Former Trojan Matt Cassel’s continuing success with the New England Patriots prompted USC coach Pete Carroll to recall Cassel’s pro-day workout, when he went from unknown backup to draftable commodity.

“He was an underdog,” Carroll said. “He had such a phenomenal day. They flooded him afterward – all the scouts came up to get his name and phone number. It was really his moment.

“I remember his mom in tears watching the response from his workout. … He had a day out here that was all but perfect. It lit everybody up, and that’s where it started.”

New England took Cassel in the seventh round of the 2005 draft, even though he never started at USC. He has stepped in this season for injured three-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady to help push the Patriots to the brink of a playoff berth.

At USC, Cassel sat behind Matt Leinart, who came off the bench Sunday to guide Arizona’s only scoring drive in a 47-7 loss to New England. When a reporter suggested the Cardinals should have started Leinart, Carroll joked: “I don’t think they could have done much worse.”

More from the USC blog:

• USC football: Taylor Mays mulls NFL draft decision
• USC football: Post-practice tidbits, injury updates
• USC football: Gable might leave USC after season
• USC football: Carl Smith, injury updates from Saturday
• USC basketball: Markas returns, scary incident behind him
• USC football: JC recruit joins kicker/punter mix
• USC football: Targeting Derrick Williams
• USC football: Byers returning; will Sanchez follow?
• USC football: Carl Smith isn’t the QB coach … yet