That game on Saturday was a reminder of just how powerful and explosive the Trojans can be. Ohio State, by all accounts, had been one of the elite programs in college football over the past seven years but the Trojans made them look ordinary and it will be interesting to see what kind of impact it has on the Buckeye program.
Teams like that aren't used to getting beat like that and it can take some time before they regain their footing at such a high level. If you don't believe it, check with the Oklahoma Sooners. They are only now beginning to look like the team that entered the Orange Bowl thinking they were going to beat the Trojans a few years back.
There is now a steady drumbeat of support for Mark Sanchez to enter the Heisman race after being named the Pac-10 Player of the Week for each of the games USC has played this season. It's way too early to get serious about the Heisman but this much is clear, the field is wide open as of now. There is going to be a lot of resistance to Tim Tebow since he won it last year as a sophomore so it figures that the other names to receive a lot of attention would include Chase Daniel, Matt Stafford and Sam Bradford, among others. Looking at that list, I don't see anybody who has played at a higher level so far than Mark so it's not inconceivable to think that he might actually have a chance if he can continue playing good football.
Another Trojan who put himself in a strong position for a national award last weekend was Rey Maualuga. His interception return for a touchdown is the kind of play that will be shown over and over again this year when his name comes up. The fact that it happened against James Laurinitis and the Buckeyes means that it would take a huge effort for Laurinitis to overtake Rey. In fact, the biggest competition Rey may face for the Butkus Award could come from teammate Brian Cushing.
Yes, we have big names like Sanchez and Maualuga but you can make a case for the MVP of the Trojans to this point for Jeff Byers. The senior left guard has solidified what was a shaky offensive line in the first two weeks of camp and he has turned that unit into one that has done a fantastic job protecting Mark Sanchez and opening up lanes for the running backs. Byers has shown true leadership skills in guiding this young line and his efforts should not go unnoticed.
WeAreSC has been granted access to show three minutes of footage from Trojan games and this past Saturday marked our first edition of showcasing the USC home game experience complete with game highlights, the Trojan Walk, the pre-game entrance of the team coming out of the tunnel and much more. It may not be a replacement for Trojan Rewind but hopefully it will give you a look at the atmosphere surrounding the USC vs Ohio State game. Click here to watch: USC vs OSU game day video
Two of the top Trojan recruits for the Class of 2009 will be on display this Friday, September 19th at 8:30 on Fox Sports West as the Mater Dei Monarchs take on the Centennial Huskies. The two teams come in ranked #1 and #3 in the ESPN710 high school poll and feature QB Matt Barkley, the top ranked offensive player in the state, against Vontaze Burfict, the top ranked defensive player in the state. The Monarchs also have a top junior offensive lineman in Chris Ward but he has not played yet this year due to injury and may not play in this game either. We will see sophomore receiver Victor Blackwell for Mater Dei and he has a bright future. Don't forget to listen to the ESPN 710 radio high school scoreboard show on Fridays from 10-midnight for all the prep updates throughout Southern California.
There have been recent reports on the internet that the Trojans have stopped recruiting AZ defensive tackle Corey Adams. These reports are not true. The USC coaches have been in contact with Adams several times in recent weeks and there is still plenty of interest in the big man.
Had a chance to watch Birmingham receiver De'von Flournoy last week in the Birmingham loss to Crespi. Flournoy is a nice player, long arms, good speed and athletic ability. He isn't a dominant player yet but there will definitely be a role for him at USC. He reminded me a lot of Brandon Carswell with his frame and the way he moved on the field. We already have Alshon Jeffrey as a prototype "#1" receiver for this class and Flournoy is the type of player who will complement him nicely.
It's amazing how much Curtis McNeal looks like Desmond Reed on the practice field while wearing his #22 jersey.
