Eleven USC football players find NFL opportunities

Three former USC players were drafted and eight more were signed to free agent contracts earlier this month as one of the most exciting and unpredictable NFL Drafts in recent memory unfolded at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

As expected, wide receiver Marqise Lee became the first USC player selected in the 2014 class when the Jacksonville Jaguars made him the 39th overall pick. Lee, who won the Biletnikoff Award after a record-breaking sophomore campaign, was seen as a surefire first round selection going into 2013. Instead, an injury-plagued and relatively unproductive season forced him into the second round. Going into this year’s draft, many still predicted Lee would land in the first round, rating him among the top four prospects at his position. Instead, five receivers were drafted ahead of him, including Sammy Watkins of Clemson and Brandin Cooks of Oregon State. Still, the Inglewood, Calif. native joins a team focused on retooling its offense, specifically through the air. The Jaguars shocked the world by drafting Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles with the third overall pick, just two months after trading their previous franchise signal caller Blaine Gabbert.

For the Trojan faithful, the first two rounds of this year’s draft were eerily familiar. Both 2013 and 2014 saw former USC standouts slip out of the first round after disappointing play in their final collegiate seasons. Even more interestingly, both saw dynamic Trojan receivers selected at “bargain” values early in the second round. Last year, Robert Woods went to the Buffalo Bills with the 41st pick, a selection that many considered a steal after his excellent rookie season. It remains to be seen whether Lee can once again follow the model of his former teammate.

Lee and center Marcus Martin were invited to sit beside the stage at Radio City, where both anxiously waited for commissioner Roger Goodell to call their names. For Martin the wait would last into the third round, when he was finally selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 70th overall pick. It was certainly not all bad news for Martin, who joins a team that has appeared in the NFC Championship game three years running. The Los Angeles native, who started each of his three seasons at USC and was named a Freshman All-American by the Sporting News in 2011, will have to fight for playing time on an experienced San Francisco offensive line.

The Trojans’ remaining selection was linebacker Devon Kennard, who landed with the New York Giants in the fifth round. Kennard was a versatile defender who also saw time at defensive end, allowing him to play significant amounts in each of his three seasons at USC. After a chest injury allowed him a medical redshirt in 2012, Kennard settled at outside linebacker last season and led his team with 13.5 tackles per loss.

Many other NFL hopefuls on the Trojans’ 2013 roster will still get an opportunity to continue at the next level. Defensive end Morgan Breslin, who missed the end of last season due to injury, will join Martin in San Francisco on a free agent contract. Kennard’s Giants added tight end Xavier Grimble, whose draft stock plummeted after a poor performance at USC’s Pro Day. Also headed to the NFC East are offensive tackle Kevin Graf, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, and running back Silas Redd. The Penn State transfer will return to the Beltway after joining the Washington Redskins. Defensive tackle George Uko signed with the New Orleans Saints, while safety Demetrius Wright is headed to the Miami Dolphins.

Former Trojan head coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks offered contracts to safety Dion Bailey and guard John Martinez. In all, five of the 11 USC players headed to the next level will be playing for former Pac-12 head coaches: two to Carroll, two to Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco, and another to Chip Kelly in Philadelphia.