What 10 Underclassmen Might Go To The NFL?

Clay Helton said he is getting NFL evaluations for 10 players. But the list of players who might go pro is really less than that: Porter Gustin has been hurt all year; Iman Marshall’s had a disappointing junior season; Cameron Smith’s told teammates he is coming back; Deontay Burnett is not physically ready for the NFL.

The real decisions are being made by Sam Darnold, Ronald Jones, Rasheem Green, Toa Lobendahn, Marvell Tell and Chuma Edoga.

I’m hearing Lobendahn is likely to go pro. Jones needs to go pro because he is a tailback and they tend to have shorter pro careers. Darnold should go pro if he is a top 5 pick. That leaves Green, Tell and Edoga.

Green is probably the most intriguing prospect to NFL teams and it would not surprise me if he leaves. Tell probably should come back for another season. Edoga is immature enough to leave even though he was wildly inconsistent (at best) this year.

96 thoughts on “What 10 Underclassmen Might Go To The NFL?

  1. Sam’s situation is exactly like Marcus Mariota after his redshirt Soph season. Would have been a top 5 pick and came back.

    • So….there’s reason for Trojan hope? [But what do think the odds are that we have Sam for 2018]?

      • 55/45 that he’ll stay. Doesn’t want to be another Sanchez, and his background is too similar to Barkley – loves the school, no need to support his family or an entourage. So no real pressure to QB for the shiftless Browns.

        • Did you listen to Sam’s podcast when he had Leinart on as a guest. Leinart makes some good points about coming back for another year

        • I’d say that 55/45 (for sticking around) is about right, Lamont. It’s no lock —but I think odds slightly favor USC holding on to Sam for 2018.

  2. 5* lb Palaie Gaoteote shuts down all recruitment and will take no more visits… also USC is hosting a 6’0” 230lb 4* running back and former Nd commit this weekend along with Carman

    • Yes! Just saw this as well. And after many people thought he was going to flip. 2 top lbs already, solo’s pledge should be next. Fight on!

          • Please bring us up to date on how they handle Princess Leia’s departure…..
            I’d rather hear it from you.
            #StokaNokaMayNotBeAbleToFollowPlot

          • #StokaNokaMayNotBeAbleToFollowPlot

            LOL!….. Thanks for the laugh, it triggers the release of endorphins and makes my back feel better

          • Back pain! The worst. What’s the cause? Golf? Tennis? The heavy bag? I fricking hate the aftermath of serious exercise anymore —but I do it anyway [and get yelled at for being an idiot by my wife].

          • I had Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) and had a level one bone fusion. . Periodically, I still get lower back spasms in the L5-S1 area of my back.. It’s something that I have come to live with, but it never completely goes away.

          • “Something I’ve come to live with.” Man, Gabby! You are one tough dude! [I promise to not complain and act like a fricking baby the next time I get a mild case of tennis elbow]!
            Fight On, Gabby!

          • The way he’s acting just proves he’s Golllly Noiiiiiid. Notice the way he said “ONE of the movies”??? How does he know there was more than one?!!!
            #ItAllLooksPrettyDamnSuspicious

          • Yes!…..your Lawyer instincts come into play. I take it, he has posted under multiple aliases. any I might recognize?

          • He has —as recently as a a couple of months ago—but I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve already forgotten them.
            Hopefully, gt will give us the full list soon!

          • Do you remember The One The Only, Wisdom and John Wooden? Those were just a few of his many aliases. Two of his sock puppets, Rose Bowl Bound and FightOn , tried to attack Michael, but forgot to change identities back and forth and one answered for the other, exposing their scheme. Stoka is the latest Gollllyyy Noooiiid alias for this creep since that fiasco.

          • Attacking one of the distinguished members of this blog will not be tolerated…Off with his head!

          • I was ignoring him for a while but after that outrage I realized he has to be treated like any common household pest.

          • I had a lumbar laminectomy and danced out of the hospital pain free. Spasms are the worst, they would drop me like shot from Mohammed Ali.

          • I have had the bones trimmed several times also spacers and pins and it still can be a problem. The key is never over do it . Just a little at a time moderations on pleasure and work

          • Anyone actually know the reason for this guys hard on and why he thinks I’m someone else? I’m all ears to be informed on this hilarious backstory

          • He seems to think I’m someone else from this blog from like 10 years ago, as far as I’ve been able to figure out. Hence why I’m looking to others for answers lol

          • Please explain. Did this Golly character touch you someplace you didn’t like? Or maybe stopped touching and you’ve had a grudge ever since?

          • We all wonder what the reason is for your hard on for The Blogger. 12 years is a long time to stalk someone, Gollllly Noiiiid. I heard he turned you down in the mens room at Doheny Libes and you never forgave him for not accepting your alternative lifestyle.

          • You disgust me you perverted stalker. You really are a dangerous loon. 12 years stalking a sports blogger is a sign of real insanity.

          • 12 years ago I would’ve been almost too old for your best buddy Roy Moore to hit on. I can tell from your dementia filled repetence your brain ain’t got much left in the tank

          • Does wanting to dress up as a geisha boy really qualify as an alternative lifestyle, gt?
            #HopeScott’sRejectionWasGentle

        • When your mother leaves my home from the private screening. Also, shouldn’t you be actually looking for your real “golly” friend you’ve been longing for? And all your repeated Star Wars reference you regurgitate seem to be a sign of dementia. Hit your head while watching one of the movies?

          • You are the latest sock puppet of your long running series that included The One The Only, Wisdom and John Wooden, Gollllly Noiiddd. You always use the same “dude” and “your mother” lines so it is easy to expose you. You really aren’t that smart. No wonder you have lost 321 Starrrrrr Warrrrrsss contests in a row.

          • Lmao you really are a trip, Must be your tin foil hat that you fitted too small. Keep thinking I’m whoever that is, since it lets your old sack self sleep at night. And that person must’ve really done a number on your psyche huh? I almost would applaud them.

          • Keep denying, Gollly Noooiddd. Being a lying snake has sure turned out well for you. You are a waster of food.

  3. I think that’s the most astute analysis SW has ever given since I’ve I’ve been on the blog.

    • This is what it looks like when Scott decides to do it ‘straight’. [But my guess is Scott would rather be in jail cell with Lane Kiffin than post 2 articles like this in a row]….
      #…ItProbablyWouldGetBoring,”Anyways”

        • Yep. I doubt you’ll find a clearer assessment of who’s staying and who’s going anywhere else.
          [Now we have to be hoping for two contradictory things to happen —(1) Sam has a great Cotton Bowl and (2) Sam is not projected as a top five pick after the game].

  4. Green should leave if his grade comes back 2nd or higher. Tell as well. Darnold has the Luck/Mariota effect, hell be drafted in the same area whether he stays or not.
    If Lobendahn comes back he’s gonna get moved back inside anyway. Edoga can pull a Mama, but if he comes back he’ll be much better next year, just boot Callaway.

  5. Toa’s going pro ? Really?!!! He better stay in school, and enjoy his football playing experience, because he’s not NFL material..IMO

  6. I think Darnold and Jones are outa here and grade the highest. If Darnold has a poor Cotton Bowl, he stays, but I think he’ll bring it against the Bucks, and his #1 pick status will be too hard to ignore, especially since Barkley and Leinart stayed and it hurt their pocket books big.

    I can’t believe Lobendahn would even consider leaving, since he’s just a guy.

    • But Barkley and Leinart were coming off stellar seasons — Sam not so much IMO. I don’t see Sam hurting himself by staying (I say selfishly).

        • May I fill in for Ed Garrett and ask: What’s keeping Sam from going up from there?

          • Why wait a year if you are already #1, unless you just like school more than the opportunity? With USC’s less than stellar OL, and Darnold’s playing style, injury is always an increased possibility.

          • Absolutely it would take some special player who just loves college and playing for he’s team and coach. Sam’s gone. He’s top 3 no matter unless of a horrific injury.

      • Barkley’s junior year was stellar but not his senior year. He got hurt big time for staying around with the “unfinished business” deal.

        • Barkley was as loyal a soldier as they come. His senior year was just way off the rails with the picks and all. He just never had the arm but really managed to hide it for a long time. Not sure how.

      • I doubt Toa could even make a roster. But guys like this leave early all the time from every school. Some are just done with the college experience, have other needs, and can’t see themselves hanging around any longer.

    • Unless money is a quick fix priority, Lobendahn stays because he’s playing out of position. He’ll play center next year. Get a second or maybe 1st round grade. The guy took it for the team this year.

      • That’s a pretty herculean jump for someone who seems like free agent material to me. More power to him if he could ever pull off a trick like that.

      • Good call! Toa is great Center. Horrible tackle. He should come back next year. I think Green will come me back for one more year as well. With his stats, he’ll have a ton of hype next year. I also cannot see Tell leaving either.

  7. For my selfish reason, I hope Darnold comes back. Why take a chance with Cleveland or the Giants. Maybe he can be drafted next year in 2019 by New Orleans or Miami and learn under the tutelage of the two stating qb’s. Brees and Cutler are getting up there in age. NO’s is a playoff type team and Miami has improved.

  8. FYI…..Yesterday,.Damien Mama was signed to the active roster of the NY Giants from the KC Chiefs practice squad and Zach Banner is currently on the Cleveland Browns active roster

    • If mama plays he’ll likely be side by side with chad wheeler who’s been playing the last couple of weeks

      • I’m glad they’re getting a chance to play in the NFL. It’s a dream come-true that’s taken many years of hardwork…….

  9. Edoga a pro? Please…nice young man but the kid can’t stay onside for crying out loud. Slow, bad footwork. Not Sunday material.

  10. If I was SC, I would definitely get rid of Ronnie Bradford. He’s not a good recruiter and not really a very good coach. Our D-Backs didn’t do the job this year. We need another Deland Maccullah. SC should seriously think about Demetrious Martin from UCLA. He’s a great recruiter. He’s the best recruiter the Bruins had. The only reason Darnay Holmes went to UCLA was because of him. I’m not sure what kind of a coach he is but he can’t be all that bad. UCLA was 40th in the nation in pass defense and that’s good considering we’re in the pass happy Pac-12. USC finished 117th in pass defense.

  11. I have a hard time seeing Edoga as a pro for some reason. I hope Tell stays for 18. If Green stays that is huge for the DL. Darnold should come back for the PT he will get and it will be his 4th season as a QB.

  12. If Toa goes pro, he should so as a C or G. High football IQ too small to be a T. Chuma’s better than most think. With the right coach and in the right locker room, he could surprise people.

  13. How about some positive news? Damien Mama signs with the NY Giants and Leon McQuay gets a roster spot with the Chiefs. Why always just the bad stuff?

  14. The way this coaching staff underachieves player development, who is going to replace 2-O-linemen, 2-D-linemen and a QB you get every 10 years, it will take a miracle for this coaching staff to prevent more losses than 16 & 17 combined and, a real threat to take over college football interest in LA, Swann has to see trouble down the road.

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