From LATimes.com:
"Shareece didn't get it done," Coach Pete Carroll said in a statement. "He didn't get the GPA he needed to get."
Wright, a redshirt junior, sat out last season with a neck injury. He had been projected as a starter. That job will now go to Josh Pinkard, who will move over from safety.
Very disappointing news. Shareece, who sat out most of last season with a neck injury, was poised to have a big season. He's been our best overall corner (perfect compliment to Kevin Thomas who's more of a straight cover corner) in his ability to play tough in bump-and-run and make plays in the flats.
Shareece's academic troubles go as far back as his days at Colton HS. During his recruitment, the coaches slow played his offer because there were questions about whether he would qualify academically. Disappointing to see his academic troubles resurrect in what many expected to be his breakout year.
If there is a silver lining here, Shareece will likely (although it's no lock) come back for his final year at SC. It would make sense since his stock will inevitably drop and the questions of whether his neck injury can withstand a season of football will linger.
From a depth standpoint, thankfully, the defensive backfield is the deepest squad on the team; an area where we go a legit 3-deep. The starting line-up will be Kevin Thomas who'll remain the main cover guy, Josh Pinkard will move to the opposite CB spot from FS, Will Harris will play SS, and Taylor Mays will move back to his original position at FS.
In reserves, you got T.J. Bryant who can step into the starting spot immediately, Marshall Jones and Brian Baucham who are also game-ready, and the freshmen duo of Torin Harris and Byron Moore Jr. who exceeded all expectations during Fall camp.
This group is still tops in the Pac-10, but nationally, you have to give the full nod to Florida now with Janoris and Joe Haden as better cover guys and Will Hill and Major Wright as equally impressive as a group compared to Taylor and Will.
From MiamiHerald.com:
Telfort, 17, has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that affects one in 500 people and hardens cardiac muscles, restricting blood flow.
"He was actually very lucky,'' said Dr. Steven Lipshultz, chairman of the pediatric department at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine and the principal investigator for the National Cardiomyopathy Registry. ``The routine physicals you get in high school do not identify all athletes or children who are at risk. . . . He didn't just develop this -- it is something that has been there.''
Been too busy to comment on this unfortunate news. I really feel for Frankie considering he was a model recruit with exceptional talent on the field and excellent grades in the classroom. Anyone who read my blog back on National Signing Day knows how high I was on Frankie:
With that said, I'm going to go against the grain and trust my gut in choosing Frankie Telfort as the biggest potential gain. Lot of recruiting analysts criticize him for being undersized, but the movement of weakside LBs seems to be heading towards the even smaller and faster. And the discussion is likely moot considering SC will probably move him to SS.
Frankie is my favorite recruit in this class. He's smart on and off the field, comes from the same school that produced Sean Taylor, has exceptional closing speed, and hits like a MLB.
I wish him the best in pursuing his academic dreams of becoming med student and eventual doctor.
Linebacker Depth
As for where it leaves us in terms of depth at the linebacking position, with Luthur Brown also in academic trouble, there is reason to be a bit nervous, but I have full faith in Uona Kaveinga, who looked promising last year, and Jordan Campbell to provide depth. The coaches can also shift a guy like Will Harris to play a hybrid role or even bring Taylor up to the line and transfer the onus to our excellent secondary.
You also got incoming guys like T.J. McDonald and Jarvis Jones that can definitely step in and play minutes. We should be fine barring any injuries between now and the start of the season.
From FoxSports.com:
4. Rey Maualuga, LB USC
The Skinny: In a strange way, Maualuga might have been the top linebacker taken in the 2008 draft, but he might have been the least ready of all the top prospects. He can move, hit and, well, he can really, really hit. He's a top inside defender to potentially build a defense around.
12. Brian Cushing, LB USC
The Skinny: Injuries kept him from having a huge 2007, but with his all-around game and his potential to be effective in any scheme at any outside position, he's a lock to be a top 30 pick. He won't have the "wow" factor of Maualuga or Laurinaitis, but the NFL scouts will love him.
13. Taylor Mays, S USC (Jr.)
The Skinny: At 6-4 and 225 pounds, Mays hits like a linebacker and is as fast as any Trojan. He's been a playmaker from Day 1, especially against the run, and now he has to show he can do a bit more when the ball is in the air to solidify a spot in the top 20.
The #1 player on the list really makes it hard for me to take this ranking seriously. I can see Mark Sanchez in the top 32 by the end of the year. Yup, I'm still high on Mark.
From LATimes.com:
USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, the Pacific 10 Conference's defensive player of the year, was selected to the 2007 AP All-America team, which was released this afternoon.
...The second team included USC's Fred Davis at tight end and Sam Baker at tackle on the offense and end Lawrence Jackson on defense.
Trojans safety Taylor Mays was selected to the third-team defense. Also on the third team was California receiver/return specialist DeSean Jackson, a former Long Beach Poly High standout who was chosen as an all-purpose player, and Oregon defensive end Nick Reed, who played at Mission Viejo High.
Congrats to Big Sed and the rest of the Trojans.
