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.

Wherever USC's Ruel travels, offensive lines are Golden [CBSSports.com]

What's in a name?

Are USC football players destined for greatness at birth? Some of their names seem to imply it. The Trojans have had some real humdingers in their 120 year program. Here's a list our favorites in a Trojanwire yearbook of sorts.

The McGeiver/McGreuber Award. Most likely to save your life with a paper clip and rubber band:

Marlin McKeever, DL
Mike McKeever, G

Most likely to kick your ass and steal your milk money:

Morris Badgro, E

Most likely to become a comic book superhero:

Winston Justice, OT

Justin Fargas (RB) was a surprise star for Oakland, picking up a career high 179 yards on 22 carrier with a long of 48. He replaced injured starter LaMont Jordan just before halftime.

Matt Leinart (QB) started for Arizona, was replaced by Kurt Warner, then returned in the fourth to lead a touchdown drive that put the game out of reach for Pittsburgh. He was 7-of-14 for 93 yards.

Dwayne Jarrett (WR) played in the first game of his career and had a six yard catch.

Winston Justice (LT) got the first start of his career, and boy did it look like he had never played before.

Lofa Tatupu (LB) had eight tackles and forced a fumble in Seattle's victory over San Francisco.

Troy Polamalu (S) had two tackles and forced a fumble against Matt Leinart's Cardinals.

Willie McGinest (LB) assisted on a tackle in his first game of the year as Cleveland beat Baltimore.

Keary Colbert (WR) made grabs of 10 and 6 yards in a Carolina loss to Tampa Bay.

Shaun Cody (DT) had a tackle for the Lions in a win over Chicago.

Kenechi Udeze (DE) made two tackles in Minnesota's loss to Green Bay.

Monday Night Football: New England heads to Cincinnati in a showdown of two marque NFL QBs. Carson Palmer will be at the helm for the Bengals while his former backup, Matt Cassell, plays second fiddle for the Pats. On defense, New England has a pair of Trojan linebackers named Oscar Lua and Junior Seau. Cincinnati also has DT Frostee Rucker. Lua and Rucker have yet to play this season.

With William Thomas still ailing from back spasms, Justice yesterday continued to take snaps with the first-team offense. He could earn not only his first action, but his first start, on Sunday.

Facing the Tampa Bay Bucs though, there this guy on their line named Simeon Rice, who if you've never heard of him, he's kinda good (120 career sacks). Simeon says (before Jevon Kearse and Julius Peppers) he was the first of the freakishly athletic defensive ends that changed the NFL.

Justice at last? Rook could be in line for start [Philadelphia Daily News]

Justice had a great Pro Day, notably a 39-inch vertical (for a 320 pound tackle), but fell in the draft because of concerns of character issues.

Winston will likely move from Matt Leinart's right tackle to Donovan McNabb's left tackle so that his all-important job remains protecting his quarterback's blindside.

Justice for Eagles: Philly signs second-round lineman [ESPN]
Underrated Justice Signs With Eagles [Pro Football Critics]

• Reggie Bush – 2nd overall to New Orleans
• Matt Leinart – 10th overall to Arizona
• Winston Justice – 39th overall to Philadelphia
• Deuce Lutui – 41st overall to Arizona
• LenDale White – 45th overall to Tennessee
• Frostee Rucker – 91st overall to Cincinnati
• Dominique Byrd – 93rd overall to St. Louis
• Darnell Bing – 101st overall to Oakland
• David Kirtman – 163rd overall to Seattle
• LaJuan Ramsey – 204th overall to Philadelphia
• Fred Matua – 217th overall to Detroit

Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles selected Winston Justice in the 2nd round with the 39th overall pick.

This just after Steinberg was dropped by his other USC client Winston Justice.

Sources: QB Leinart fires agent Steinberg [ESPN]

Coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers noted that there are teams that actually like Winston Justice a little better than they do D'Brickashaw Ferguson of Virginia.

"Some of the stuff he did was absolutely off the charts for a man so big. You don't see those kinds of workout numbers from a 320-pounder. He definitely helped himself."

Other OL prospects, Deuce Lutui and Fred Matua, are ready to help USC in this year's NFL draft standings, which after the successful pro day, the Trojans look to be cleaning house...

Pasquarelli: Trojans have a trio of OL prospects [abc7.com]

Leinart recorded a 37 inch vertical. Nice.

Old commrades, Norm Chow and Pete Carrol talk shop.

Norm Chow and Jeff Fisher of the Tennesse Titans.

Reggie may have run the fastest time, but nobody got more applause than Deuce.

Other notes:
- Nobody could believe that a 320-pound man recorded a 39 inch vertical. Winston Justice baby.
- Darnell Bing was all-around impressive but he didnt run below his listed 4.5 in the 40.
- Hate to pick on LenDale because we love him, but he only did 15 reps on the bench. (Punter Tom Malone did 14 and cornerback Justin Wyatt did 16.)

Trojan Pro Day Report [USCFootball.com]
USC's Pro Day like 'mini-combine' for players [MSNBC]
Leinart, Bush work out for NFL coaches, scouts [FoxSports]

Here's a run-down of potential players to welcome to the Trojan family:

5-star offensive lineman Andre Smith - Supposively gave word to hometown favorite Alabama months ago, but he could be a signing day surprise. COMMITTED TO ALABAMA.

5-star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy - This Oklahoma native would be a huge steal from Stoops. COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA.

5-star running back C.J. Spiller - A country boy from Florida. Can he and his family make the adjustment to big city living? Pete Carroll certainly made an impression on his mom. He could become the 2nd C.J. of the Trojans' 2006 recruiting class. COMMITTED TO CLEMSON.

5-star running back Stafon Johnson - Straight out of Dorsey. This kid should be a lock to stay in LA. COMMITTED TO USC.

5-star offensive lineman Stephen Schilling - USC has a better chance at this guy then Andre Smith. Although the Trojans would like both after losing underclassmen Winston Justice and Fred Matua. COMMITTED TO MICHIGAN.

4-star running back Michael Goodson - This kid has Reggie Bush-like moves as evidenced in the Army All-American game. COMMITTED TO TEXAS A&M.

4-star running back LeSean McCoy - Likely to remain home and attend Penn State, but he's still on the Trojans' radar since the Trojans' backfield will be playing on Sundays next season.COMMITTED TO MIAMI.

4-star linebacker Michael Morgan - There's nothing like stealing top talent out of Texas. See Emmanuel Moody. COMMITTED TO USC.

4-star defensive back Devin Ross - Supposively the Trojans were out of the running, but are now back on the block. COMMITTED TO ARIZONA.

*All rankings based on Rivals.com

1. Reggie Bush to the Texans
2. Matt Leinart to the Saints
16. Winston Justice to the Dolphins
17. LenDale White to the Vikings
31. Darnell Bing to the Broncos

Of course draft predictions are far from an exact science (Kiper predicted Mike Williams to go #1 two years ago). And these predictions will change after the Senior Bowl and again after the NFL Combine.

Bush, Leinart projected in top two [ESPN]

Darnell Bing S USC Junior
Cornell Brockington RB Connecticut Junior
Reggie Bush RB USC Junior
Brian Calhoun RB Wisconsin Junior
Antonio Cromartie CB Florida St Junior
Vernon Davis TE Maryland Junior
Maurice Drew RB UCLA Junior
Ray Edwards DE Purdue Junior
Anthony Fasano TE Notre Dame Junior
Charles Gordon WR/CB Kansas Junior
Willie Hall OT Middle Tennessee Junior
Devin Hester CB/KR Miami Fl Junior
Santonio Holmes WR Ohio St Junior
Chad Jackson WR Florida Junior
Omar Jacobs QB Bowling Green Junior
Johnathan Joseph CB South Carolina Sophomore
Winston Justice OT USC Junior
Brandon Kirsch QB Purdue Junior
Greg Lee WR Pittsburgh Junior
Danieal Manning DB Abilene Christian Junior
Laurence Maroney RB Minnesota Junior
Richard Marshall CB Fresno St Junior
Derrick Martin CB Wyoming Junior
Fred Matua OG USC Junior
John McCargo DT North Carolina St Junior
Stanley McClover DE Auburn Junior
Tony McDaniel DT Tennessee Junior
Derek Morris OT North Carolina St. Junior
Haloti Ngata DT Oregon Junior
Kai Parham LB Virginia Junior
Bernard Pollard S Purdue Junior
Leonard Pope TE Georgia Junior
Drouzon Quillen WR Louisiana-Monroe Junior
Ko Simpson S South Carolina Sophomore
Ernie Sims LB Florida State Junior
D.J. Smith WR Iowa Junior
Rob Smith G Tennessee Junior
Demetris Summers RB South Carolina Sophomore
Stephen Tulloch LB North Carolina St Junior
Marcus Vick QB Virginia Tech Junior
Dee Webb CB Florida Junior
LenDale White RB USC Junior
Donte Whitner S Ohio State Junior
Mario Williams DE North Carolina St Junior
Michael Williams DE Texas College Junior
Ashton Youboty CB Ohio St Junior
Vince Young QB Texas Junior

Underclassmen in the 2006 NFL Draft [Fanblogs.com]

If Winston Justice heads to the NFL that will be the third starter to leave the USC offensive line, which was thought to largely remain intact for 2006.

While the chemistry of the O-line can never be overlooked, the transition should be eased by the return of Jeff Byers, who was slated to be a starter this season but was maligned with a hip injury.

Incidentally, it's Matua's 22nd birthday. Happy birthday dude!

Losses Piling Up for USC [LA Times]