Before Friday, there weren’t many top programs that hadn’t offered defensive end Joe Mathis (Upland, Calif./Upland). Friday afternoon saw another college crossed off the list.
Mathis can now add the Crimson Tide to his impressive offer sheet, following a conversation with Alabama coach Nick Saban.
“It’s a great feeling,” Mathis said. “I was able to talk to Coach Saban on the phone, and he said he was real impressed with my film and wanted to offer me.”
Mathis can now add the Crimson Tide to his impressive offer sheet, following a conversation with Alabama coach Nick Saban.
“It’s a great feeling,” Mathis said. “I was able to talk to Coach Saban on the phone, and he said he was real impressed with my film and wanted to offer me.”
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With the entire back seven returning for the USC defense, every question on that side of the ball for the 2011 season begins up front with the defensive line. But whether it's wondering how the young interior tackles will adjust to playing starter's minutes, or how the unit will replace Nick Perry's 9.5 sacks last season, every answer begins with senior defensive ends Wes Horton and Devon Kennard.
"We definitely acknowledge the fact that we are seniors and we have to take it upon ourselves to lead," Horton said. "We feel comfortable putting that on our shoulders, and we want to do everything we can to get the inside guys playing at a high level and the backup ends to constantly get better in the little things."
Kennard is no stranger to the starting lineup, but after bouncing between defensive end, outside linebacker and middle linebacker, this spring is the first time in his USC career that he is returning to a position he played the previous season. Kennard said he is comfortable again at defensive end, and ready to take a step forward in his senior season. Last season, Kennard and Horton combined for six sacks, which matched the total of outside linebacker Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard. The ends agreed that can't be the case again this year.
"We definitely acknowledge the fact that we are seniors and we have to take it upon ourselves to lead," Horton said. "We feel comfortable putting that on our shoulders, and we want to do everything we can to get the inside guys playing at a high level and the backup ends to constantly get better in the little things."
Kennard is no stranger to the starting lineup, but after bouncing between defensive end, outside linebacker and middle linebacker, this spring is the first time in his USC career that he is returning to a position he played the previous season. Kennard said he is comfortable again at defensive end, and ready to take a step forward in his senior season. Last season, Kennard and Horton combined for six sacks, which matched the total of outside linebacker Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard. The ends agreed that can't be the case again this year.
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When you watch the USC defense on the field in spring ball there is no doubt as to who is running the show.
During every huddle and before every play, sophomore middle linebacker Lamar Dawson is the one right in the center of the action. As the players say, he’s the one driving the bus.
The middle linebacker is responsible for getting the defense together and calling the play from the sideline, then making all the checks based on the offensive formation. It's a critical responsibility, one that has been handed to Dawson at a very early point in his career.
During every huddle and before every play, sophomore middle linebacker Lamar Dawson is the one right in the center of the action. As the players say, he’s the one driving the bus.
The middle linebacker is responsible for getting the defense together and calling the play from the sideline, then making all the checks based on the offensive formation. It's a critical responsibility, one that has been handed to Dawson at a very early point in his career.
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Tahaan Goodman (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) has become accustomed to receiving scholarship offers this spring. But Wednesday morning, while speaking with coaches from USC, he was caught off guard.
"I thought they just wanted me to come to their spring game," Goodman said. "I was not expecting them to offer. It was a surprise."
Goodman, a 6-foot-2, 190 pound safety, has now collected nearly two dozen scholarship offers, from schools such as Boise State, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. He had been in touch with the USC coaches and visited the campus for a junior day in February, but when an offer wasn't extended then at that point, he assumed he wouldn't receive one this early.
"I thought they just wanted me to come to their spring game," Goodman said. "I was not expecting them to offer. It was a surprise."
Goodman, a 6-foot-2, 190 pound safety, has now collected nearly two dozen scholarship offers, from schools such as Boise State, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. He had been in touch with the USC coaches and visited the campus for a junior day in February, but when an offer wasn't extended then at that point, he assumed he wouldn't receive one this early.
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LOS ANGELES -- The football program generated some buzz Wednesday with the news that this weekend’s scrimmage in the Coliseum will be open to the public. But USC fans planning to attend may be forced to temper their expectations a bit, as Lane Kiffin backed away slightly from the promise of a scrimmage. With so many skill position players missing time due to nagging injuries, Saturday might be the second time this spring that a scheduled scrimmage is dialed down to a regular practice.
After Thursday’s practice, Kiffin simply said he didn’t know if the scrimmage would proceed as planned.
“There are so many guys in question,” he said. “We may just practice like we did last Saturday…The problem right now is the offensive skill doesn’t allow us to practice the way we would like, but we’re going to make the best of it.”
After Thursday’s practice, Kiffin simply said he didn’t know if the scrimmage would proceed as planned.
“There are so many guys in question,” he said. “We may just practice like we did last Saturday…The problem right now is the offensive skill doesn’t allow us to practice the way we would like, but we’re going to make the best of it.”
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“Give your top 5 surprises of spring ball”
Garry Paskwietz
1) Brian Baucham -- To say that any contribution from Baucham was unexpected would be an understatement. Baucham has been off the radar for years due to injuries and academics and there was no indication that he was ready to make a strong return, but that’s exactly what’s happened. He’s been consistently making plays ever since he came back during the first week of spring.
Garry Paskwietz
1) Brian Baucham -- To say that any contribution from Baucham was unexpected would be an understatement. Baucham has been off the radar for years due to injuries and academics and there was no indication that he was ready to make a strong return, but that’s exactly what’s happened. He’s been consistently making plays ever since he came back during the first week of spring.
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The USC Trojans extended their first offer to a California offensive lineman on Wednesday, as Nico Falah (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco) earned the nod from Lane Kiffin and staff. It is Falah's 13th offer, as USC joins schools such as Florida, Notre Dame, Oregon, Utah, Arizona and UCLA.
Falah said his coach told him during school that the USC staff wanted to speak with him.
"Usually when coaches want me to call, I'm expecting that they're going to offer," said the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Falah. "But I didn't think USC would offer this early in the year."
Falah said his coach told him during school that the USC staff wanted to speak with him.
"Usually when coaches want me to call, I'm expecting that they're going to offer," said the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Falah. "But I didn't think USC would offer this early in the year."
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LOS ANGELES -- As the Trojans reach the midway point of spring practice drills we take a look at the progress of some of the most competitive position battles:
1) No. 2 quarterback -- There really isn’t anything separating Max Wittek and Cody Kessler right now. Both look fairly comfortable working with the offense and they’ve been getting plenty of quality reps as Lane Kiffin limits the work for Matt Barkley. Jesse Scroggins has not taken part in practices yet so he’s fallen behind the other two, but he is expected back soon. Kiffin has said there is no timetable to name a No. 2 guy.
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LOS ANGELES -- With two clear-cut options at offensive tackle, where Kevin Graf and Aundrey Walker start is a far more intriguing question than if they will start. After beginning the spring with Graf at left tackle and Walker on the right side, last week saw the two switch. On Tuesday, the tackles remained at their switched positions, with Graf on the right and Walker on the left.
Offensive line coach James Cregg was quick to shut down the thought that this alignment would have any bearing on the depth chart going forward, and nothing about Tuesday’s setup seems permanent.
“By all means, we’ve not done any depth chart decisions,” Cregg said. “I think they can be flopped around. They’re both right and left-brained, as far as that goes. Right now we’re not even close to making a decision.”
Offensive line coach James Cregg was quick to shut down the thought that this alignment would have any bearing on the depth chart going forward, and nothing about Tuesday’s setup seems permanent.
“By all means, we’ve not done any depth chart decisions,” Cregg said. “I think they can be flopped around. They’re both right and left-brained, as far as that goes. Right now we’re not even close to making a decision.”
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USC redshirt freshman defensive tackle Cody Temple will have surgery on his right ankle and will miss the remainder of spring practice, Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin announced Tuesday.
"Cody had really been playing well," Kiffin said. "He's strong at the point of attack."
"Cody had really been playing well," Kiffin said. "He's strong at the point of attack."
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Fresh off an MVP performance at the Nike Football Training Camp at the Dallas Cowboys practice facility, Torrodney Prevot (Houston, Texas/Taylor) has picked up another solid offer -- this one classified as arguably one of his most recognizable.
Prevot picked up an offer from USC on Tuesday afternoon and added to his constantly growing list. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive end now has 19 offers and called the USC offer "very exciting." Other big-name schools that have put an offer on the table are LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and West Virginia.
Prevot was named the MVP of defensive linemen at the NFTC. He also was considered the top overall performer, showing his explosiveness and agility during 1-on-1 drills against offensive linemen. He said Sunday’s camp experience really was helpful for him, particularly with him being a tall but lighter defensive end compared to the others around him.
Prevot picked up an offer from USC on Tuesday afternoon and added to his constantly growing list. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive end now has 19 offers and called the USC offer "very exciting." Other big-name schools that have put an offer on the table are LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and West Virginia.
Prevot was named the MVP of defensive linemen at the NFTC. He also was considered the top overall performer, showing his explosiveness and agility during 1-on-1 drills against offensive linemen. He said Sunday’s camp experience really was helpful for him, particularly with him being a tall but lighter defensive end compared to the others around him.
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USC athletic director Pat Haden and senior associate athletic director J.K. McKay are lifelong best friends and -- as is often the case with best friends -- they never pass up an opportunity to poke fun at each other.
Both men recently joined the social media world with twitter handles (@ADHadenUSC and @Jk5524JK) and Haden posted a video from his account today which shows McKay “in action” at the Coliseum practice last Saturday which can be seen here.
Haden immediately followed up that post with another message that said “@Jk5524JK Nice to see you haven’t lost a step #FightOn”
Both men recently joined the social media world with twitter handles (@ADHadenUSC and @Jk5524JK) and Haden posted a video from his account today which shows McKay “in action” at the Coliseum practice last Saturday which can be seen here.
Haden immediately followed up that post with another message that said “@Jk5524JK Nice to see you haven’t lost a step #FightOn”
USC targets at NLA Elite 7-on-7 Las Vegas 
March, 26, 2012
3/26/12
7:22
AM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
LAS VEGAS -- The New Level Athletics Elite 7-on-7 tournament lived up to its advanced billing this weekend, as some of the West Coast’s top skill players showed why they are some of the most highly recruited prospect in the country.
The event offered a chance to see some of USC’s top targets, as well as several recruits who could play their way into the Trojans plans as the recruiting season progresses.
Topping the list of attendees was Su’a Cravens (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta). Likely an outside linebacker at the next level, Cravens starred at safety and wide receiver this weekend, putting together an outstanding two days complete with touchdowns and interceptions. Cravens recently announced he would like to schedule official visits to Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State, but also said the USC staff has been on him in a big way. They would like him to come down for a spring practice or two, and while Cravens doesn’t have any immediate plans to attend a practice, he did say he would likely be in attendance for USC’s spring game.
The event offered a chance to see some of USC’s top targets, as well as several recruits who could play their way into the Trojans plans as the recruiting season progresses.
Topping the list of attendees was Su’a Cravens (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta). Likely an outside linebacker at the next level, Cravens starred at safety and wide receiver this weekend, putting together an outstanding two days complete with touchdowns and interceptions. Cravens recently announced he would like to schedule official visits to Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State, but also said the USC staff has been on him in a big way. They would like him to come down for a spring practice or two, and while Cravens doesn’t have any immediate plans to attend a practice, he did say he would likely be in attendance for USC’s spring game.
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LOS ANGELES -- It wasn’t much of a news item recently when former walk-on Hunter Simmons elected to rejoin the USC football team for the spring semester.
Simmons (6-foot-1, 240 pounds) had been a walk-on fullback for the Trojans since 2009, but hadn’t seen much game action and left the team in the middle of last season.
Yet when the Trojans took the Coliseum field for practice on Saturday, it was Simmons who was pulling double-duty at tight end and fullback while taking part in every play of the practice.
Simmons (6-foot-1, 240 pounds) had been a walk-on fullback for the Trojans since 2009, but hadn’t seen much game action and left the team in the middle of last season.
Yet when the Trojans took the Coliseum field for practice on Saturday, it was Simmons who was pulling double-duty at tight end and fullback while taking part in every play of the practice.
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Cornerback Tee Shepard has not been heard from since he recently withdrew from the University of Notre Dame and moved back to his hometown of Fresno, Calif.
Shepard was in attendance on Saturday at a 7-on-7 passing tournament in Las Vegas and he confirmed that the reason for his departure from Notre Dame was “health-related”, as had been rumored on various social media outlets.
“I had known since high school that there was something with my heart, but I never knew it was anything serious,” Shepard said. “When I took my physical at Notre Dame, they saw it right away. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I dropped out and came home to figure out what to do next.
Shepard was in attendance on Saturday at a 7-on-7 passing tournament in Las Vegas and he confirmed that the reason for his departure from Notre Dame was “health-related”, as had been rumored on various social media outlets.
“I had known since high school that there was something with my heart, but I never knew it was anything serious,” Shepard said. “When I took my physical at Notre Dame, they saw it right away. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I dropped out and came home to figure out what to do next.
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ABOUT WE ARE SC
Garry Paskwietz
Garry Paskwietz is the publisher and founder of WeAreSC.com and has covered the Trojans since 1997. Send him an email at garry@wearesc.com.
Blair Angulo
Blair Angulo covers USC Trojans recruiting. He joined ESPNLA.com in 2010 and also interned at the Los Angeles Daily News. Email him at blair.angulo@gmail.com.