USC has a lot of NFL prospects for next year led by QB Sam Darnold. But a player drawing a lot of interest by NFL scouts when they speak to the coaching staff is linebacker Uchenna Nwosu. He’s got good size (6-3, 240) and athletic ability. And the scouts want to see more of him because last year was his first where he was a full-time starter.
Meanwhile, since this is the time of year when people spend too much time doing lists, NFL.com named USC tailback Dominic Davis the fifth-fastest player in the college football. This is based on track times (10.47 in the 100, 6.78 in 60 indoors). Maybe Davis can show this story to Clay Helton for more playing time.
The article itself is a good reminder that track and football can be different. Someone might not be blazing on the track, but fast in a uniform. And vice versa. Wide receiver R. Jay Soward (1996-98) was one of the fastest USC players I’ve seen in a suit. He had a special talent in keeping his speed even with his pads. Tailback Sultan McCullough ran the 100 meters in 10.17 seconds at USC his freshman year. But McCullough’s strength was his finish, not his start. That meant he needed space when he had the ball to get his true speed going. That could be tough when you usually only get a couple yards of open space.
Before Scott takes a bunch of flack for stating that “track can be different than football” —–may I say this is one of those truths most sports writers ignore or forget. All those 40 times listed on the scouting sites are of pretty limited value —it’s not what players do in track or even in camp that matters. It’s what they do in pads, playing in games. And more to the point, it SHOULD’T be hard for players like McCullough to find the space to accelerate —-that’s why God invented coaches. It’s their job to figure out how to get players with great acceleration into space. Best example I can think of off the top of my head? The way New Orleans used Reggie Bush. Reggie had a fast start but an even faster finish, so New Orleans got him the ball on short throws past the line of scrimmage.
It would be nice to see RoJo used that way more this year. With his improving hands and accelerating speed, he could become a real nightmare.
Mike the rumor is Adrien Klemm may join the staff as a recruiter. Swann has to approve it.
That would be so cool, Sam!
#OwnsWillBeSoHappyForUs
As long as he can walk the straight line I’m good with that also.
He will, Sam. He’ll be a Trojan.
#BruinNightmareWillFinallyBeOver
He’s already jealous.
USC may want to think twice about Klemm even as a recruiter.
From what I saw…the only way he got players to come to UCLA was promising/hinting at early playing time for the incoming freshmen.
Perhaps due to the pathetic recent historical reputation UCLA has had with offensive linemen…it’s possible Klemm felt this type of “dangling the carrot” recruiting was necessary. In the end though it has backfired on UCLA.
In 2012, Klemm started 3 freshmen in RFr Jake Brendel, RFr Tony White, and Fr Simon Goines. White got suspended for off field incident after the season and Goines already had some iffy knees and he probably should have redshirted so he could have healed more properly.
In 2013, Klemm followed this up by starting 3 true freshmen in Caleb Benenoch, Alex Redmond, and Scott Quessenberry. Benenoch and Redmond were penalty machines and developed bad habits and bad reputations with the refs. Quessenberry hurt both his shoulders and eventually had to redshirt between his sophomore and junior year I believe. He also played before he was fully ready. Benenoch and Redmond left after only 3 years after accomplishing basically nothing. Connor McDermott RFr ended up starting one game in 2013 and he ended up getting hurt.
In 2014, Klemm started another true freshman Najee Toran for the 1st game and he was horrible. He ended up getting benched for the next two years. He’s now a senior and “might” be a starter. Toran has always been undersized also. Made no sense to play him as a true frosh.
In 2015, Klemm played two more true freshmen in Fred Ulu-Perry and Tevita Halalilo. Ulu-Perry was terrible. UCLA gave up 10 sacks to Utah in the one game FUP played on the O line. He was decent as a part time full back. FUP transferred out back to Hawaii. Halalilo went in during garbage time and broke his ankle. He is still hindered by this set back even until today. UCLA also started redshirt frosh Kolton Miller at right tackle for a few games.
In 2016, UCLA started/played redshirt frosh Andre James.
It’s no wonder Klemm was fired. He’s had trouble developing his earlier recruited linemen in Kenny Lacy RSr, Poasi Moala RSr, Najee Toran Sr also.
Klemm could be a good addition for USC so long as he has learned his lesson and is on the same page with the existing coaching staff and recruits with more realistic expectations. USC has a better reputation with developing offensive linemen anyhow so he shouldn’t have to promise/insinuate/hint early playing time.
It’s already a given that any incoming OL recruit will be given a shot to play/start but realistically they have stuff work on before becoming a starter.
I could care less if he does or not. He would definitely help but him being linked to violations at Ucla is what would make me pass on him. Personally I never knew what the big deal was about him but maybe he would have some extra go-getter in him since he would be recruiting against Mora.
I think you mentioned he would join the staff as a recruiter and not the OL Coach. Correct?
If so, I doubt he would be choosing who starts on the line.
Yeah. I think the rumor was just as a recruiter. One of the posters at fighton247 knows practically everything SC and is never wrong. Swann may be against it thought so we’ll find out.
I knew Adrian as a kid when he was in high school. Good kid and son of a basketball coach. Certainly made a mistake at UCLA and didn’t develop players well, particularly last year. Will be interesting to see what happens.
Helton knows Klemm already and would give him a chance as a recruiter. That would be his foot in the door in proving he could walk a straight line.
LOL!! When I was complaining to you about how dumb Klemm was in playing so many freshmen…you actually defended him.
You only turned on Klemm and the entire O line as you tried to blame them to help cover up your dumb position related to Kennedy Polamalu as offensive coordinator.
You claimed KP was better than Mazzone. LOL!!
Grow up, Rodney. I defended him in the early years because the cupboard was bare in year 2 on the OL and they had to play some kids earlier than ideal. The logic escapes you.
Your last line is another lie on your part. But I am still happy that Mazzone is gone.
Grow smarter. Dummy. You were wrong and you know it. You’re always wrong. You have not been right one single time.
And quit making up lies. The cupboard was not bare. We already went over this you twit.
Instead of playing true frosh Simon Goines in 2012….UCLA could have played redshirt senior Brett Downey 6’7 305. Ben Wysocki was available also as a RFr. Goines didn’t need to play.
If Goines redshirted and healed properly…he could have been used in 2013 as a redshirt frosh. Wysocki was available too as a RSo vs that of true frosh Benenoch. Wysocki replaced Benenoch for the USC game since Benenoch got himself kicked out.
UCLA also had RSo Kevin McReynolds available. A former 4 star recruit. So Alex Redmond could have redshirted also.
UCLA also had Kody Innes RJr at their disposal. Carl Hulick was a RFr.
So Scott Quessenberry didn’t need to play as a true frosh either.
In the end…we didn’t get anywhere by playing these guys as true frosh. Get it through your thick skull.
And I don’t make up lies like you do. You claimed UCLA was better off with Kennedy Polamalu. Why else would you claim this if you didn’t think KP was better than Mazzone.
I’ve explained the KP point to you several times. If you don’t get it by now, you never will. We will see what Fisch will do.
The rest is your usual long list of nonsense.
No you didn’t. You care to explain for us all here then what your position on KP was. Let’s see what lies you make up this time.
You clearly said we were better off with KP and getting rid of Mazzone. We were arguing all the time related to this. So why would you make this claim and argue with me if you didn’t actually believe KP was better than Mazzone. You have NEVER explained this point.
Multiple times. Your lack of reading comprehension is your problem and not mine. You specialize in name calling in saying people are “dummies.” That is called irony. Look it up.
Another non-response. You obviously can’t explain yourself related to OC Kennedy Polamalu. You thought he was better than Mazzone. LOL!!! You’ve proven to all what a dummy you are related to college football. You have not been right on anything. You thought UCLA could win a conference championship with true frosh Josh Rosen. LOL!!!
And now you’re claiming Rosen might “surprise” some folks this year. LOL!!! He’s going to be a true junior. The best Rosen can do is “surprise” some folks? Unbelievable.
Multiple times and you never understood. There’s no chance of you understanding. You’re like that little kid that keeps stomping is feet and saying, “why?”
It’s an endless argument with you and very boring.
Explain it in detail for all us here on the USC board. We all know you can’t.
What you fail to do is stay on topic related to football. You always go off on your tangents and make personal attacks. That is all you are good for.
You clearly show you’re an uneducated person related to football. The sad reality is that the majority of UCLA football fans are just like you.
You’re the only one that cares and after about 10 explanations you still don’t understand. The 11th time isn’t going to change that. Deal with it. Or just keep stomping your feet and screaming why.
Who said anything about Klemm choosing who starts on the O line for USC. What you need to understand is that Klemm could tell recruits any story.
He could say stuff like such and such existing USC player is banged up and there is an opening for some early playing time if you come to USC.
Klemm already has committed recruiting violations. He won’t be able to back up what he could potentially be promising to recruits. Maybe he doesn’t care. He may think all his job is as a recruiter is to get the HS player to “commit”. Who cares if the player transfers out if that player doesn’t get the early playing time as expected.
Oh, Rodney you just don’t get it. Plenty of coaches tell recruits lots of things about playing time or competing for playing time as a freshman because every kid wants to play. Once they get into school, they have to be de-recruited in a sense and brought back to earth. It goes on everywhere. Given that Klemm would not be deciding who plays or coaching the OL, your overall point is moot. Those decisions would fall on the OL Coach and Clay Helton.
You made one valid point in that Pete Carroll knew which true freshmen to play and which to redshirt. Evaluating talent is very important in a head coach and Pete was always known for playing the best player, regardless of class. That included Matt Barkley, whom you said Carroll was a dummy for playing as a true freshman.
Oh sure. It’s just that Klemm wanted to keep his “promises” right? He played so many true freshmen it was ridiculous which is why he was fired you twit.
He was fired because of poor line play and his infractions came into play as well. Simple.
Dumb conclusion. And how exactly did that poor line play happen? It’s because of all the true freshmen he played he twit. Wake up and smell the coffee you stubborn mule.
I tried to tell you over and over and over through each year the mistakes Klemm was making by playing the true freshmen. You wouldn’t listen.
You ended up wrong as usual.
Enjoy your new friends, Rodney. This stupid debate is tiresome and you have no ability to comprehend anything but your own tirades.
LOL!! Typical non-response by the resident fool.
You don’t even disagree on how the poor line play happened.
If he is hired as a recruiter, then his job is to get a player to commit. That is correct. And he needs to abide by NCAA rules. He didn’t get in trouble over promising playing time. Also, you have no inside information on anything he may have told a recruit. It’s just your speculation. He got in trouble for paying for a kids camp and also some NBA tickets, I believe.
All you do is make up nonsense. Of course Klemm didn’t get in trouble over promising playing time you twit.
You can’t deny what he might have done over at UCLA though. Wake up and smell the coffee.
What he “might” have done? At least you admit that you have no knowledge of what he did or did not do. Neither do I. There is no need to confirm or deny “might.”
LOL! See I proved all you do is make up nonsense. It was wrong of you to insinuate and accuse me of saying that I said Klemm got in trouble by making promises to recruits. So stupid.
Care to admit what you did? Nah…we all know how you are.
And I have more evidence than you as to what Klemm “might” have done. Who’s the dummy who played true frosh Tevita Halillo in garbage time where he broke his ankle.
Look at all the true freshmen O line guys Klemm played. Care to explain. You can’t.
How did Klemm get Fred Ulu-Perry to commit. Why play him as a true frosh and why was he so horrible on the O line? Did Klemm play Ulu-Perry because he didn’t want him to transfer and go back home to Hawaii? Well?
You do know that there are rumors where the UCLA coaches allowed Eddie Vanderdoes to simply do whatever he wanted. If he didn’t work out very hard the coaches kept silent. It was reported Eddie V. go into shape for the NFL combine. Well?
Do you even notice that UCLA’s 3 star recruits who redshirt often do better than the more talented 4 or 5 star recruits UCLA got and played as true freshmen.
You ever think about how and why this happens. My feeling is this. The coaches naturally take a more hard nosed approach with these guys because they don’t care as much if they decide to commit or not or even decide to leave. Some are 3 stars because they are simply undersized for their respective position…so it’s easier to redshirt them to begin with.
These 3 star players are more focused and they develop into pretty good players but they are obviously still somewhat limited due to their natural raw ability.
The key to UCLA winning is simply having recruits and players who are more committed to the program. They are the ones who don’t mind redshirting.
Dummies like yourself try to pattern what USC or Alabama might be doing. Wake up. UCLA is not those schools. UCLA has been trying to build their program for nearly 20 years by following this same mindset and concept.
I repeat…Stanford started winning by redshirting players and getting guys to stick around in the program longer. You’re just a stubborn fool to think UCLA should not to do the same.
Type more. Your nonsense gets better by volume.
Typical response from you. Can’t own up to your wrong doings as usual.
And as usual…you are unable to respond to my points made to you.
I do look at the roster and anticipated depth chart you fool. YOU should try to do the same as well as the coaches….maybe this way UCLA won’t be so stupid enough to play so many true freshmen.
We get it Rodney. You have ONE point that you make over and over again. And it isn’t a very subtle or sophisticated one. It’s the work of a simpleton.
Switching the subject again? Try owning up to your wrong doings and stick to football. Two simple rules you can’t follow.
It is football. You have one simple theory. Recruit less talented players and redshirt them. They will develop over time and be better than younger players with more talent. Simple. That’s your theory in a nutshell. I just haven’t seen a single National Championship team win with a roster full of 3-stars. Now there have been some great 3-star players that were probably mis-evaluated, but on the whole, they are fairly accurate. Talent PLUS coaching wins.
Pete Carroll believed in competition and in playing the best player regardless of class. He had a pretty good track record. He evaluated his players well, including his true freshman. That is key. And unlike you, he had to do it early, either in camp or after a game or two. You get to wait until after the season to point out who should redshirt.
Lame. Now you switch over. Previously per you…”We get it Rodney. You have ONE point that you make over and over again.
And it isn’t a very subtle or sophisticated one. It’s the work of a
simpleton.”
What you wrote before had NOTHING to do with football and you know it.
I repeat…own up to your wrong doings. You never own up to your errors and mistakes. You’ve been WRONG every single time you’ve gone up against me and you have not once owned up to it you little weasel.
Even the Myles Jack situation where you made a bet claiming he would be a 1st rounder you tried to later deny. I flat out told you Jack doesn’t deserve to be a 1st rounder and I was taunting through out the draft to get ready to eat crow and you ate it.
And yet again you’re WRONG on my philosophy and YOU are thinking with unrealistic expectations. Who said anything about a “national” championship. Heck…UCLA can’t even win a CONFERENCE championship you twit. What I’m focusing on here is “conference” championship and you know it. I’ve told you this many times before so quit with your LIES as usual. Care to fess up? I doubt it.
What you don’t understand is that UCLA will always get their share of even 4 star recruits. There are top HS players who do want to play for UCLA and probably don’t mind even redshirting perhaps.
What UCLA needs to do is build their program one step at a time. They first need to get back into a mode of winning some conference championships on a more consistent basis. If this were to happen and the program was more stable then they would be able to recruit even better talent. Amazing how this needs to be explained to dummies like yourself.
What your problem is along with the majority of UCLA fans is that you want it all now. You have no patience. You guys are like little girls who can’t wait for the latest and greatest new toy or doll. This is why you and most UCLA fans are always excited the next supposed hot shot true freshman.
Rome was not built in a day. It’s sad common quotes like this need to be drilled into your thick skull.
Stanford went 1-11 in 2006 and were horrible many years before when Harbaugh took over. It took until his 3rd season to produce a winning record of 8-5. Harbaugh’s 1st two years were 4-8 and 5-7.
Previous to all this dumb UCLA fans like yourself were making excuses that UCLA’s problem these days were due to academics and you dummies pointed to Stanford as living proof. Suddenly Stanford starts winning and fools like yourself have to shut up and hope people didn’t remember your dumb quotes.
Stanford certainly didn’t start to win by getting 4 and 5 star recruits. Stanford started winning by developing the 2 and 3 star guys with a small mixture of some 4 stars. Harbaugh built depth on the O line too.
Wake up. And there you go again preaching your Pete Carroll model of playing the best players regardless of class. You don’t get it do you. UCLA is NOT USC. At UCLA you have to study.
And despite Carroll saying play the best players regardless of class…what you need to realize is that Carroll’s better players were often the older guys and even if they were not…Carroll knew which were the right guys to play and at the right spots. Get a clue.
Carroll often found diamonds in the rough. Lofa Tatupu was a transfer from Maine. Carroll even had walk ons playing well. Leinart redshirted. He stuck with RSr Carson Palmer in 2002. All of Carroll’s QB’s were 3rd players at least during their run from 2002 thru 2008. When Carroll went with the true frosh Barkley USC had its worst record despite having the supposedly most talented players due to all the top previous recruiting classes. You again show you don’t know anything.
“And despite Carroll saying play the best players regardless of class…what you need to realize is that Carroll’s better players were often the older guys and even if they were not…Carroll knew which were the right guys to play and at the right spots.”
You mean Pete Carroll knew which true freshmen to play and where to play them? What a concept! Yes..he played the best players regardless of class and then you try to have it both ways by saying, “even if they were not.” LOL That’s your specialty, trying to take both sides of things and twisting.
And yet, you think you were smarter than Pete Carroll when he started Matt Barkley over Aaron Corp. I think you called him a dummy.
Back to your dumb non-football comments as usual.
And yeah…what a concept for Pete Carroll. Funny how no Bruin coach can figure it out themselves as far as which true frosh to play. LOL!!!
And the proof is in the pudding. Carroll had his worst year since his first year by going with a true frosh QB in Barkley. So wake up you fool.
Even Nick Saban won the BCS championship with a graduate transfer reject from Florida where as Saban lost with a true frosh QB. Deal with it.
I repeat….funny how nothing ever goes right for you. Alabama was ranked No 1 all season long and you couldn’t even go out on a limb and pick Bama but we all know had Bama won you would have claimed you did pick them.
You then accused me of not picking anybody but yet I proved to you I picked Clemson. You being gutless POS you are couldn’t own up to your mistakes yet again.
Let’s see…..and I’ll keep it simple here.
Pete Carroll has won at every level. College NC. Super Bowl. He has coached 2 Heisman trophy winning QBs. Pretty solid qualifications. At the beginning of the 2009 season, he had 2 choices for QB, Matt Barkley or Aaron QB. Carroll attended EVERY practice, has an impeccable background for evaluating talent and raved about Matt Barkley. Carroll decided that his true freshman was a better quarterback and gave SC a better chance to win than Aaron Corp.
Now we have your background. You haven’t coached any sport at any level. You are an outstanding Monday Morning QB from the comfort of your sofa. You attended NO practices and never evaluated either candidate for the job. You looked at one thing and one thing only, and that was the fact that Matt Barkley was a true freshman. Based upon that, you came to the conclusion that Aaron Corp should have been the SC starter. Additionally, you called Pete Carroll a dummy.
As for me, I’ll go with Pete Carroll over the delusional mind of a guy on a sofa in a mobile home park.
You just continually show how uneducated you are.
Despite PC’s accomplishments…coaches do make mistakes. Wake up.
You might want to ask yourself how Pete Carroll put himself into a position where he only had Aaron Corp and true frosh Matt Barkley to choose from.
We already went through this with Jim Mora also and how he pretty much only ended up with Asianti Woulard and true frosh Josh Rosen. You tried to put the entire blame on Mazzone related to the recruiting MISTAKE. Fess up. You saw this as a MISTAKE.
So the same goes for Pete Carroll.
Let’s go through the years and see what happened:
We have to start with the 2005 recruiting class as any QB recruit could have redshirted and been a redshirt senior in 2009:
2005 – 1 QB Mark Sanchez. Played as true frosh.
2006 – 1 QB. Garrett Green. Carroll did take 6 running backs though in CJ Gable, Allen Bradford, Emmanuel Moody, Stafon Johnson, Stanley Havili, and Kenny Ashley.
2007 – 1 QB. Aaron Corp. Took 3 more RB’s. Marc Tyler, Broderick Green, and Joe McKnight.
2008 – No QB. ZERO. Still picked up 2 more RB’s
Now think about it. If Aaron Corp was having development issues then it was a no brainer for Carroll to take a QB in 2008.
Face it. Pete Carroll made mistakes. I was saying it back when those recruiting classes happened.
You just got slaughtered yet again.
Sure I did. Again, you are smarter than Pete from your sofa. The delusion runs deep. Don’t quit your day job.
Typical lame response from you as expected. It was obvious you were not going to respond on how Carroll messed up in those previous recruiting classes DUMMY.
It’s like taking candy from baby. Too easy to slaughter you.
Now you are a better recruiter than Pete as well. There’s no end to your delusion. Sorry, Rodney. You’ve got nothing.
LOL!!! You’re just butt hurt as usual. It’s obvious Pete Carroll made recruiting mistakes. Has nothing to do about me being a better recruiter as you try to put it you fool.
You see what a twit you are. We all know you realize Carroll made recruiting mistakes but you can’t admit it.
Your whole previous rant about how it was between Corp and Barkley was totally blown out of the water. Do you not see how ignorant and incomplete your thought process is.
And we wouldn’t even be having this conversation if true frosh Barkley came through and USC won another conference championship in 2009. We all know that didn’t even come close to happening.
I repeat…you got destroyed and humiliated yet again.
You keep saying you are for redshirting but each of your arguments are FOR playing and even starting true freshmen.
The delusion continues. Call the Seahawks!! Pete needs your recliner insights!
Changing the subject as usual. Face it. You got slaughtered. So obvious Pete Carroll made recruiting mistakes and you can’t admit it.
Funny how you admitted how Jim Mora made the same QB recruiting mistakes. What a tool you are.
Can’t wait till you get your 1st coaching job. You might just be the Vince Lombardi of the trailer park.
Lame response again. It came down to Barkley and Corp because Carroll didn’t properly recruit in previous classes. Wake up you fool.
You forgot Mitch Mustain too. Check your searches. You are so good at lists.
I’ll stick with Pete on this one. You stay on your sofa at the trailer park.
I’m not the one who forgot Mustain. YOU are the one who said it was between Barkley and Corp you moron. Face it. You’re always wrong.
It was between Barkley and Corp because Mustain was 3rd string. You put together another one of your famous lists counting all the way back to Mark Sanchez and left off Mustain. What is fully consistent about you is that you are never wrong in your own eyes.
There isn’t a big deal about Klemm. He was fired quite a while ago and it’s obvious no program with any credibility is picking him up as an O line coach. The best he can do is a recruiter for USC?
I think so. I wasn’t impressed with him at UCLA. But who knows what he may be able to do as just a recruiter for SC.
A good ball handler has a combination of skills. Fast is a good trait but good and fast is what we need.
Power backs have strong legs but are not necessarily fast. Still if you can carry four guys with you the coaches will notice.