2003 Statistics

Quarterback
The men of Troy are fortunate to have perhaps the best QB in America in junior Matt Leinart, a first-team All-American who completed over 63% of his passes in their National Championship campaign. He threw for 38 TDs, with only nine INTs, and set a league record of 212 consecutive passes without an interception. Leinart is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, having finished sixth in the voting last year as a mere sophomore. He became only the second soph in Pac-10 history (the first was John Elway) to be named Offensive Player of the Year. A lefty, he came from obscurity to more than fill the shoes of USC's 2002 Heisman winner, Carson Palmer. Matt showed his versatility by catching a 15-yard scoring pass off a reverse in the Trojans' Rose Bowl victory over Michigan. USC has a stable of very capable backups, including sophomore John David Booty, who graduated a full year early from high school to join USC, and was Leinart's main backup until he broke his wrist midway through '03. Senior Brandon Hance started nine games for Purdue in 2001 before transferring to the West Coast and became the chief backup after Booty's injury.

Running Back
As always, USC is loaded at the running back position. Look for them to continue to rotate the same tandem of three young tailbacks that combined for over 1,900 rushing yards. Each of the three, junior Hershel Dennis & sophomores LenDale White and Reggie Bush, rushed for over 500 yards, the first time that had happened at USC since 1998. White rushed for 13 TDs and led the team with 754 yards rushing, the first time a true freshman has accomplished that school feat. Bush lead the team with 1,331 all-purpose yards, a school record for a frosh, earning him Freshman All-American honors. He was tenth nationally in kickoff returns. Sophomore Chauncey Washington, hampered by an early ankle injury last year, is looking to break into the rotation as a power runner. The bad news is that returning starter Brandon Hancock has injured his knee and will not be available this year at FB. In steps junior David Kirtman, a rugged blocker who has shined on special teams as well. Lee Webb has been moved back to FB to provide some depth.

Wide Receiver
The biggest challenge facing head coach Pete Carroll in 2004 is finding replacements for perhaps the two best receivers the school has ever had. Promising sophomores Steve Smith, the #3 wideout in '03, Whitney Lewis - massive potential for this multiple threat, and Chris McFoy will fill the void of talent that has departed. Also returning are senior Jason Mitchell, juniors Greig Carlson, the top punt returner, and William Buchanan, a one-time cornerback. All have size, but are unproven. However, USC may get its most help at WR with three top recruits that could make an immediate impact as freshmen, all of whom were high school All-Americans - Fred Davis, who is already on campus this spring, Dwayne Jarrett, and Derrick Jones. There will be little drop off in talent, but results will differ.

Tight End
The TE corps is very deep in 2004 for the Trojans. Senior Gregg Guenther, Jr., also a hoops star at USC, is 6'8" and was the starter by the middle of '03. Junior Dominique Byrd, who started before a suffering knee injury in mid-season that will keep him out of spring practice, also returns, along with senior Alex Holmes, who started all of 2002 but sat out last fall with a back injury. Alex is considered by many around the program to be considered one of the top TEs in the country. Senior Matt Cassell, a converted QB who pitches for the USC baseball team and sophomore ex-center Kurt Katnik may contribute. Three prep All-Americans, Jimmy Miller, Michael Stuart, and Dale Thompson, will join the mix in the fall, giving the team a lot of options, to say the least.

Offensive Line
Whether USC will achieve the success it had last year will be dependent on whether their partially-rebuilt OL can produce. It will have more beef than any in Trojan history, with seven linemen on the roster weighing at least 300 pounds. Ten years of combined starting experience will have to be replaced in the middle and left side of the line. That line allowed only one sack per game, the fewest since 1987. Junior right tackle Winston Justice, who protected Leinart's blind side last year, was set to start for the third year in a row and become a potential All-American. As of now, it looks like Justice will not return for USC next year due to a school suspension. It could change, but chances are slim. Kyle Williams looks to be his replacement, but depth behind him creates a major concern for the coaching staff. The other tackle spot is currently filled with a freshman in Sam Baker. Whew! Sophomore guard Fred Matua, a quick-footed former DE, and massive senior John Drake are likely returning starters battling for one of the guard spots. A new center must emerge from candidates sophomore Ryan Kalil, freshman Travis Draper, and incoming freshman prep All-American Jeff Byers. Bet on Byers to eventually be the man. He will help the other parts jell with his incredible adaptability and footwork.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
This year's offense has a very high benchmark. While it returns its top four rushers and 15 of the 17 people who caught passes, the 2003 team was fifth nationally in passing efficiency and scoring offense. Even though the rushing offense wasn't nationally ranked, it was still USC's best since 1991. The men of Troy scored a Pac 10-record 68 TDs and 534 points last season, and their 6.5 yards per play was a school record. USC's offense under coordinator Norm Chow has become so prolific that they have scored at least 20 points in 26 straight games, and had an 11-game stretch in which they scored more than 30 points per game, including 7 consecutive games of over 40 points per game. Of their 77 scoring drives last year, 59 of them took less than three minutes off the clock. Returning many of those key players will help, but having to reconstruct the offensive line and finding some receivers to throw to will be obstacles that will only be marginally overcome, so they come up short on reaching the heights they just attained. Since the offensive unit is very young, lack of senior leadership will also surface as a problem.

Defensive Line
The highly regarded "Wild Bunch" of the past two seasons has been depleted by the fact that veteran starting ends Kenechi Udeze and Omar Nazel are now gone. Both starting tackles, battle-tested seniors and All-American candidates, Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson, return. Backups will include junior LaJuan Ramsey, sophomores Manuel Wright and Travis Tofi, and redshirt freshman Sedrick Ellis, to be joined in the fall by prep All-American freshman Lawrence Miles. In the spring, Cody was moved out to DE in an effort to take up the slack left by graduation. Helping to fill the vacant end jobs will also be senior Van Brown and a starter by the end of '03, junior Frostee Rucker. Three redshirt freshmen and a pair of prep All-American freshmen will allow this unit to be strong into many fourth quarters.

Linebacker
This will be the strength of the USC defense for sure. Junior MLB Lofa Tatupu is a freak underneath at taking away short passes at will (four INTs). Senior Matt Grootegoed has been the starting strongside LB for three years now. Instinctive and fast, he will merit All-America consideration. Junior Dallas Sartz started the last half of the season on the strong side last year when Grootegoed had an ankle sprain. Weak-sider Collin Ashton is a walk on who actually was a surprise last year filling in at times. But, look for redshirt frosh Thomas Williams and incoming frosh Keith Rivers to help fill the depth at this spot. Rivers was considered by many recruiting services as one the nation's best high school LBs.

Defensive Back
Both starting safeties, sophomore SS Darnell Bing, a freshman All-American with an unlimited future, and senior FS hitter Jason Leach, the #2 tackler, return. That's the good news. Depth may be a problem at the safety position, however, as the backups are young and untested. More than likely, incoming recruits Josh Pinkard and JC transfer Scott Ware will provide the quality depth needed at both safety spots. More bad news is that both starting CBs are gone. Their likely replacements, however, are experienced seniors Ronald Nunn, and Kevin Arbet, who received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA due to a foot injury that will still keep him out through spring. The corners will be a good measuring stick for the rest of the team's defensive accomplishments. Their success(es) and/or failure(s) will key other areas.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
USC returns four of its five top tacklers from a defense that was first nationally in rushing defense, and by far, the best in the Pac 10. Opponents could only manage less than two yards per carry against the Trojans, a school record and national best. They were also #1 in the nation with 55 sacks, forcing 42 turnovers. They have intercepted passes in 22 of their last 23 games, held 20 of their past 26 opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground, and went 22 consecutive quarters without allowing a rushing TD. A leader in takeaways nationally under head coach Pete Carroll, they have followed his schemes to the letter. With the returning leadership this squad has, look for it to continue to aggressively shine.