In 2006, the Trojans finished 14th in the nation in scoring, putting up 30.5 points per game, and 21st in total offense, with just under 392 yards per game. But while the passing offense racked up 264 yards per game (14th in the country), the running game simply could not get it going for prolonged periods of time. The Trojans’ 128 rushing yards per game ranked them just 68th in the country and slotted them below teams like Central Florida, Wyoming and Louisiana-Monroe.
Heading into 2007, it will be interesting to keep an eye on the dynamic between the passing and running games. There is talent absolutely everywhere, from the line to the backfield and out the receivers. And although the Trojans’ two big playmakers from last year are gone in Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith, fifteen current Trojans have been tabbed as starters on the offensive side of the ball during their USC careers. But all that experience won’t mean a thing if the Trojans can’t find player to step up at wide receiver and running back. Luckily, the Trojans have more talent stockpiled at those two positions than most conferences.
USC will be led by a fantastic quarterback group that should help the skill-position players settle into a rhythm early on in fall practice.
Quarterbacks
#10 John David Booty – Taking into account the lack of a potent ground game last season, John David Booty’s numbers through the air were even more impressive. In his first season as a starter, he completed nearly 62 percent of his passes for 3,347 yards and 29 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. In fact, Booty’s 269 completions tied him for fourth place, with Matt Leinart’s 2004 Heisman Trophy season, on USC’s single season list. Heading into the 2007 season, Booty is firmly entrenched among the top five Heisman Trophy candidates and should put up great numbers again, keeping himself in the race until the very end. He doesn’t possess the physical stature of Carson Palmer or Matt Leinart and his first season coincided with what counts as a rebuilding year under Pete Carroll, but if Booty can stay healthy for the entire 2007 season, he’ll finish his career among the top five quarterbacks in USC history in both passing yardage and touchdown strikes. He’s also going to end up passing guys like Marcus Allen, Paul McDonald and Brad Otton on USC’s career yardage list. He won’t have Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith back this season, but he understands how to distribute the ball to open receivers and will gladly put the ball in the hands of all the talent surrounding him. Head coach Pete Carroll stresses competition at every positing during fall camp, but with Booty back for his redshirt-senior season in 2007, the rest of the quarterbacks are fighting for 2008 and beyond.
#6 Mark Sanchez – On just about any other team in the country, Mark Sanchez would be gearing up for his second season as a starting quarterback. At USC, Sanchez is patiently biding his time until he takes the reins in 2008. A physically gifted quarterback with an absolute laser for an arm, Sanchez showed glimpses of his raw talent last season, completing three of seven passes for 63 yards and adding a four-yard touchdown run. With so many close games last season, he didn’t get the same kind of repetitions that John David Booty received in 2005, but this year brings with it the promise of a few more lopsided games, which should enable Sanchez to lead multiple drives and really get a feel for game situations. If he can stay confident and focused, the Trojans should be able to continue winning even if Booty goes down.
#16 Michael McDonald – Michael McDonald has thrown two passes in his USC career and both have been for touchdowns. After completing a four-yard strike against Arkansas in 2005, McDonald hit Steve Smith for a 20-yard score for the first points against Washington in 2006. Barring injury, McDonald won’t see the field in tight situations during 2007, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better third-string quarterback on any roster this fall. His poise and intensity in leading touchdown drive after touchdown drive during each and every practice is really something to see and hopefully will be rewarded yet again this season with a chance to make it three-for-three.
#14 Garrett Green – Garrett Green is back at quarterback after spending most of 2006 at safety. He is very reminiscent of Michael McDonald in the way he controls drives during practices. He is an outstanding athlete at the quarterback position and will provide valuable backup during the next several seasons. Although, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Green spend some more time at safety this season as the fourth quarterback in line.
#16 Mitch Mustain – Trojan fans won’t get to see Mitch Mustain in action this season as he sits out 2007 because of the NCAA transfer rules. But that won’t stop him from immersing himself in the quarterback battle as he looks to show the talent that guided Arkansas to an 8-0 record during his starts as a true freshman last season. It’s almost embarrassing to see Mustain on the USC campus this season as the talent waiting behind John David Booty borders on excessive. At how many schools would the 2005 national high school player of the year jump in line to fight for a spot with the 2004 national high school player of the year? It’s evident that Mustain is willing to fight for a spot on this team and should be ready to go after redshirting 2007.
#15 Aaron Corp – A true freshman in 2007, Aaron Corp will be a savior to a first-team defense looking to get some work in against a true dual-threat, scout-team quarterback. Corp is listed at 6-3 and has a great arm, but his athleticism already has coaches talking about giving him a few plays of his own once he hits the field in a few seasons. This year, however, should be a great learning experience for him as he huddles with no fewer than five legitimate Division-I quarterbacks.
#17 Jon Breuer – Jon Breuer will walk onto the team this fall after spending the 2005 season starting for Division II’s Assumption College.
Running Backs
The Trojans have plenty of talent in the offensive backfield, but the numbers must improve from the 128 rushing yards per game in 2006. At this point, there probably isn’t a single player on the Trojan roster or coach on the staff who has any idea how the final pecking order will work itself out during the fall. That, combined with seven or eight serious contenders for the starting spot, combined with the fact that the offense will rely on a solid ground game while the receivers settle into their spots, makes the tailback spot the best of all the position battles heading into the fall.
#23 Chauncey Washington – Chauncey Washington led the Trojans with 157 carries for 744 yards and scored half of the team’s 18 rushing touchdowns while playing hurt for much of 2006. It seemed that Washington could never get his hamstrings to settle down for him, but still showed flashes of talent that had Trojan fans so excited to have him back from his academic troubles the previous two seasons. Heading into 2007, Washington looks healthy and ready to go, which makes him a frontrunner for the starting tailback spot. His combination of strength and determined running makes him a workhorse back, capable of carrying the ball 25-30 times per game and wearing down defenses all the way into the fourth quarter. Because of that, some people may want to make Washington into a big back who takes the ball straight at defenses. But when fully healthy, he certainly has the speed and shake to get out into the open for big gains. If he’s ready to go this season, he may be the one tailback who best combines every aspect necessary for the position.
#2 C.J. Gable – With Washington ailing for parts of 2006, C.J. Gable was afforded the chance to step up as a true freshman and show what he could do as a tailback. He didn’t disappoint, either, rushing 111 times for 434 yards and four touchdowns. The production was certainly down from the years Reggie Bush and LenDale White recently finished putting up, but Gable earned the right to start his first game as a true freshman and scored the Trojans’ first touchdown of the season. Gable’s experience last season should help him a bit in 2007, but it won’t mean that he’ll get first crack at starting the season opener again. He clearly has the talent to produce at the Division-I level, with quick feet and a serious drive to the first hole he sees. He was hampered last season by playing without a fullback for much of the season and should be even better this season.
#28 Emmanuel Moody - Despite missing the final four games of the season with a sprained ankle, Emmanuel Moody still finished second on the team in rushing yards, with 459. He led the team with a 5.8 yards-per-carry average, added two touchdown runs and his 48-yard scamper was one of the longest plays the Trojans had from scrimmage all season. He returns in 2007 looking to stay healthy and show that his speed combined with a year of offseason conditioning should earn him some substantial playing time. His pure speed and quickness is the one thing that separates him from a lot of the other USC tailbacks and should enable him to see the field in plenty of situations.
#34 Hershel Dennis – Hershel Dennis is really the one guy who throws this tailback situation into an absolute mess heading into 2007. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and if he enters fall camp completely healthy and free of all signs of knee trouble, his talent and experience probably puts him at the head of the line. He is a fearless runner who picks up every available inch on every single play and is exactly the kind of balanced runner that should thrive in this offense. Dennis will most likely have an impact on the field this season, which could push the rest of the tailbacks down a peg.
#13 Stafon Johnson – Stafon Johnson’s Trojan career didn’t get off to the quick start he was hoping for in 2006. All told, he saw action in just one game, rushing for 17 yards on three carries at Stanford. But his lack of playing time in 2006 should have no bearing on what he does during the upcoming fall camp. There are those who feel that Johnson is the most talented tailback of the four sophomores, which would theoretically put him third on the depth chart at the close of camp. Though not as big as Washington, Johnson has great size for a tailback and combines it with very good speed and a huge dose of natural talent. He may not vault to the top of the tailback totem pole this fall, but it’s tough to imagine him being buried on the depth chart like he was last season.
#21 Allen Bradford – Allen Bradford is the fourth sophomore tailback looking to perform well during the fall. Bradford carried the ball 13 times for 42 yards and scored a touchdown against Arkansas in 2006. He also caught three passes for 33 yards and a touchdown. Bradford is one of the biggest tailbacks on the roster and spent some time last season bouncing between tailback and fullback. Of course, he started the season on the defensive side of the ball, but seems to have made the move to offense permanent. He’s set at tailback at this point, but with so many guys here, it’s easy to see Bradford becoming a serious contributor at fullback while biding his time for the move back to tailback. He certainly has the skills to play tailback, but his size gives him an advantage over most of the other tailbacks in that he could play multiple positions in this offense.
#22 Desmond Reed – Desmond Reed isn’t actually buried this far on the depth chart. But in terms of being an every-down running back, it’s probably going to be tough for Reed to find a whole lot of playing time. Though he’s fought back valiantly from a horrible leg injury, some nerve damage still remains and he may never fully recover. In 2006, he rushed seven times for 12 yards, caught five passes for 51 yards, returned 20 punts for 109 yards and brought back two kickoffs for 42 yards. While Reed may not make a huge impact offensively this season, he’ll no doubt still be a presence on special teams. In fact, even with an abundance of speedy skill players ready to man the return positions, Reed will probably still be the safest option for punt returns and could get a few looks on kickoff returns as well.
#4 Joe McKnight – Joe McKnight was arguably the best high school player in the nation last season. This year, he’s eight on the Trojan depth chart. Although, it’s probably not a safe bet to expect him to stay there. Not only will McKnight be the most watched freshman at USC, he may end up as the most watched freshman in the nation during the 2007 season. He is so fluid on the field, both with and without the ball. His speed is clearly evident, but it’s his football speed that makes him such a dangerous weapon. He has an innate knowledge of what speed to go in and out of breaks, how to get to the corner against just about any defender, and exactly when to kick into that highest gear. As a true freshman and with so many able running backs ahead of him, asking McKnight to step in and carry the ball ten times a game is probably out of the question. But he certainly has the ability to make his presence felt in the passing game in the same way the New Orleans Saints used former Trojan Reggie Bush in 2006. He’ll catch screens and swings out of the backfield, go in motion from the tailback spot or across the line of scrimmage from a wide receiver position. Even as a freshman, he’ll create matchup problems for opposing defenses and the other ten Trojans on the field will be more than happy to help exploit them.
#26 Marc Tyler – Had Marc Tyler not broken his leg before the 2006 playoffs, it may have been him, and not McKnight, creating all the buzz on the USC campus. Well, okay, it may have been both of them. But as it is, Tyler could still surprise a lot of people during the fall. There are those who believe that Tyler became the best of the ten tailbacks the moment he stepped on campus. He is a bigger back than some of the others, but he combines speed, instincts and an amazing ability to constantly stay on his feet that should help him become a great Trojan tailback. With so much talent ahead of him and still recovering from that broken leg, it’ll be surprising if Tyler doesn’t use his redshirt season in 2007. But he’s certainly capable of absolutely wowing the coaching during the fall and gaining some momentum heading into the season.
#29 Broderick Green – Broderick Green looks physically ready to play right now. He’s an imposing force coming out of the backfield and should eventually mature into a fearsome power runner. There’s little to no chance that Green will see playing time this season, but it has absolutely nothing to do with his skill as a tailback. With ten tailbacks on the roster, it just makes sense to try and start putting some separation between them and Green will most likely start looking for playing time in 2008. That also might give him time to work at fullback as well, as versatility could go a long way toward earning playing time in this crowded backfield.
Fullbacks
#31 Stanley Havili – Injuries to Brandon Hancock and Ryan Powdrell absolutely devastated the Trojan running game in 2006. And just when it looked as if Stanley Havili would emerge as a solid replacement as a true freshman, he suffered a broken leg in the season’s third game, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. But in 2007, Havili is back as the starting fullback and should give the running game an immediate lift. He is very athletic for a fullback and will be an asset in the passing game as well. Last season, in just one game, Havili caught four passes for 24 yards.
#35 Jody Adewale – After leaving the team prior to spring practice, Jody Adewale decided to return for the fall and his senior season. Adewale isn’t going to put up huge offensive numbers, but after the 2006 season, the Trojans will be happy to enter this year with as many capable fullbacks on the roster as possible. While Havili has more ability catching the ball out of the backfield and as a skill player in general, Adewale is certainly capable of clearing linebackers out of the running lane. He will add some much-needed depth in 2007 and should see the field quite frequently.
#85 Cooper Stephenson – A former tight end, Cooper Stephenson moved to fullback during spring ball and will provide depth there during the fall.
#37 Jordan Campbell – Jordan Campbell will suit up in the offensive backfield as a true freshman in 2007 and it will be surprising if he doesn’t immediately become a fan favorite. He puts so much emotion and energy into each and every play that it’s nearly impossible not to notice. He came to USC with the desire to play linebacker, but Campbell’s future may well be at fullback. He brings a linebacker’s mentality to the position and has no problem taking on anyone he meets in the running lane. He’s also very capable with the ball in his hands and should be another in a long line of successful athletic fullbacks at USC.
Adam Goodman – A walk on and former tight end at Saddleback College, Adam Goodman should provide depth for the Trojans at the fullback position this season. He is an aggressive blocker and very capable of catching the ball out of the backfield.
Wide Receivers
#1 Patrick Turner – All Patrick Turner is being asked to do this season is help replace the most prolific pass-catching duo in USC history. With Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith off to the NFL, wide receiver is really the only question mark for the 2007 Trojans. Although, Turner and the rest of the receivers certainly have the talent to turn that question mark into an exclamation point as the season progresses. Last season, Turner finished fourth on the team with 29 receptions for 272 yards and two touchdowns. Most of his production came with Jarrett out of the lineup, including a monster 12-catch, 116-yard, one-touchdown performance against Washington. This season, Turner won’t have the luxury of letting Jarrett and Smith carry the load, as he’ll be looked to as the veteran playmaker in a stable of untested youngsters. At 6-5 and 220 pounds, he has the size to outmuscle defensive backs for positioning and has shown a knack for that in the past. But if 2007 is going to be a successful year for the USC passing game, Turner will need to make his presence felt on a regular basis and put up some serious numbers.
#7 Vidal Hazelton – Vidal Hazelton stole the show during the first few days of the 2006 fall camp. But during the season, he caught just two passes, one of the going into the books as a seven-yard rush. In 2007, he’ll be asked to step into a starting role and take on more responsibility. He absolutely has the skill to do so, combining smooth route running with amazingly soft hands. He is also a perfect mix of big-play potential and chain-moving safety net. He can get open against just about any cornerback and should put up some eye-popping yards-after-catch numbers. John David Booty and the Trojans love running those wide receiver screens, and with Hazelton’s sure hands and elusive feet, he seems to be a perfect target.
#9 David Ausberry – Perhaps no Trojan team award at the end of the 2006 season was more of a foregone conclusion than David Ausberry being named the USC Service Team Offensive Player of the Year. Going up against the first-team defense every day, Ausberry proved that his redshirt season in 2006 was all about numbers at the wide receiver position, and had absolutely nothing to do with his talent. He is another 6-4, 225 pound Trojan receiver who looks to be absolutely fearless in going for the ball in any situation. He catches just about every ball with his hands, making it impossible for defensive backs to knock passes away and should be an absolute force inside the red zone. He’s certainly not the fastest wide receiver on the roster, but he has the talent to become the most productive over the next several seasons.
#17 Travon Patterson – Travon Patterson is another Trojan receiver who got it done in practices all year long in 2006, but had to bide his time behind the two All-Americans. He caught three passes for 63 yards last season, but showed an ability to find open space and is a burner with the ball in his hands. He should see an increase in playing time this season, especially early, as the coaches will look for the wide receiver rotation that works best for Booty and the offense. Patterson doesn’t have the physical presence of Turner or Ausberry, but he showed in the spring huddle, with three touchdown grabs, that he has the talent to play a big role in this offense.
#18 Jamere Holland – Jamere Holland might not just be the fastest player on the team; he very well may be the fastest player in the conference. A California high school champion in the 100 and 200 meters as a senior in 2005, Holland was forced to miss the 2006 season while recovering from a collarbone injury. This season, he’ll look to earn playing time as a consistent deep threat who will be able to stretch every defense down the field. He’ll need to improve his route running and overall skill as a wide receiver, but his undeniable speed should help him overcome any slight deficiencies in other areas.
#48 Brad Walker – Brad Walker will provide depth at wide receiver again in 2007. He has yet to catch a pass in his Trojan career, but should be an asset to the younger players with blocking, route running and overall playbook awareness.
#8 Ronald Johnson – Ronald Johnson was something of a surprise commitment to the Trojans this past offseason. A dynamite all-around athlete from Michigan, he has the potential to star at wide receiver or cornerback during his USC career. Coach Carroll stuck him at wide receiver though, and after just a few summer sessions there, it’s unlikely that he’ll ever see the defensive side of the ball. He is an absolute playmaker and possesses a natural ability to go get the ball wherever it’s thrown. As just a true freshman in 2007, there are several receivers listed ahead of him. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see Johnson give them a serious push during fall practices.
#80 Brandon Carswell – Brandon Carswell is another true freshman who will help this wide receiver unit. He is a natural athlete who looks at home with the ball in his hands. He played quarterback for his high school team and should be able to transfer that ability and experience to wide receiver at USC. He isn’t as ready as Johnson yet in terms of perhaps playing in 2007, but he certainly won’t disappoint Trojan fans once practices start.
#46 Sean Calcagnie – Sean Calcagnie used his redshirt year in 2006 and will return to the team as a redshirt freshman in 2007. He will provide depth at the wide receiver position as a walk-on this season.
#47 Scott Stephens – Like Calcagnie, Stephens will also return to the team as a walk-on redshirt freshman in 2007 and will provide depth at wide receiver.
#87 Caleb Nelan – Caleb Nelan is a walk-on true freshman from Dallas, Texas who will provide depth at wide receiver in 2007.
#82 Damian Williams – Like Mitch Mustain, Damian Williams will sit out the 2007 season as part of the NCAA transfer rule. He may not see much action during practices however, as he tore a ligament in his shoulder during spring practice and will spend much of the season healing from the resulting surgery. But Williams brings with him some serious skill and experience (even for a second-year player) which should be on display in 2008. Williams was named to various Freshman All-American teams as well as Freshman All-SEC teams after catching 19 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. In fact, his career-highs in both receptions and yards came in the season opener against USC, where Williams caught four passes for 61 yards.
Tight Ends
#83 Fred Davis – Fred Davis was placed on the Mackey Award watch list as one of the nation’s top tight ends. In 2006, he finished third on the team with 38 receptions for 352 yards and three touchdowns. In 2007, with the relative uncertainty at wide receiver, Davis could become one of John David Booty’s favorite targets. Though he’s put up reasonable numbers during his Trojan career, Davis has never really exploded into the kind of pass-catching threat that most people saw coming out of Toledo, Ohio. But he could put all that talk to rest with a break-out year in 2007. He certainly has the talent to become perhaps the best tight end in the nation, and with Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith off to the NFL, it leaves plenty of receptions available for Davis. It would be fairly surprising if he didn’t dramatically improve those numbers from last season.
#86 Anthony McCoy – Anthony McCoy saw action in just four games during his freshman season in 2006 as he was forced to miss the majority of the season with a hamstring injury. But heading into his sophomore year, McCoy looks poised to break out with a huge season. He has nowhere near the experience of Davis and Dale Thompson, but McCoy is so fluid as a pass-catching tight end, he should put up numbers during his USC career that dwarf those of the older tight ends. He will remind Trojan fans of NFL Pro-Bowler Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers. He releases from the line well and can catch anything in sight. His blocking is improving steadily and should earn him some extensive playing time in 2007.
#89 Dale Thompson – Dale Thompson is a great blocking tight end who should continue to see the field as a senior in 2007. He caught three passes for 19 yards in 2006, and although he won’t scare defensive coordinators with his pass-catching abilities, he will play a role at tight end for the Trojans.
#88 Jimmy Miller – Jimmy Miller is back for his redshirt junior season and should provide depth at tight end in 2007. Although he didn’t catch a pass last season, two of his three career receptions have gone for touchdowns.
#40 Rhett Ellison – A true freshman heading into the 2007 season, Rhett Ellison will provide depth at tight end. Because of the talent in front of him, Ellison will be afforded the luxury of soaking in everything he can during this season in the hopes of jumping into the two-deep depth chart in 2008. There probably isn’t a better tight end group in the country from which to learn.
Offensive Line
#79 Sam Baker – A member of the “Watch List” for the 2007 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, Sam Baker is easily the best left tackle in the nation and arguably the most talented player on the USC roster. He does absolutely everything well and is a true team leader. Baker is already a two-time first-team All-American and should be on his way to a third. His decision to return to the Trojans for the 2007 season is a big reason why this offense should have no trouble adjusting to the loss of so many talented players.
#53 Jeff Byers – After missing most of the last two seasons due to injury, Jeff Byers returns in 2007 as the starter at left guard. Though he won’t count as a returning starter, Byers’ experience should help him step right in and his talent level could make him an upgrade over Drew Radovich, who played left guard very well himself during the 2006 season. Byers isn’t a massive, 300-pound offensive guard, but his footwork and outright determination make him a monster in both the running and passing games. If Byers can stay healthy for the entire 2007 season, the left side of the Trojan offensive line will arguably be the best in the nation. The image that most Trojan fans are left with of Byers is his work against Arkansas in the 2006 season opener. Specifically, they’ll remember his sprint down the sideline to put a block on a Razorback defender a good 15 yards downfield.
#69 Matt Spanos – Matt Spanos was forced to miss all of the 2006 season due to academic issues, but he should be back in 2007 to compete for the starting center spot. He has experience at all five positions along the line, but will look to fill the spot vacated by current Carolina Panther, Ryan Kalil. Spanos doesn’t have Kalil’s instinct and intellect as a center (very few do), but he should be able to hold his own there and would help the line nicely during the season.
#66 Chilo Rachal – Chilo Rachal is back at right guard for 2007 after being named a second-team sophomore All-American in 2006. Rachal didn’t have a dominating season last year, but he certainly looks poised to break out in his second season as a starting guard. If he continues to progress this season as he did during 2006, Rachal could end up more than a few All-America teams.
#60 Drew Radovich – With the loss of Kyle Williams, Drew Radovich will move from left guard, where he spent all of 2006, to right tackle, where he should fill a void and help form an extremely talented offensive line. The move to right tackle shows how highly the coaches think of him, keeping him in the starting lineup and putting him at a real position of need. Radovich entered USC as an offensive tackle in 2003, before moving to guard in 2005. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can adjust back to the tackle spot, but overall, there should be no cause for concern.
#71 Charles Brown – In two seasons, Charles Brown has matured from skinny tight end to massive left tackle and looks to be the heir apparent to senior, Sam Baker. Brown has developed into a serious talent as fast as anyone could have imagined and should see the field quite a bit in lopsided contests. He is also a reliable backup should anything happen to Baker in front of him.
#70 Alatini Malu – Alatini Malu saw action in eight games at offensive guard last season, including a start at right guard against Washington. He will be a valuable piece of the Trojan line this season. He is able to play both guard positions and has starting experience. He will be one of the first ones called upon to provide depth to a very talented offensive line.
#77 Thomas Herring – A redshirt sophomore in 2007, Thomas Herring got off to something of a slow start at USC. He signed with USC in 2004 but did not qualify academically, and then spent the past two seasons at right tackle, but having trouble buying in completely to the way things are done at USC. This season, however, Herring seems rejuvenated by the move from tackle to guard and will look to earn playing time there. He is a massive, 6-6, 300 pound athlete who should be able to maul defensive tackles well into the secondary. If he can fully embrace the work ethic and effort needed to succeed at USC, he could become a fantastic player.
#68 Butch Lewis – Butch Lewis came to USC as a defensive tackle, but moved to offensive right tackle during 2006 fall practice. He came on very strong during his redshirt freshman season and could see playing time as early as this season. As a freshman, he was already bigger than some offensive tackles and he should be able to combine that size with his ever-increasing ability, to team up with Charles Brown in 2008 as a formidable pair of bookend tackles.
#76 Nick Howell – Nick Howell moved from tackle to center as a redshirt freshman in 2006. He backed up starter Ryan Kalil and saw action in four games as a center. Matt Spanos may have the inside track for the starting spot, but Howell will be there during fall practice pushing him every step of the way. Although muffed snaps seemed to be a problem for Howell early in his adjustment to the center position, he seemed to have those cleared up as the season progressed.
#74 Zack Heberer – Zack Heberer redshirted as a true freshman in 2006 and will enter the 2007 season looking to provide depth at offensive guard. Like Butch Lewis, Heberer was physically developed even as a freshman and should continue to progress into his second season. He may not see a lot of playing time this season, with two sets of guards already in front of him, but that won’t stop Heberer from competing for a spot in the rotation during fall practice.
#72 Martin Coleman – Martin Coleman enrolled during the spring of 2007 after graduating from high school a semester early. He was injured, however, during the spring and will redshirt the 2007 season. He is someone to remember for the future though, as he has the potential to develop into a very good tackle.
#61 Kristofer O’Dowd – Kristofer O’Dowd will enroll as a true freshman in 2007 and will have no hesitation about putting his name in there for the starting center spot. He plays with no fear out on the field and should be one of the best true freshman offensive linemen that USC has had in some time. And while O’Dowd may not be the starting center for this coming season, there is no doubt that he will be there soon.
