It won’t be easy replacing a stud like Rey Maualuga but Chris Galippo is excited for the challenge. A former USA Today and Parade Magazine prep All-Americans in high school, Galippo will be the man in the middle for the Trojans next season.

Here is how Galippo compares his game to Maualuga,

“I think we both have a good knack for finding the football,” he said. “We both can make a play anywhere on the field, whether it’s dropping back into our Tampa-2 look in the middle third, or whether it’s making plays in the backfield. We’re both sideline-to-sideline players.”

Galippo the new man in the middle of USC’s defense [ESPN]