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How important are five-star recruits? (part three)
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CLASS OF 2007
Joe McKnight -- A Louisiana native, McKnight surprised recruiting experts around the country when he signed with USC instead of LSU or another SEC school. Dubbed the next Reggie Bush before he even stepped on campus, he has struggled to live up to that comparison, fighting through injuries and a propensity to fumble the football during his first two years as a Trojan. He has shown flashes of brilliance, however, particularly in the 2008 Rose Bowl against Illinois, and with two years of eligibility remaining, he can still live up to his lofty advanced billing.
Everson Griffen -- Griffen was USC's most highly-touted defensive recruit since Shaun Cody, with some analysts saying he was ready to play in the NFL as a high school senior. When he arrived on campus, however, he didn't exactly impress, clashing with fellow defensive end Kyle Moore off the field and struggling to stop the run on it. He lost his starting spot in 2008 to former walk-on Clay Matthews, but should regain it next season now that Matthews is off to the NFL.
Chris Galippo -- Galippo played in three games as a freshman before injuring his back and missing the rest of the season, which allowed him to apply for a medical redshirt. In 2008, he backed up middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, making 12 tackles in ten games and returning an interception for 50 yards. Galippo is expected to take over as the starter next season, giving him plenty of chances to show the skills that made him such a highly sought after recruit.
Ronald Johnson -- A native of Muskegon, Michigan, Johnson surprised many by committing to USC in 2007. So far, he's had a solid career, utilizing his speed in returning kickoffs and at wide receiver. In 2008, he was Sanchez's favorite target on deep throws, averaging 17.3 yards per catch and hauling in eight touchdowns, the longest of which went for 63 yards. With Turner gone, Johnson should get even more opportunities next season and goes into training camp as the Trojans' second-best receiver behind Damian Williams.
Kristofer O'Dowd -- O'Dowd started at center as a true freshman before getting injured halfway through the season. He returned to lead the offensive line as a sophomore and earned first team all-Pac-10 honors despite playing much of the year with an injured shoulder. He's expected to continue to anchor the offensive line for the next two seasons and is considered a solid pro prospect.
Marc Tyler -- Tyler broke his leg during his senior season at Oaks Christian and redshirted his first year at USC to allow him to fully recuperate from that injury. As a redshirt freshman, he had 36 carries for 201 yards and a touchdown in limited action, but he should see more playing time as he continues to fight his way up the depth chart.
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