Forget quarterback. Linebacker is the new glamor position for Southern California, with three premier Trojans prospects who all could be first-round picks in April's draft.
Meet: Rey Maualuga, the fierce hitter in the middle; Brian Cushing, the intense "East coast guy";
and Clay Matthews, the studious heir to a legendary NFL name. They formed the core of a defense that helped the Trojans to a 12-1 season and a Rose Bowl victory last season; they're all highly talented; and they all want to be the first linebacker taken in April's draft.
"We're real competitive,"
Matthews said. "We're always battling to see who can get the most tackles, the most sacks, the most publicity. It was really fun. To be here with the other guys, it means a great deal. It makes it a lot easier for us"
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Following in the footsteps of fellow Trojans such as three-time Pro Bowler Lofa Tatupu (selected by Seattle in the second round in 2005) and Keith Rivers (a first-round pick by the Bengals last year) the trio is building a new reputation for USC as the linebacking university of record.
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The pro-style competition in USC practices and the high level of talent on the roster has helped prepare them for the NFL. In the past four drafts, nine USC players have been selected in the first round and 13 Trojans have gone in the second.
"Coach (Pete) Carroll always stressed to us that there's no competition as great as what you're going to see on the practice field,"
Matthews said, "and practice is going to be harder than games."
Pro experience has surrounded Maualuga, Cushing and Matthews since they arrived at USC. Carroll was a head coach with the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1998-2000) before leading the Trojans. His linebackers coach is Ken Norton Jr., a three-time Pro Bowler who played on three consecutive Super Bowl winners from 1992-1994.
Having access to the ever-growing network of former USC players now in the NFL helps too. "When the guys come back,"
Cushing said, "they say how similar (USC) is (to the NFL) and how other rookies aren't learning as well because they haven't had the college experience that we've had."
Early analysis suggests Maualuga will be the first one drafted, about three or four spots ahead of Cushing, according to NFLDraftScout.com analyst Rob Rang. Matthews ranks further back, but still as a potential first-round talent.
While they share long, flowing locks and elite prospect status, all three have varied backgrounds and still face questions. Matthews is the son of four-time Pro Bowler Clay Matthews Jr. and the nephew of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, yet he had to walk on and earn a scholarship the hard way and might be the least physically talented of the three. Maualuga is regarded by some as the best one of the group, yet he faces concerns about his maturity level and a penchant for overreaching for the big hit. Cushing has a checkered injury past and had to dispel stories that he was using supplements.
Yet they say they're stronger and able to rise above their challenges because they've headed for the NFL as a team (a fourth USC linebacker, Kaluka Maiava, is also at the combine, though he's not expected to be drafted high).
Cushing is what Matthews described as a "typical East coast guy"
who has a chip on his shoulder and a blue-collar work ethic. Maualuga is a fierce, dominating force on the field who acknowledges that he plays so hard that he sometimes overpursues and misses tackles. And Matthews is a cerebral player whose heart and dedication show, said Maualuga, from his rise from a walk-on whose own family questioned his choice to try out for the Trojans into a potential first-round pick.
They're training separately, but checking in on each other and offering tips on how best to gird for the intense scrutiny teams will subject them to. "Rey mentioned at the Senior Bowl that he's going to run the fastest 40, and me and Cush didn't take that lightly,"
Matthews said.
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USA TODAY offers a capsule analysis at the USC linebacking trio, scheduled to work out at the NFL combine on Monday:
• Brian Cushing: At 6-2, 243 pounds, said he's completely healed from the shoulder, ankle and knee injuries that hampered his USC career. ... Rejected stories that he has used supplements to build strength. "It's nothing I've been a part of, never ever will be,"
Cushing said. "That's up to the people who decide. People can think what they want, but I'll tell them straight-up that it's not true."
... Said he does take legal, over-the-counter supplements. ... Said his intensity level is a positive, not a negative, and he wants to emulate the fieriness of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. "I don't get too crazy where I lose focus or anything like that,"
Cushing said. "It's something I try to control and use to the best of my ability."
.. Will work out at the combine.
• Rey Maualuga: At 6-1, 249 pounds, many analysts rate him as the best inside linebacker in the draft. ... His physical hits are a calling card, but he acknowledged he has tried to reach beyond his ability at times. "I tend to leave my feet and overrun plays and be a player I'm not,"
Maualuga said. ... Will work out at the combine. ... His long hair is part of his Samoan heritage, and he said coaches have asked him if he would cut it as part of the combine interview process. "I told them the truth. It's a family tradition,"
Maualuga said. "If that doesn't work, I'll do whatever you want me to do. But if it was a player who told me to cut it, I'll hold my ground until I can't any more and just do what I'm asked."
• Clay Matthews: At 6-3, 240 pounds, he earned notoriety at USC through strong special teams play, and said he wants that part of his game to add to his value in the NFL. "That's been my bread and butter and that got me to where I am today,"
he said. ... Even without a scholarship, opted not to try Division I-AA football because he felt he belonged at the sport's best level. ... Said that his father, grandfather and uncle, who all played in the NFL, put no pressure on him. "They've never pressured me into being the player who they are or emulating them or even going past what they've done,"
said Matthews, who added he wants to make his own name. ... Will work out at the combine.
