Franchise LT Matt Kalil will be on display against the Cal Bears on Saturday
USC is loaded with some of the top prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft. Cal features some quality seniors and a sophomore WR, Keenan Allen that is one to watch for 2013.
USC is top heavy with junior talent including top 10 prospects, Matt Kalil and Matt Barkley. The Golden Bears of Cal feature some interesting prospects that can be had on late day two or day three of the draft. Trevor Guyton, Marvin Jones, Mitchell Schwartz, Sean Cattouse, and D.J. Holt are all second/third day prospects. Trevor Guyton is the most interesting of the bunch as he has NFL five-technique written all over him.
Guys to keep an eye on:
Matt Kalil, OT, USC #75 (Junior)
Matt Kalil is a top five prospects that has dominated competition since stepping foot on the USC campus. He is NFL-ready and a day one starter in the league, much like his brother Ryan Kalil. Kalil will face the 3-4 look of the Cal Bears which will allow him to show off quickness and excellent hands on edge rushing linebackers, a look he’ll get use to in the NFL.
Matt Barkley, QB, USC #7 (Junior)
Barkley has been a little inconsistent in 2011 despite throwing at a high completion rate. My concerns with Barkley are that he has a tendency to struggle against good defenses and obliterate bad ones. His poor play against ASU was the difference in an important game. I like the intangibles Barkley brings and his ceiling is still relatively high and plenty of room to get better. A better overall prospect than Mark Sanchez was coming out of college which should equate to a spot in the top 5-10.
T.J. McDonald, S, USC #7 (Junior)
T.J. McDonald is our number one safety and for good reason. He’s a vicious hitter that can also make plays in centerfield. He gathered his first two INT’s against Arizona two weeks ago and was all over the field in a losing effort against ASU. McDonald has the size (6’3” 205), speed, and tenacity to be a big time safety in the NFL.
Nick Perry, OLB, USC #8 (Junior)
Nick Perry is a little inconsistent for my liking but there are no doubts about his talent. The junior DE will likely convert to a rush linebacker in the NFL because of his size and athleticism. He has been known for his ability to get after the QB at SC (9 sacks in 2009, 4 in 2010, and 3 in 2011). He will need to put consistent pressure on Cal and force mistakes.
Trevor Guyton, DE, Cal #92
Guyton is a prototypical five-technique that could be someone that rises up draft boards late. He has 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 5 games but is a force against the run. Guyton will have to shut down running lanes and push the Barkley off his spot if Cal wants to stay in this game. This game will be huge in determining whether Guyton could be a day two pick. As of now, he is likely in the 4-5 round range for a team in need of a 3-4 DE
Marvin Jones, WR, Cal #1
Marvin Jones has good size but lacks breakaway speed. He has taken a backseat to sophomore phenom Keenan Allen but still has potential in the NFL. He has 29 catches for 441 yards and 3 TD’s in five games thus far. Jones should see plenty of targets with teams looking to stop Allen the rest of the way out.
