Just want to let you all know that there soon will be a uscconquest podcast available on iTunes. I’ll keep you posted as to when it’s up.

So, a couple notes during this slow news period of the year for USC football:
- Clay Matthews stock has significantly risen thanks to the combine, where he posted great numbers, placing in the top five of most workouts, especially in speed/agility drills. Some analysts now have him going above Brian Cushing in the draft.
- Meanwhile, Rey Maualuga’s stock has dropped due to a hamstring injury suffered at the beginning of the combine. He must perform well during pro day or he may drop even lower in the first round. However, he will stay in the first round no matter what. It would be a complete shock to see Rey go in the second round.
- Placekicker David Buehler rocked the Bench press portion of the combine (25 reps), out lifting most of the offensive linemen at the workout. Not very pertinent, but a fun fact.
- Lastly, USC Alum Matt Cassel is primed to be the starter at Kansas City now that he has been traded from the Patriots. Along with Carson Palmer, and perhaps Mark Sanchez and Matt Leinart, could be one of anywhere from 2-4 NFL starters hailing from SoCal.
- Analysts expect the Patriots to fill the USC gap left by Cassel with a linebacker. Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have wavered between who they think the Pats will get (Cushing or Matthews), but both of them have New England taking a USC LB. Of course, the Patriots have never drafted as predicted, so we will see.

Supposedly, as I mentioned in my last post, very reliable sources had him committing to USC after a competition between the Trojans and UCLA. Now, he’s in South Bend. Go figure.

When signing day hits tomorrow, expect a commitment to USC from No.2 high school player LB Manti Te’o. Sources close to the dealings (who have asked to remain anonymous) have confirmed that Te’o will commit to USC tomorrow. With Matt Barkley already committed and enrolled at USC, the Trojans will now have the top two high school players of the 2009 class.

Apparently, Pete Carroll is now beginning his recruiting visits on USC in grand style. Several times, I have walked by the brand new USC Cinema Building (which is beautiful, by the way) and seen Pete Carroll on a rolled-out red carpet with his recruits and their families. This is one element of a USC visit that I doubt rival schools will be able to mimic.

In Senior Bowl practice, USC Linebackers are consistently raising their stock. Rey Maualuga manhandled Clemson’s RB James Davis in one-on-one drills, but it is Brian Cushing who is turning heads. Showing great understanding, instincts, and an excellent ability in blitzing from the outside, Cushing is showing his versatility and ability to potentially adapt to a 3-4 system.

Well, unless Mark Sanchez has a sudden change of heart (and hasn’t already contacted an agent), USC must move forward and start preparing for a major battle for the Quarterback position.

The race will supposedly be between backups Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp. Mustain played some light minutes for the Trojans this season, often getting pulled after throwing an interception. Aaron Corp threw 4 pass attempts all year, in the first two games of the season, before moving down the depth chart below Mustain.

Mustain will be a senior, and therefore most deserving. However, his performance this season was less than stellar. Some 1st team practice experience, in addition to significant game time, could perhaps clean that up.

However, Mustain will still lack the experience that Sanchez stepped into 2008 with. Sanchez was 2-1 in the 2007 season, throwing over 100 pass attempts for 69 completions and nearly 700 yards. He had a passer rating of 123.22.

In comparison, Mustain threw 16 pass attempts for 157 yards, 2 touchdowns (one of which accounted for 59 of his yards), and 2 interceptions. This is hardly the gametime experience that USC would want from a Senior Starter. He will have to develop as the season progresses, which does not look good for hopes of an undefeated season.

Corp will be a sophomore this year, and thus spending gametime developing can be excused as preparation for the long run.

But if Pete Carroll is truly thinking ahead, he will put in the #1 High School Quarterback of the last two years, Matt Barkley. As ESPN.com’s Ted Miller notes in his blog, Carroll generally chooses experience over talent, even if that experience is only in practice. Mustain could win over Barkley simply by knowing the system better.

Barkley has an advantage, though. Not only is he the most talented high school quarterback in recent years, with prototypical size and a rocket arm. He is also a true pocket quarterback.

Throw all that talent aside, and you still have the fact that Barkley is already on the University Park Campus. Yes, Matt Barkley graduated early from high school, and is on campus. What wonders could Carroll work with an extra semester to teach Barkley the playbook, and get him started on conditioning?

That answer I will leave to the future, but the possibilities (USC’s first 4 year QB in a long time) are quite enticing…

The media says Mark Sanchez is leaning towards the NFL, but Sanchez’ father Nick claims that the Trojan QB is still undecided. Apparently, he was waiting for coach Pete Carroll before making a decision. Also, Nick Sanchez admitted that his family strongly encourages Mark to stay in school. Tomorrow morning is the deadline for NFL Draft declarations, so we shall see.

For more, here is the source of my information: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/news/story?id=3833465 .

Pete Carroll announced yesterday that top NFL prospect Taylor Mays will not be entering the NFL Draft, as reported by the The Daily Breeze.

Also returning are draft eligible halfback CJ Gable and cornerback Josh Pinkard. Still no news on Mark Sanchez.

However, Mays’ return will definitely impact Sanchez’ decision. With Mays still on the team, the Trojans’ defense retains an All-American Safety on a defense that will definitely need his leadership, as he will be the only returning starter.

With Mays’ integral talent and leadership returning to the defensive side of the ball, Sanchez will hopefully jump at the chance to steer his offense towards a National Championship.

Where only one player (Mays) is returning on the defense, only one player (WR Patrick Turner) is leaving the offense. If Sanchez returns, the Cardinal and Gold offensive attack will flourish, and possibly reach the level of the Leinart-Bush days.

Sanchez is still expected to return, despite the national hype surrounding his Rose Bowl performance.

However, Taylor Mays was expected to leave, showing that anything is still possible.

Suddenly there is great national hype surrounding Mark Sanchez. ESPN has him going in the first round, along with the Sam Bradfords and Graham Harrells of the world.

Why now? Throughout the season, Sanchez has been attacked as a poor decision maker with average accuracy.

Of course, the media also attacked the Pac-10 as a weak conference with a weak schedule.

However, the critics were right throughout the regular season. Mark Sanchez does not have the greatest accuracy–not yet at least. One more year of experience and practice would make Sanchez a much better quarterback, and a solid first round draft choice.

If Sanchez decides to enter the draft, he would not be making the smartest decision. Playing all year with a knee brace, Sanchez was not able to show America what he is capable of.

He took off the knee brace for the Rose Bowl and improved dramatically. If Sanchez can stay healthy (and at USC) next year, expect a spectacular season as he guides an offense that will have lost only one player.

Also, Sanchez is one year away from his college degree. Sure, he will be a professional football player making millions of dollars. Yet when a player such as Emmitt Smith goes back to school during his professional career to earn a degree, the importance of education becomes obvious to even the best of athletes–or at least it should.

With another year of experience, a near-guaranteed better statistical season, and a college degree, Mark Sanchez would greatly benefit from staying for his senior year.

And if that doesn’t lure him, maybe a potential championship bid will.

I’ll get an extensive post-Rose Bowl review up later when I’m off vacation, but here’s a few interesting facts to think about:

• Pac-10 is 5-0 in bowl games. Looks like USC didn’t have such an easy in-conference schedule after all
• USC is 21 for their last 22 in out of conference play with their win over Penn State - Another top Big 12 team is about to lose a bowl game (Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss). A supposed BCS championship contender losing to a middle of the pack SEC team, after Oklahoma State lost to Oregon. The Big 12 is looking much weaker than the pundits thought.
• Although the Pac-10 has gone undefeated, I will admit that the SEC has performed admirably so far. I expect Florida to win, so I put the fate of the SEC in Alabama’s hands. If Alabama can manage to win, I will claim them the best conference in the country.
• In case you didn’t notice, USC creamed another top 10 team in a bowl game. The score was at one point 31-7. Critics, give these guys the championship bid that you claim they deserve after every Rose Bowl, only to take that claim back the next season.