USC Trojans

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1. USC Trojans Last season: 10-2 (7-2 Pac-12 South)





PLAYING FOR THE PRESENT
In front of a Christmas tree last December, QB Matt Barkley announced he would forgo a likely first-round spot in the NFL draft to return for his senior season. Talk about a gift -- and he might just give another to the Trojans before he leaves. A major selling point for Barkley was a shot at a BCS title following a two-season bowl ban. A front-runner's shot at the Heisman didn't hurt either. Need two more reasons? Top returning WRs Robert Woods, who had a Pac-12-best 15 TD receptions and a league-record 111 catches, and Marqise Lee, who led Pac-12 freshmen with 11 receiving TDs. Barkley (9,054 career yards) should walk away as USC's leading passer too, eclipsing Carson Palmer (11,818 career yards). The only glaring weakness for our No. 1 team is pass defense. While SC was staunch against the run (18th in the FBS), the four starters returning in the secondary, including senior FS T.J. McDonald and junior CB Nickell Robey (a combined 5 INTs), must bolster a D that ranked 102nd against the pass. After all, the Trojans have to survive the air-it-out Pac-12 if they want to take on the SEC.



KC JOYNER'S KICK-STARTER Senior RB Curtis McNeal: The Trojans' air attack (294 ypg, 15th in the FBS) was certainly worth gawking at in 2011, but so was McNeal, whose 6.9 ypc (145 carries, 1,005 yards) was the 10th-highest total among the 199 players with at least 100 attempts. Even with Penn State transfer Silas Redd poaching carries, McNeal should approach 200 totes, and the return of four starters along the O-line portends that he'll finish well beyond 1,000 yards.