The 25 best gamers in USC soccer historical past

Known as “The Noblest Trojan of Them All,” Drury was certainly one of USC’s first gridiron stars through the second half of the Nineteen Twenties. An All-American and a College Football Hall of Famer, the Canadian was a two-way school standout however greatest recognized for his play at quarterback for USC. Yet. much more often called one of many nice ball carriers in this system’s historical past. Drury’s 1,163 dashing yards from 1927 lengthy stood as a college single-season report and presently ranks twentieth. 

Morley Drury’s aforementioned USC single-season dashing report lasted till Garrett’s 1,a quarter mile in 1965. That was the identical season Garrett turned the primary of seven Trojans to win the Heisman Trophy. For this profession at USC, Garrett ran for 3,314 yards — seventh all-time in class historical past — and 30 touchdowns. Also a stable pass-catcher out of the backfield and one of many nation’s prime punt returners throughout his time, Garrett was an All-American together with his No. 20 retired by the varsity.

As we’ll see, USC has produced a number of the greatest offensive linemen ever to play the sport. That mentioned, Yary might be the perfect of the bunch. His Trojans’ profession started on the defensive position, the place he was named Pac-8 Defensive Lineman of the Year. But after making the swap to the opposite facet of the ball, Yary was a two-time consensus All-American. In 1967, he turned the primary USC participant to win the Outland Trophy, honoring the nation’s prime inside lineman, whereas serving to the Trojans win the nationwide championship. Yary is a member of each the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

It’s essential to notice that this listing is about an athlete’s accomplishment on the soccer discipline. Nobody claims that Simpson has been a mannequin citizen, nor ought to Simpson be acknowledged for something optimistic post-USC. But Simpson’s on-field accomplishments have to be talked about in relation to USC soccer. He’s the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner. A yr earlier, in his first season with the Trojans, Simpson rushed for 1,543 (ranked ninth for a single season at USC). Those 3,423 yards rank sixth all-time in class historical past.

Nicknamed “Tree,” the 6-foot-4, 228-pound Young was a unanimous All-American in 1972. The similar season, he helped the Trojans win a nationwide championship whereas main the staff with 29 receptions. During his three seasons at USC, Young caught 68 passes — a second report by a decent finish — for 1,090 yards with 10 touchdowns. Young, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, gained a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.

Swann is likely one of the best NFL large receivers of all time and set the stage for his skilled dominance at USC. A member of the Trojans’ 1972 nationwide championship squad below legendary coach John McKay, Swann did not put up the gaudy receiving numbers we have develop into accustomed to over the past 30 or so years, But again when USC solidified itself as “Running Back U,” Swann was among the many greatest within the recreation whereas recording 96 profession receptions, 1,562 yards, and 11 touchdowns. The All-American and College Football Hall of Famer additionally ran for 200 profession yards, averaging 7.7 per carry.

As the Nineteen Seventies went on, USC continued to churn out a number of the greatest working backs within the recreation. Davis may be the perfect Trojans working again by no means to win a Heisman. Though, he did end second in 1974 (to Ohio State’s Archie Griffin) whereas working for 1,421 yards. For his profession, the College Football Hall of Famer ranks third on USC’s all-time dashing listing with 3,724 yards and scored 44 touchdowns, together with 11 TDs versus Notre Dame. Davis can be one of many school recreation’s best return males of all time with an NCAA-record 35.1-yard common per kickoff return and 6 touchdowns. In addition to profitable two nationwide titles with the Trojans soccer staff, Davis was a key member of three USC baseball nationwide championship squads.

Wood earned the excellence of being USC’s first three-year First-Team All-American. During his first season on the sphere at USC, Wood posted 5 interceptions, returning one for a landing. Then in 1973, Wood totaled 117 tackles and recorded one other 89 extra in ’74. Wood’s efficiency on the soccer discipline was a giant purpose the Trojans went 31-2-2 and gained a pair of nationwide championships throughout his time in school. Wood was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Bell started his USC profession as a linebacker, then made a reputation for himself as a gifted blocking fullback throughout this system’s 1974 nationwide championship squad. A yr later, Bell turned the Trojans’ featured again, working for 1,957 yards (third-most for a single season and most by a junior at USC), then 1,433 in 1976. Bell’s 3,689 profession dashing yards ranked fourth in class historical past and helped him develop into the general No. 1 decide within the 1977 NFL Draft for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bell retired from the NFL in 1983 and, sadly, handed away a yr later from coronary heart failure because of the inflammatory dysfunction dermatomyositis. He was posthumously elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Budde is the one member of this system to win the Lombardi Award (1979), go 3-0 within the Rose Bowl, and be a giant a part of coach John Robinson’s squad that shared the 1978 nationwide championship. A unanimous All-American in 1979, Budde was named USC Offensive Player of the Year. Budde has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, USC Hall of Fame, and Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. 

Before having fun with a 13-year Hall-of-Fame NFL profession with the Cincinnati Bengals, Munoz laid the muse at USC. He was additionally a star on the Trojans’ baseball staff and a part of the 1978 nationwide championship roster. Munoz may not have earned nationwide recognition when it comes to All-American groups or acquired any important {hardware}. However, his regular play, wonderful management, and dedication to beat a critical knee ligament that worn out his senior season have been all causes he was the third general decide within the 1980 NFL Draft.

In the spirit of an excellent argument, Charles White is the best working again that USC has ever produced. There. It’s been mentioned. He’s the varsity’s all-time main rusher with 6,245 profession yards. He’s certainly one of two Trojans to hurry for at the very least 2,000 yards in a season. For White, that got here in 1979 when he gained an NCAA-best 2,050 and averaged 6.2 yards per carry whereas dashing for 19 touchdowns en path to profitable the Heisman Trophy. A yr prior, White ran for 1,859 — adequate for fifth-most in class historical past — whereas serving to USC to a nationwide championship. A two-time unanimous All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year, White is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. His No. 12 is retired at USC.

Another member of that acknowledged 1978 nationwide championship staff, Lott is likely one of the greatest defenders to play school soccer. A fierce hitter, who was additionally a load in protection, Lott is tied for fourth in class historical past with 14 profession interceptions. A team-high eight picks got here throughout his 1980 season when Lott was acknowledged as a consensus All-American. A member of each College and Pro Football Hall of Fames, Lott recorded 250 complete tackles, together with 22 for loss and 10 fumble recoveries.

Recruited as a security, legendary Trojans coach John Robinson made the good move to maneuver Allen to working again. As a freshman in 1978, Allen backed up Charles White on the staff acknowledged as nationwide champion by the Coaches Poll. After some modest success in 1979, Allen ran for 1,563 (seventh-most in class historical past for a single season) with 14 touchdowns in ’80, then gained a school-record 2,427 whereas scoring 22 occasions in 1981, the yr he gained the Heisman Trophy. Allen, who additionally caught 79 profession passes for 721 yards, gained the Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards and is a member of each the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames.

Browner was a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro whereas spending all however certainly one of his 10-year NFL profession with the Minnesota Vikings. Before that, he had a fairly spectacular profession with the Trojans and was the staff’s MVP in 1982. Though he acquired little official nationwide recognition, when it comes to awards, Browner totaled 243 tackles, 9 interceptions, and formally defended 40 passes. In addition, Browner recovered seven fumbles and scored three touchdowns.

The first Trojan to win the Jim Thorpe Award (1989), because the nation’s prime defensive again, the two-time All-American Carrier recorded 107 tackles and picked off seven passes throughout that particular season. A two-time All-American, Carrier completed his good USC profession with 336 tackles and ranked among the many college’s all-time leaders with a powerful 13 interceptions. A member of the USC Athletic Hall of Fame, Carrier was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Chicago Bears in 1990.

The course that Seau’s life took after his NFL profession was tragic, however revisiting his years at USC provides a little bit of solace. Seau was the Pac-10’s Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American choice in 1989 when he recorded 71 tackles and 19 sacks. After sitting out his freshman season for failing to qualify academically, Seau totaled 107 tackles, 33 for loss, throughout his two seasons for the Trojans.

Boselli is one other Trojan who’s a member of the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames. Boselli was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Pac-10 performer named USC Offensive Player of the Year in 1991. A finalist for the Outland Trophy, Boselli adopted up his stellar profession with the Trojans by changing into the first-ever draft decide of the Jacksonville Jaguars once they took him at No. 2 in 1995.

One of essentially the most famous personalities to ever play at USC, Johnson made essentially the most of his two seasons in this system. He was a two-time First-Team All-Pac-10 performer, the league’s offensive participant of the yr, and unanimous All-American in 1995, when he caught 102 passes for 1,434 — each rating inside the prime 5 on the varsity’s single-season data listing. For these two seasons, the all the time opinionated and boisterous Keyshawn totaled 168 catches for two,796 yards, averaging 16.7 yards per reception.

Claiborne is the primary USC participant to win the Butkus Award, honoring the perfect linebacker within the nation. He took house that honor in 1998, when he was a unanimous All-American for recording 120 tackles, seven for loss, and main the staff with six interceptions. Claiborne was additionally named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in ’98. When his three seasons at USC had completed, Claiborne totaled 312 tackles, 27 for loss, earlier than spending eight seasons within the NFL.

Palmer has the excellence of being the primary quarterback in USC historical past to win the Heisman Trophy. That got here in 2002 when Palmer threw for 3,942 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Palmer ranks second in class historical past for his profession with 11,818 passing yards, whereas his 72 touchdowns thrown rank among the many college’s prime 10. An All-American and College Football Hall of Famer, Palmer had his No. 3 jersey retired by USC.

A two-time All-American, Polamalu honed his abilities as one of the versatile safeties to ever play the sport at each the school {and professional} ranges whereas starring at USC. For his profession with the Trojans, Polamalu recorded 281 tackles, together with 29 for loss, and 6 interceptions. He additionally blocked 4 punts and scored three touchdowns. Polamalu is likely one of the many Trojans elected to the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames.

USC’s most up-to-date (acknowledged) Heisman Trophy winner, Leinart claimed the distinguished award in 2004, when he additionally helped the Trojans win their since-vacated nationwide championship. During that ’04 marketing campaign, Leinart threw for 3,322 yards with 33 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. The two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, Leinart concluded his profession with 10,693 passing yards and 99 touchdowns — each totals rating among the many prime 5 in class historical past. In addition to the Heisman, Leinart gained the Manning and Walter Camp Awards in 2004 and the Unitas Award in 2005. A College Football Hall of Famer, Leinart had his No. 11 retired at USC.

Much of Bush’s success at USC has been erased attributable to NCAA violations involving his recruitment. The Trojans’ program was hit arduous with sanctions however has survived. Bush’s 2005 Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker, and Walter Camp Awards have been all vacated, and the varsity would not acknowledge his 3,312 profession dashing yards and 6,551 all-purpose yards. However, in actuality, all of it existed, and Bush stays one of many nice school soccer gamers of all time. He loved a stable NFL profession as an All-Pro and Super Bowl champion and stays a preferred media determine.

Only one Trojan has gained the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s prime large receiver. It’s Marqise Lee. It got here through the 2012 season when he set college data with 118 receptions and 1,721 receiving yards. USC’s all-time chief with 3,655 receiving yards and second in receptions (248) whereas additionally recording 29 profession touchdowns, Lee was a unanimous All-American. He was the Pac-12 Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2011.