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USC Leads the Way With 12 Invitees to NFL Combine

Here's the list of invitees:

Mark Sanchez - QB
Brian Cushing - OLB
Rey Maualuga - ILB/MLB
Clay Matthews Jr. - WDE/OLB
Kevin Ellison - SS
Cary Harris - CB
Kaluka Maiava - OLB
Fili Moala - DT
Kyle Moore - DE
Josh Pinkard - CB/FS
Patrick Turner - WR
David Buehler - Kicker

The list above is just ridiculous.  Every player on there (minus David Buehler) has a shot at being a 1st day pick.  Digging deeper, you have 5 potential 1st rounders in Mark, Cush, Rey, Clay, and Fili plus three legitimate sleeper picks in Kevin Ellison, Kaluka Maiava, and Cary Harris.  Both PT and Kyle Moore can be solid contributors if placed in the right situations; Kyle was actually a surprise performer at the Senior Bowl.

As for Josh Pinkard, he's made his intentions clear that he'll return for his 6th year if he is granted eligilibity by the NCAA.  If Josh comes back, he'll likely start in the FS role alongside Taylor Mays who is looking to play closer to the line.  In Nickle packages, we'd see Josh slide over and Will Harris step in.  Considering Josh was once one of our more talented players on defense, he can definitely boost his draft stock with a solid injury-free season.

Senior Bowl Notes

From SportingNews.com:

Best first impression: LB Brian Cushing, an All-American from Southern Cal, showed up to the weigh-in cutting an imposing 6-3, 243-pound frame. However, he failed to impress in the same manner at practice.

Strongest man: DT Fili Moala, a 6-4 and 303-pounder from Southern Cal, stood out from the rest with his strength, at one point scooping up an offensive lineman and tossing him aside in a pass-rush drill.

Best catch: After struggling for much of the afternoon, WR Patrick Turner of Southern Cal laid out to haul in a badly overthrown pass.

Based on reports I've read, Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing's stock are rising; Rey has struggled in individual drills.  Fili seems to be a player that has something to prove during this week.  The knock on him is consistency and discipline.  He's a 1st day lock, but ranging anywhere between late 1st-mid 3rd.

One non-SC player that is getting a lot of praise is Alphonso Smith, the CB out of Wake Forest.  In almost every game I watched him in this past season, he flat out dominated.  Very good looking player that doesn't get enough credit. 

Fili Moala Arrested After Bar Fight

From OCRegister.com:

USC defensive tackle Fili Moala was arrested early Sunday morning for resisting and obstructing an officer after a melee at a Newport Beach bar was broken up by police. Moala posted $500 bail Sunday morning.

The fight broke out at 3950 Campus Road in Newport Beach in the parking lot of Hoagie Barmichaels bar. Officers from the Newport Beach and Irvine police as well as the Orange County sheriffs department arrived and ordered everyone in the vicinity on the ground.

Moala (Western High) initially cooperated, according to Newport Beach Sgt. Evan Sailor, but then got up and ran into the bar. An officer followed and arrested Moala, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds.

The fight was between John Vuki, 19 of Buena Park, who was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, and a 17-year old from Long Beach, who was arrested for battery. Sailor said one of the men swung a bat at the other.

"(Moala) was not part of the fight at all, but police were dealing with mass bedlam and when a guy gets up and runs away it doesn't help things," Sailor said.

It's unclear whether Moala would be charged. As of Friday afternoon, no charges had been filed with the Orange County District's Attorney office.

It's that time of year again.  Why would Fili get up and run back into the bar?  This isn't the first time Fili has been involved in a bizarre arrest.   

Arrested Man Identifies Himself as Fili Moala

From LATimes.com:

On Monday, after comparing a mugshot to Moala's roster photo and confirming fingerprint identification, police said the Trojans player was not the man who had been taken into custody early Sunday and released about six hours later with no charges pending after a "standard detoxification."

Moala said after practice that he didn't recognize the man in the mugshot, which was obtained by USC coaches. He also said he had neither lost nor gave out his identification.

"I don't know why someone would do that," Moala said. "I just know I don't want anything to be on my record."

Bizarre story.