footage of USC first-rounders: Ellis, Rivers, Baker and Jackson
USC had a phenomenal draft. Nearly 13% of picks drafted in the first round were USC Trojans. USC owned 11% of picks through the end of the second round. USC had 10 draft picks overall, the most out of any school, including four in the first round (also the most out of any school). Here's the draft breakdown by Trojan player.
Sedrick Ellis - 1st round, 7th pick to the New Orleans, Saints.
Keith Rivers - 1st round, 9th pick, to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sam Baker - 1st round, 21st pick - to the Atlanta Falcons
Lawrence Jackson - 1st round, 28th pick - Seattle Seahawks
Chilo Rachal - 2nd round, 8th pick - San Francisco, 49ers
Fred Davis - 2nd round, 17th pick - to the Washington Redskins
Terrell Thomas - New York Giants - 2nd round, 32nd pick (63rd overall)
John David Booty - 5th round, 2nd pick - Minnesota Vikings
Thomas Williams - 5th round, 20th pick - Jacksonville Jaguars
Chauncey Washington - 7th round, 6th pick Jacksonville Jaguars
Chauncey Washington for President; '06 &'07 Highlights
Then the Jaguars double-dipped into the Trojan talent pool, grabbing runningback Chauncey Washington with the 6th pick of the 7th round. Washington came to the Trojans in the same '03 class as Lendale White and Reggie Bush. But injuries had him sidelined in '03 and redshirt in '04 and '05. But as they saying goes, patience ended up being Washington's greatest virtue.
With the departure of Bush and White to the NFL, and USC's tailback situation in question, Washington was the back who stepped up. He led the Trojans in rushing in 2006 with 744 yards and 9 TDs. Then in 2007, Washington kicked it up a notch. Even with young-uns Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson as viable tailback options, Chauncey Washington was the choice for O.C. Sarkisian and Pete Carroll. Washington received more than double the carries as any other tailback, and led the Trojans with 969 yards and 10 TDs. 220 of his near 1,000 yards came from a remarkable career-high game, with Washington running all over a very soggy Cal Bears.
Washington is a sizable north-south runner with excellent vision, power and blocking ability, reminiscent of the Lendale White style of game. He should become a solid combo punch along with Jacksonville's Fred Taylor (1202 yards, 5 TDs in 2007) and Maurice Jones Drew (768 yards, 9 TDs).
Overall it has been an excellent two days for the Trojans, with 10 out of 12 players getting selected in the draft. Only guard Drew Radovich and center Matt Spanos remain undrafted. Both would be steals as free agent picks.