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Which Trojans should go pro? [page two]
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Stafon Johnson - After appearing briefly in only three games as a freshman because of issues with inconsistent effort, Johnson showed his potential in 2007, running for 673 yards (second-most on the team) and five touchdowns. This season, as the Trojans' main tailback, he ran for 728 yards and nine TDs on 138 carries and returned 33 punts, averaging 9.2 yards a return with a long of 54 yards.
Johnson submitted a request for an evaluation from the NFL on his potential draft position, but after the Rose Bowl seemed to indicate it was a moot point.
"I got to come back here and win (a national title)", he told reporters.
Two weeks later, Johnson hasn't yet made an official announcement but said, "For the most part, I'm here. It's 95%."
But should Johnson stay? If he does, he'll be splitting carries again with McKnight and Gable, making it unlikely that he'll garner much in the way of individual awards. He will, however, be running behind a veteran offensive line (every starter returns) and should have the chance to spring more big runs as nearly all of his down-field blockers -- the receivers -- return as well.
Staying in school probably won't increase Johnson's draft stock much; he's already projected as a possible third round pick and it's hard to see him jumping up to the first round without a monster season, which he's not likely to have next year. As a running back, he only has so many seasons in his body, and staying another year at USC is another year of football that he won't be getting paid to play.
What Johnson should do: go pro
What Johnson will do: stay in school*
C.J. Gable - Gable started out his career at USC with a bang, becoming the first true freshman to start an opener at tailback, at Arkansas. He also started and led the team in rushing the final five games of the season despite splitting carries with Chauncey Washington and Emmanuel Moody.
His sophomore year, however, he played in only three games before suffering a strained abdominal muscle that led to season-ending surgery. When he returned this season, classmate Johnson and sophomore Joe McKnight had eclipsed him on the depth chart, but Gable still managed to run for 644 yards and eight touchdowns and average 5.8 yards per carry. (He also caught a pass for a touchdown.)
After Gable fumbled the football against both UCLA and Penn State in the final two games of the season, he spent the remainder of both contests on the bench, which clearly frustrated him. Following the Rose Bowl, he told reporters that next season he "might do something else," possibly transferring or declaring for the NFL Draft.
Realistically, however, Gable is unlikely to be a first-day pick, and may not even be drafted this year. If he's upset with the coaching staff and sharing playing time with Johnson and McKnight, his best bet is probably to transfer to another school where he can be the featured back. But if he stays at USC, he won't need to get every carry to catch the attention of pro scouts, and splitting carries with other backs may even boost his stock, as it saves his body from some of the pounding that running backs typically endure.
On Sunday, Gable told reporters he had decided to stay at USC. "My mom wants me to finish school and I want to finish school too," Gable said. "If I could have graduated this year I would be gone."
What Gable should do: stay in school (or transfer)
What Gable will do: stay in school
Josh Pinkard - Pinkard is a fifth-year senior who has played both safety and cornerback at USC. One of just a handful of players left from the 2004 national championship team (Pinkard recovered a fumble against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl), he started at cornerback for most of his sophomore season and moved to free safety for his junior season. Unfortunately, he tore ligaments in his right knee in the first game that year (at Arkansas), and missed the rest of the season. Then the following year he tore ligaments in his left knee and missed the entire 2007 season.
Finally healthy, Pinkard returned as a cornerback in 2008, played in all 13 games, intercepting a pass, making 39 tackles, and forcing two fumbles. He was named All Pac-10 honorable mention.
Though Pinkard played well this year and probably feels like he's been at USC forever, he could use another season to show NFL scouts that he's overcome his injuries and can play consistently at a high level.
Pinkard petitioned for a sixth year of eligibility but indicated that he would turn pro if he could ("If I get invited to the [NFL] combines, I'm leaving," he told reporters); however, he later changed his mind and decided to come back to USC for another year.
What Pinkard should do: stay in school
What Pinkard will do: stay in school
Jeff Byers - Like Pinkard, Byers was on the 2004 National Championship team and twice dealt with season-ending injuries (2005, 2006). Considered by some the top recruit in the nation when he committed to USC in 2003 (he was Gatorade National Player of the Year), Byers came in as a center but has spent most of his time as a Trojan at offensive guard, including this past season, when he earned second team all-conference honors.
Another year at USC won't hurt Byers' NFL stock, especially if he can avoid another injury, and he'll be able to complete his coursework for a graduate degree in business, which is probably why he announced before the Rose Bowl that he'll be back in 2009.
What Byers should do: stay in school
What Byers will do: stay in school
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