HBO Hard Knocks: Season Three Cincinnati Bengals

The third season of the HBO show Hard Knocks will feature the Cincinnati Bengals.  For Trojan fans this will be a great year.  The show should feature a number of former USC players, including Rey Maualuga, Carson Palmer, Keith Rivers, and Fostee Rucker.

yojoe Fight On!

USC Football: 2009 NFL Draft Results

The Men of Troy faired very well in the 2009 NFL draft.  As expected, four Trojan linebackers were chosen.  What was not expected, by some, is the order with Rey Maualuga going behind both Cushing and Mathews.  This may be more of a reflection of the NFL’s move away from inside linebackers rather than Maualuga’s skill level. 

This is the list of USC players drafted this year:

• Mark Sanchez – New York Jets, Round 1, No. 5 overall
• Brian Cushing -Houston Texans, Round 1, No. 15 overall
• Clay Matthews – Green Bay Packers, Round 1, No. 26 overall
• Rey Maualuga – Cincinnati Bengals, Round 2, No. 38 overall
• Fili Moala – Indianapolis Colts, Round 2, No. 56 overall
• Patrick Turner – Miami Dolphins, Round 3, No. 87 overall
• Kaluka Maiava – Cleveland Browns, Round 4, No. 104 overall
• Kyle Moore – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 4, No. 117 overall
• David Buehler – Dallas Cowboys, Round 5, No. 172 overall
• Cary Harris – Buffalo Bills, Round 6, No. 183 overall
• Kevin Ellison – San Diego Chargers, Round 6, No. 189 overall

Not a bad showing for USC.

yojoe Fight On!

Rey Maualuga Top Inside Linebacker In 2009 NFL Draft

According to Mike Mayock of NFL Network, former Trojan Rey Maualuga is the top inside linebacker prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft.

yojoe Fight On!

USC Pro Day: Rey Maualuga 40 Time

College Football’s Scariest Defender, USC Trojan Rey Maualuga ran a great 40, despite a nagging hamstring injury.  At USC’s Pro Day Maualuga turned in a 40 time in the low 4.6 range.

Here are some other impressive 40 times clocked by Trojans, including a 4.60 by LB Clay Matthews.

yojoe Fight On!

The Rose Bowl: USC And Penn State Preview, Predictions, And Odds

The 2009 Rose Bowl features the Trojans of USC against the Nittany Lions of Penn State.  Both teams come in with a record of 11-1, SC having lost to Oregon State and Penn St losing to Iowa.  The Men of Troy are representing the Pac-10 and the Nittany Lions are representing the Big Ten.  Both teams are among the top ten college football programs of all time.

The Trojans may have the best defense of all time, but Penn State feels they have something to say about that.

Notes and news on the game:

• USC fullback Stanley Havili is academically ineligible, so D.J. Shoemate will get the start.
• Pete Carroll promises not to fight JoPa.
• Damian Williams and Stafon Johnson are both 100 percent.
• Aaron Corp has moved ahead of Mitch Mustain to be the number 2 quarterback for SC.
• Tight end Blake Ayles will not play because of a knee injury.  
• Safety Kevin Ellison will not play because of a knee injury. 
• The legend Joe Paterno shows why he epitomizes the old-school coach (must-see picture of his shoes)
• JoPa will be coaching from the press box.
• Both schools claim to be Linebacker U.
• Brian Cushing explains why he chose USC over Penn State.
• Rey Maualuga predicts the game will be very close and come down to the 4th quarter. 
• Penn State talks some old-school trash. 
• bodog has USC favored by 10.

Prediction:  USC – 21  Penn State – 13

In the Bowl Challenge Cup the Pac-10 is doing better than the Big Ten.

USC Football: Rey Maualuga Update, MVP, Bednarik, All-American

Apparently College Football’s Scariest Defender, Rey Maualuga, has a softer side.  According to reports, the Trojan linebacker is going to already going to miss his time at USC.

“It’s my last week next week. It’s going to be hard. Emotions are going to come out. I’m just going to give it everything I’ve got and make sure I don’t have any regrets when I leave here.”

There is little more that SC fans could ask from Maualuga.

Maualuga had received the following accolades:

• First Team AP All-American
• MVP USC 2008 team
• Pac-10 Defensive MVP
• Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s best player on defense

Wishing the best to Rey and his family this holiday season, and for a long and prosperous career in the NFL.

yojoe Fight On!

USC Football: Cushing And Maualuga Semifinalists for Lombardi Award

Trojans Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga were among the 12 semifinalists announced for the Lombardi Award.  The Lombardi Award goes annually to the college football lineman — offense or defense — who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi.

Here is a list of all of the semifinalists:

Brian Cushing, Linebacker, University of Southern California Auston English, Defensive End, University of Oklahoma James Laurinaitis, Linebacker, The Ohio State University Alex Mack, Offensive Lineman, University of California Rey Maualuga, Linebacker, University of Southern California

USC Football: Maualuga To Start Against Arizona State

The Scariest Defender in college football, Trojan middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, has recovered from the sprained right knee he suffered during USC‘s loss to Oregon State.  According to Coach Carroll, Maualuga is “full go.”

With Maualuga returning, Brian Cushing will return to strongside linebacker.

The Men of Troy take on Arizona State at 3:30 pm on 11OCT08 at the Coliseum.

yojoe Fight On!

USC Football: Linebacker Update Cushing And Galippo In, Maualuga Out

Going into the Oregon game, on 4OCT08, USC will be without linebacker Rey Maualuga.  College Football’s Scariest Defender is still suffering from the knee injury he suffered during the Oregon State game.

Chris Galippo, from Servite, has recovered from his second back surgery, and is expected to start at middle linebacker for the Trojans.

Brian Cushing is still wearing a cast on his right hand, from a broken bone suffered in the Oregon State game.  But, he will have the cast removed before game time and will start for the Men of Troy.

yojoe Fight On!

H/T: OC Register USC Blog

USC Football: Chris Galippo To Start At Linebacker

Pete Carroll has stated that Trojan Chris Galippo will start if Ray Maualuga has not recoveredfrom the injury he suffered during the Oregon State game.

yojoe Fight On!

H/T: inside USC

USC Football: Sports Illustrated Cover

Three Trojans grace the cover of Sports Illustrated: Brian Cushing, Mark Sanchez, and Rey Maualuga.

yojoe Fight On!

USC Football: Rey Maualuga Discusses Decision To Return For Senior Year

Senior linebacker,  and college football’s scariest defender, Rey Maualuga discusses his decision to forgo the NFL and play another year at USC,

How’s the summer going?

“It’s going good, we’re finishing our summer workouts strong, like usual. We’re inching down to the final days of summer workouts and summer school. Just getting ready for that last hump and the start of (fall) camp.”

Are you happy with your decision to return for your senior year?

“I don’t want to make a mistake in coming back. And I don’t want to be the same person as I was last year. I’m hoping to come back and learn from the best – the coaches, and compete with the best guys.”

What’s your goal in terms of not being the same person as last year?

“Just coming out here and working hard. You know, I look up to guys like Thomas Williams, Keith Rivers, Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson, and how hard they worked.”

USC Football: 20 Questions With Rey Maualuga

Did you ever wonder who is the favorite athlete of college football’s scariest defender, USC Trojan Ray Maualuga? SC Playbook has the answer to this and much more:

Favorite Professional Sports Team: I don’t really follow any sports teams, but I like to watch the New England Patriots and their success.

Favorite Athlete: Troy Polamalu

Favorite Music Artist/Group: I really like KC and JoJo.

Person You Admire Most: My mother.

Hobbies: It might sound weird but I like to go fishing.

USC Football: 2008 USC Football Schedule Wallpaper

Download the Trojan’s 2008 football schedule as wallpaper for your computer.  It features Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Kevin Ellison, and Patrick Turner.  If this is any indication, the defense will be the centerpiece of the Men of Troy this season.

yojoe Fight On!

Ping: Boi From Troy.

USC Football: Brian Cushing Makes Cover Of Phil Steel’s 2008 College Football Preview

College-football season is just around the corner. To whet your appetite, on 10 June 2008 the ultimate college-football magazine hits the news stand: Phil Steel’s 2008 College Football Preview. Go to PhilSteel.com for a preview. With the vast amount of statistics, analysis, and predictions in this magazine you will be lucky to finish it before the Big 12 championship game. That being said, what could be better than reading about the third string tackle for Bowling Green? This is a great time of year!

Two Trojans have made the cover of Steel’s magazine: Brian Cushing on the national edition and Taylor Mays on the PAC 10 edition.

It is good to see Cush getting some attention, with all the praise of late for Rey Maualuga. Not that Maualuga does not rate the accolades, he undoubtably does. He was the 2008 Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Game. But, Cush was also the Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Game in 2007. Cush did have an injury that kept him out for a number of games in 2007, which may account for some of the spotlight being off him.

What a great problem to have for Trojan fans: arguing about which of our outstanding linebackers should receive more praise. It is no wounder Coach Carroll predicts USC will Win Forever.

yojoe Fight On!

Bonus Video: Cushing returns kickoff for touchdown against Notre Dame:

USC Trojan Rey Maualuga: College Football’s Scariest Defender

How could anyone describe this lovable little fuzz ball the scariest defender in college football?

Rivals.com has. Rivals ranked the top ten scariest defenders and USC Trojan, #58 Ray Maualuga came out on top.

If you think this is not the case just ask Patrick Cowen, Justin Forsett, or Juice Williams. Or, you can watch the videos of Maualuga putting the wood to these guys and decide for yourself.

yojoe Fight On!

Videos: