This Year: USC had another huge draft weekend with ten players getting selected overall — the most of any school. They also led the way with four first round picks.
Historical Perspective: USC has sent 446 players to the League via the draft. 42 have been picked in the 7 years since Pete Carroll arrived, including 11 in the first round.
No Rush: For four USC draft picks, an extra year in school may have rewarded them with a big payday. Gary Klein explains in Sunday’s LA Times.
No Hype: An interesting forum post found that 10 first rounders in this draft were given two stars or fewer coming out of high school (by at least one of the top recruiting services).
The Trojans:
- Sedrick Ellis (DT) – New Orleans – 1st round, 7th pick
- Times-Picayne’s blog story
- The Saints traded up to get Ellis
- Keith Rivers (OLB) – Cincinnati – 1st round, 9th pick
- Sam Baker (OT) – Atlanta – 1st round, 21st pick
- Journal Constitution article
- The Falcons traded up to get protection for new quarterback Matt Ryan
- Lawrence Jackson (DE) – Seattle – 1st round, 28th pick
- Post-Intelligencer article
- The Seahawks actually traded down from 25th
- Chilo Rachal (OG) – San Francisco – 2nd round, 8th pick (39th overall)
- Chronicle article
- Transcript of Chilo’s conference call
- Local reaction is that the 49ers had a boring draft
- Fred Davis (TE) – Washington – 2nd round, 17th pick (48th overall)
- Post article
- The Redskins got two receivers as well as pass-catching Davis
- Terrell Thomas (CB) – New York Giants – 2nd round, 32nd pick (63rd overall)
- Post blurb (seriously, this was the best coverage we could find in the New York press)
- John David Booty (QB) – Minnesota – 5th round, 2nd pick (137th overall)
- Star Tribune article
- LA Times article
- Booty slipped lower than some though he might, but the Vikings traded up in the 5th round and now it’s a great match.
- Thomas Williams (OLB) – Jacksonville – 5th round, 20th pick (155th overall)
- Chauncey Washington (RB) – Jacksonville – 7th round, 6th pick (213th overall)