Story Created:
Aug 2, 2010 at 11:32 AM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 4, 2010 at 12:08 AM PST
As much as he’d like to look ahead, new USC football coach Lane Kiffin knows he has to do it through the prism of the recent past.
When you’re dealing with the NCAA sanctions handed down over violations involving 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and his family and several player defections because of those sanctions, it’s unavoidable.
As Kiffin said during Pac-10 media day at the Rose Bowl, “It’s something we have to deal with.”
With just 71 (14 under the maximum) scholarship players, depth will certainly be an issue for the Trojans, who are ineligible for a postseason bowl.
“Depth in general will be an issue, so we have to be smart how we handle practice,” he said. “Because the school is so expensive, we don’t have a great walk-on program.”
Kiffin, hired out of Tennessee after Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks in the off-season, doesn’t exactly have a bare cupboard to deal with.
Returning from a 9-4 team that defeated Boston College in the Emerald Bowl are 13 starters (six offense, six defense, one kicker/punter).
The top returner is sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley, looking to improve on the freshman numbers of 2,735 yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
While some of his teammates departed for greener pastures once sanctions came down, Barkley said he never considered following them out the door.
“Not once,” he said. “It never entered my mind. To be a freshman and playing early was a dream-come-true. To get a degree from USC is huge.”
Kiffin expects a trimmed-down Barkley to improve from a year ago.
“Matt Barkley handles himself with great class and composure,” the Trojan coach said. “One of the reasons he will have a great year is because he’s changed his whole body. He’ll be much quicker. He’ll make better decisions.”
Another area Kiffin is excited about is on the other side of the ball.
“I feel good about our defensive line,” he said. “I like our defensive front seven. That’s going to have to carry us through, at least early.”
Center Kristofer O’Dowd, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, outside linebacker Malcolm Smith, fullback Stanley Havili and wide receiver Ronald Johnson are some of the more prominent returnees.
Former Serra High School standout DaJohn Harris had an impressive spring and is penciled in to start at defensive tackle when the Trojans open Sept. 2 at Hawaii.
Even with the defection of highly-regarded offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson, the recruiting class ranks among the best in the nation.
Serra’s Robert Woods, Kyle Prater and Markeith Ambles could be early contributors at wide receiver and running back Dillon Baxter wowed people in the spring after graduating from high school early. Hayes Pullard, a linebacker out of Crenshaw, is one of the top defensive newcomers.
“From what I’ve seen, this is the best group of skill players we’ve had,” Barkley said of the recruits. “I’ve seen Kyle make some incredible one-handed catches and Robert Woods is as fast as RoJo (Johnson).”
Photo by Mario Villegas. Video via madelyneburke.
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