The chest thump that the NCAA does when it unceremoniously tries to put programs in its “jail” has blown up in its face. Most programs coming off of two-years of probation would be trying to pick up the pieces, but not the 2012 edition of the Southern California Trojans.
USC still has to pay a penance through some scholarship reductions, but that is small change compared to being ranked in most everybody’s preseason Top 5 while also being picked by many to win this season’s national championship. This is a testament to the overall aura of the USC program, the city of Los Angeles, and of course the recruiting job that Lane Kiffin and his staff continue to do to reel in a continuous supply of four and five-star players, even when the Trojans were burned by the probation bug.
“We’re two years removed from what was handed down as people were saying, ‘SC is over,’ and being a preseason No. 1 team two years later is extremely exciting for our university and our fans,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin’s offense is going to raise major eyebrows around the nation with quarterback Matt Barkley, who most certainly would have been a top five pick in the NFL draft’s first round, coming back for his senior season as the odds on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
“These guys are my best friends,” Barkley said of his teammates on both sides of the football. “You saw it toward the end of last season, how much fun we had playing together and playing for each other.”
That fun manifested itself in USC’s season-ending 50-0 whipping of crosstown rival UCLA. It was the Trojans’ bowl game, of sorts. The impressive thing was it came on the heels of a 38-35 heart-stopping win at Oregon. With the exclamation point in those last two outings, notice for this season was served.
“I think the phrase, ‘unfinished business,’ has to do with finishing at a top level and finishing at what we’re capable of as a team,” Barkley explained. “Every goal, I think, is to win every game and go all the way. For this year, I think we feel it’s the most realistic goal, and that’s not easy by any means.”
Barkley has a deep, talented wide receiving corp led by Marqise Lee and Robert Woods as well as tight end Xavier Grimble. De’Von Flournoy and George Farmer will help solidify one of the most efficient and talented passing games in the nation.
Both Lee and Woods went over 1,000 yards in receiving last season. Woods averaged 107.7 yards per game while Lee, as a true freshman, had a 95.2-yard average. The duo combined for 26 touchdown receptions (15 and 11, respectively).
Lee is the consummate worker as he is a mainstay in the USC weight room while running track and working on his football skills at the same time. He has been a mentor for the Trojans’ No. 8 national recruiting class of 15 players. Only two of the 15 ranked below four-star credentials.
“He’s become a leader on this team,” said free safety T.J. McDonald. “For him to be that type of leader and grab that young group of guys and bring them along, he’s done well with that.”
A big key on offense will be developing the rushing attack, as Curtis McNeal led the team in rushing, but with only 83.8 yards yards per game. Penn State running back Silas Redd also looks more and more like a viable option as the NCAA declared that current Nittany Lions players eligible to move immediately with the recent penalties handed down against the program.
Kiffin noted that McNeal had 145 carries plus he did the bulk of running in practice as he fought off numerous injuries. Redd would add to that running back depth and make the offense even more dynamic.
“It’s critical to find an answer to our running back depth as we mentioned earlier today that Nelson Agholor is projected to go over there,” commented Kiffin about his five-star wide receiver out of Tampa, Fla., “We would not like to do that. We would rather Nelson be a receiver, which is what we primarily recruited him as.”
Woods was hampered by an ankle injury a year ago and still caught 111 passes. Kiffin knows if he stays healthy, a record-setting season is not out of the question.
“He should have had a conference championship game and a bowl game to add to that record, so it’s amazing what he did,” Kiffin said. “When you combine that with the fact that he was at 75 percent the whole season, and now he will be 100 percent, it will be fun to see what he can do in training camp and at full speed.”
When Hawaii enters the Los Angeles Coliseum on Sept. 1, the Trojans’ new lease on life begins. Survival through a period where they were put on an excessive amount of probation because of hearsay was poetic justice. The maturity of this program and it’s leadership certainly could bring it to Miami in January with the opportunity to walk away with yet another national championship.
“I think the sanctions have brought our team together and strengthened us in a way that I didn’t anticipate,” noted Barkley. “It made us stronger in terms of character and, you know, it allowed us to face adversity in a unique way that guys our age aren’t really used to.”