EARLY BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS
OFFENSE - 8
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 10
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Steve Smith-WR, Chris McFoy-WR, Mike Brittingham-FB, Ryan Kalil-C, Kyle Williams-OT
DEFENSE: Dallas Sartz-SLB, Oscar Lua-MLB
Quarterback/Defensive Line

With guys like Lawrence Jackson and Brian Cushing on the outside and Sedrick Ellis on the inside, the nation's No.17 run defense will still be tough to penetrate. QB John David Booty will be on most preseason Heisman watch lists.

Receiver

If Dwayne Jarrett decides to turn pro, USC will lose their top two pass catchers (Steve Smith, too). Plenty of youngsters have been waiting in the wings.

WR Dwayne Jarrett
 
LB Keith Rivers
 

* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB John David Booty-Sr Mark Sanchez-So
FB Jody Adewale-Sr Allen Bradford-So
TB C.J. Gable-So
Chauncey Washington-Sr Emmanuel Moody-So
WR Dwayne Jarrett-Sr Vidal Hazelton-So
WR Patrick Turner-Jr ..
TE Fred Davis-Sr Dale Thompson-Sr
OT Sam Baker-Sr ..
OG Drew Radovich-Sr ..
C .. ..
OG Chilo Rachal-Jr ..
OT .. ..
K Mario Danelo-Sr ..
DEFENSE
DE Lawrence Jackson-Sr ..
NT Sedrick Ellis-Sr ..
DT Fili Moala-Jr Chris Barrett-Sr
DE Brian Cushing-Jr ..
SLB .. ..
MLB Rey Maualuga-Jr Thomas Williams-Sr
WLB Keith Rivers-Sr Kaluka Maiava-Jr
CB Cary Harris-Jr Kevin Thomas-Jr
CB Terrell Thomas-Sr ..
SS Kevin Ellison-Jr ..
FS Taylor Mays-So Josh Pinkard-Jr
P Greg Woidneck-Jr ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

Recruiting has finally caught up with USC...in a bigtime positive way. Even if the normally large amount of (underclassmen) NFL departures hit the Trojans in the off-season, this team is stacked with depth for the long haul (see recruiting). USC brings back the most starters and experienced players out of any team in the Top 15. A defensive unit ranked in the Top 25 in 2006 for total defense returns every significant contributor outside of LB Dallas Sartz. QB John David Booty improves in his second year as a starter as the shadows of Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer will nearly be gone. Look for Booty to continue the QB traditions at Troy and even dot a few early Heisman watch lists. Upwards of four different RBs have garnered starting experience in big games. Should Jarrett choose to leave, the WR corps will be the most inexperienced unit. But names such as highly touted Vidal Hazelton will again reload this area, and Fred Davis will be one of the top preseason candidates for the John Mackey Award (nation's top tight end). This team is loaded and it would be surprising to see the Trojans fall below a No. 3 ranking when the preseason polls start to roll out next summer.

 

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
2007 SCHEDULE

9-1 Idaho
9-15 @ Nebraska
9-22 Washington State
9-29 @ Washington
10-6 Stanford
10-13 Arizona
10-20 @ Notre Dame
10-27 @ Oregon
11-3 Oregon State
11-10 @ California
11-17 @ Arizona State
11-24 UCLA