Category: Trojans in NFL

Trojans in the NFL: Everson Griffen signs with Cowboys

Longtime Minnesota Vikings defensive end and former USC Trojan Everson Griffen is set to sign a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

Former USC Trojans defensive end Everson Griffen likely did not expect to still be without a home in mid-August, but the star pass rusher and four-time Pro Bowler finally inked a one-year deal to play for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.

His contract is reportedly for one-year and $6 million dollars, with $3 million as a base salary and up to $3 million more in roster bonuses.

Griffen hit free agency this March after spending the last decade with the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft after an accomplished career at USC.

Griffen, who has made the Pro Bowl in four of the last five seasons, was not linked to Dallas publicly all that often, with most believing he would end up reunited with coach Pete Carroll in Seattle with the Seahawks.

Instead, the 32-year-old will help solidify an already solid defensive unit in Dallas, a team that is hoping to make waves in the NFC East before they have to pay Dak Prescott in free agency.

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Trojans in the NFL: Buccaneers waive RB Aca’Cedric Ware

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers removed running back Aca’Cedric Ware from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and immediately waived him.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated former USC Trojans running back Aca’Cedric Ware from the reserve/COVID-19 list and promptly waived him on Thursday.

Because Ware was medically cleared before getting waived, he will be free to sign with another team immediately.

After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Ware signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. He spent the preseason competing for a backup running back role, before getting cut in early September and catching on with the Buccaneers, where he spent the rest of the campaign on their practice squad.

After signing a reserve/futures contract in January, Ware will now be forced to look elsewhere for a new job – a daunting task for any undrafted free agent, but particularly tricky in light of the COVID-19 situation, which may disadvantage younger, inexperienced players because they will not have preseason games to show off their skills against other opponents.

Ware was at USC from 2015-2018, rushing 264 times for 1,505 yards and 10 touchdowns, with most of his damage coming his senior season.

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Trojans in the NFL: John Houston waived by Steelers

Former USC Trojans linebacker John Houston was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

Former USC Trojans linebacker John Houston was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

Houston joined the team as an undrafted free agent on April 25, shortly after the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft.

However – the COVID-19 pandemic robbed him, and all other undrafted free agents, of the opportunity to show what he is capable of doing. Limited access to facilities and in-person learning of the playbook and defensive schemes for younger players has no doubt caused many coaches to lean toward veteran free agents for the final few spots on the roster, instead of going with unproven talent.

It’s a logical decision that unfortunately impacts young players like Houston, who seemed destined to carve out a role as a core special teamer while he cut his teeth on the defensive side of the ball in training camp and practices.

Houston racked up a whopping 104 combined tackles in his senior season at USC, including seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and three passes defended.

He’ll hope to catch on elsewhere as injuries necessitate a need, and if all else fails, it looks like the XFL is aiming to play again in 2021, perhaps he could start his pro career there if he chooses.

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Clay Matthews, Everson Griffen drawing interest from Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly interested in a pair of former USC Trojans; Everson Griffen and Clay Matthews.

NFL free agency opened up officially on March 18, less than a week after the COVID-19 crisis shut most of the country down. As such, the pandemic has very clearly had an impact on a handful of free agents who are still looking for employment heading into what will be a unique 2020 season.

Two of the most prominent names still on the market, outside of Jadeveon Clowney, are former USC Trojans: defensive end Everson Griffen and outside linebacker Clay Matthews.

Now, with training camp just getting underway and teams allowed to conduct in-person physicals, it looks like the long wait may be nearing an end for at least one of Griffen and Matthews – as they are each drawing interest from Clowney’s former team, the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks almost certainly won’t sign both of coach Pete Carroll’s former players, but they have been connected to each of them throughout the offseason – especially when it became clear a reunion with Clowney was unlikely.

Griffen, at least on paper, seems like a better fit for the Seahawks. He is an accomplished pass rusher off the edge, with 74.5 career sacks to his name during a 10-year career with the Minnesota Vikings. He is known to have interest in Seattle as well, but was waiting to see what would happen with Clowney – a saga that remains unresolved.

Matthews would certainly upgrade Seattle’s depleted pass rush, but his complicated history with the team and the fan base may make him a tricky addition, and the team’s plethora of outside linebacker candidates – including the recently signed Bruce Irvin – make this less of a fit as the roster is currently constructed.

Regardless, both veterans will find themselves homes before too long, and it looks very likely one of them will be in the Emerald City.

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Trojans in the NFL: Marvell Tell III will opt-out of 2020 season

Former USC Trojans cornerback Marvell Tell III, now with the Indianapolis Colts, will opt-out of the 2020 season – likely due to COVID-19.

Just three days after his 24th birthday, Indianapolis Colts defensive back Marvell Tell III informed his team he intends to opt-out of the 2020 season.

Although Tell has not released a statement, it is likely he is opting out due to concerns about his health and safety, and the health and safety of his family and loved ones, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Tell was competing for a backup role in Indianapolis’ secondary, a role he no doubt hopes he will get a chance to compete for once again in 2021.

Tell was originally a fifth round pick by the Colts in 2019. He appeared in 13 games for Indianapolis in 2019, starting one and racking up five passes defended, one forced fumble and 26 combined tackles – doing most of his work on the special teams.

Tell was a four-year contributor for the Trojans from 2015-2019, racking up 127 solo tackles, 13 passes defended, five interceptions and a touchdown.

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Jurrell Casey provides financial relief for local high school

Former USC Trojans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey is providing financial relief to Park Hill High School football players.

Former USC Trojans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey is making himself right at home in Denver, his new NFL city after getting traded from the Titans to the Broncos this offseason.

Casey, via the charity he co-founded, The Casey Fund, is providing the Park Hill Pirates with a back-to-school grant, which will cover the costs of all football registration fees, and will also provide tables and internet access to students for the upcoming school year.

“Eliminating the fees for the Park Hill Pirates’ parents is huge,” Casey said in a statement released on Twitter. “Growing up playing Pop Warner football myself, my other always had to find a way to come up with these fees – considering bills pile up quickly. Plenty of times, I almost couldn’t play, but my uncle stepped in to help. Now, it’s my chance to help and I am honored to do that.”

Casey spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Titans before joining Denver this offseason, where he will unite with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb to form an elite defensive front.

The big defensive tackle starred at USC from 2008-2010, racking up 22 tackles for loss before being selected by Tennessee in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft.

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Tyron Smith no longer considered top-5 offensive tackle in the NFL

Touchdown Wire ranked the top-11 tackles in the NFL, and former USC Trojan Tyron Smith came in at No. 7 overall.

USA TODAY’s Touchdown Wire continued their series ranking the 11 best players at every position in the NFL, and already the USC Trojans have been represented, first with slot cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, and now by offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

However, Smith may not be as high on the list as many USC fans would hope to see him, especially coming off his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl appearance in 2019 with Dallas.

Smith comes in at No. 7 on the list, not bad for an aging veteran, but hardly indicative of how good he has been in his career, and as recently as last year.

USA TODAY writer Mark Schofield explains:

Over eight years at left tackle, Smith has allowed just 19 credited sacks. That includes one in 2018 and one again in 2019. That is extremely impressive for a left tackle. He did allow 23 quarterback hurries in 2019, his most allowed since 2013, as well as 30 quarterback pressures (again his most since 2013), which sees him slide a bit in these rankings. But not too far.

While Smith’s performance may be waning (a tiny bit) he’s still among the league’s most elite pass and run blockers, and the Cowboys are more than happy sliding him in to protect Dak Prescott for the foreseeable future.

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See where Nickell Robey-Coleman ranks among NFL slot defenders

Touchdown Wire is ranking the top-11 players at each position in the NFL, and former USC Trojan DB Nickell Robey-Coleman is on the list.

With NFL training camps set to get started this week, despite the looming presence of COVID-19 all across the country, the fine folks at Touchdown Wire began ranking the top-11 players at each position.

The USC Trojans have put a handful of excellent players into the NFL, and it appears they have a few who will be labeled among the best at their position.

The first is nickel cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, who came in at No. 6 among slot cornerbacks, according to Doug Farrar.

Robey-Coleman brings excellent anticipation to his game — he can sniff out a screen and blow it up as the ball’s being thrown — and he’s also outstanding in man and match coverage with his pattern-reading and route follow-through. Robey-Coleman has played for the Rams over the last three seasons, but the Eagles picked him in free agency on an absolute steal of a deal — one year, $1.35 million. Along with Darius Slay, Robey-Coleman should do a lot to redefine Philadelphia’s secondary.

Last season, Robey-Coleman allowed 32 catches on 52 targets for 272 yards, 144 yards after catch, one touchdown, and an opponent passer rating of just 80.1.

The Eagles will certainly be more than happy with the production they get from Robey-Coleman, especially on an affordable contract. NFL contracts have not caught up with the importance of nickel corners, meaning they can be had at a bargain – particularly for teams who use their nickel sets frequently.

Robey-Coleman recorded 107 tackles and seven interceptions while at USC from 2010-2012, before joining the Bills as an undrafted free agent.

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Pair of former USC Trojans among NFL’s top-80 players

Tackle Tyron Smith and defensive end Jurrell Casey were each chosen among the 80 best players in the NFL by their peers.

The NFL is releasing their top-100 players heading into the 2020 season, as voted on by the players themselves.

So far the league has released 71-100 and a pair of former USC Trojans, defensive end Jurrell Casey and left tackle Tyron Smith, have been selected.

Smith came in at No. 78 overall, his seventh consecutive year showing up on the list, after once again proving to be an elite pass protector in 2019. Smith allowed just one sack in 13 games played last year with Dallas.

He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and was a member of the 2010’s All-Decade Team, no doubt cementing himself among the best tackles the game has ever seen, and one of the best USC Trojans to play in the NFL.

Casey came in at No. 71 overall. Entering his first season with the Broncos, Casey will look to make his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance in 2020.

He has solidified himself as one of the most reliable, dependant players at his position over the last decade, playing in 139 of a possible 144 games and racking up 51 sacks and 115 quarterback hits.

There are still 70 players to go, and a handful of other former USC stars could find themselves listed among the best of the best as the rest of the list comes out this week.

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See the bold prediction a league insider made about Sam Darnold

NFL.com writer Marc Sessler named former USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold as a potential first time Pro Bowler in 2020.

It’s not uncommon to see NFL analysts predicting a breakout season for former USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold. After all, he is entering his third season, he has a revamped offensive line and a few new weapons on offense, and he showed promise toward the end of the 2019 campaign.

However, NFL.com writer Marc Sessler took that to another level, naming Darnold as a potential Pro Bowler for the 2020 season.

Darnold’s third campaign is tremendously important in the category of public perception. We’ve seen the Jets signal-caller shine in a handful of games, but also underwhelm behind a grisly O-line. Drafting Mekhi Becton at left tackle was a coup. Better protection alone could transform Darnold’s fortunes, but will it be enough? Adam Gase was hired to mold his young passer into a burning star. Anything less could mean curtains for the embattled coach.

Darnold has steadily improved from his disppointing rookie season in 2018, and a full, healthy season with better protection up front could be what the youngster needs to take the next step and develop into a star in year three.

Whether it results in a Pro Bowl nod remains to be seen, but there is reason for optimism around Darnold in 2020.

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