In my preview of the NFL Draft for USC’s players last Wednesday, I said:

…I expect it to be better for the USC players than in years when we were flying high and ending up in the top 4 at season’s end.  These players have been through the fire, have stuck it out with SC during the first year of sanctions and I feel that speaks to a strength of character and perseverance…

Little did I know then how right I would be.  It started off slowly, and it feels like a number of our best guys fell farther than they should have. A few went surprisingly undrafted. (Especially Center Kris O’Dowd) But when the draft started and when the draft ended it was one school that reigned supreme, our very own and beloved University of Southern California.

In the first round USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith was the ninth overall pick in the 2011 draft. Picked up by the Dallas Cowboys, where he will join former Trojan David Buehler,  Smith became the 75th USC player to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft. This put USC at #1 for all time first round draft picks. The Dallas Cowboys targeted the 2010 Morris Trophy winner (as voted by the starting offensive lineman around the Pac-10) with their first pick, making it the first time in 22 years that the Cowboys took an O-lineman in the first round.

By the time the draft ended on Saturday evening, USC would surpass Notre Dame as the school with the most players ever drafted by the NFL. The 2011 NFL draft saw nine Trojans come off the board, setting the record for both the most players drafted by a school in the 2011 draft and for all time players drafted (472).

USC’s 2010 MVP – defensive tackle Jurrell Casey went to the Tennessee Titans with the 13th pick of the third round of the draft.  Cornerback Shareece Wright was also a third round pick of the San Diego Chargers – setting up nice synergy for the native of Southern California.  Tight end Jordan Cameron, who saw his stock rise as the draft approached, was chosen in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns.  Cameron, a former basketball player at BYU, converted to football and transferred to USC (by way of Ventura College) where he had proven to be a gifted athlete.

Wideout Ronald Johnson, or RoJo as we call him,went to the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round where he will play for former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh and alongside standout former Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick (more on that in another post – I think that was the best Team-Coach-QB match of the entire draft).  Allen Bradford was selected in the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite struggling through a 2010 season that was plagued with injuries. Bradford’s dedication, work ethic and perseverance weighed heavily in the Buc’s decision to draft him.

In the seventh round, as time was running out, a rare feat was pulled off. Three USC players in a row were drafted.  Wide receiver David Ausberry went to the Oakland Raiders, linebacker Malcolm Smith – younger brother of standout reciever Steve Smith of USC and the New York Giants – was reunited with Pete Carroll in Seattle and fullback Stanley Havili – he of the monstrous hands and captivating runs — was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Nine USC Players were drafted. That sets this year’s record for most players by school and, again, cements USC at the top of the list for school with the most players drafted both in the first round, and overall.

Center Kristofer O’Dowd, who struggled with injuries for his entire USC career, was not drafted. O’Dowd, when healthy, played at a consistently excellent level and brought much needed stability to the USC offense. O’Dowd was likely affected by the glut of offensive linemen entering the draft this year, but I do expect him to get picked up as a free agent somewhere. He’s too talented not to.

Other notable Trojans not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft were OL Butch Lewis, QB Mitch Mustain, LB Michael Morgan and RB C.J. Gable.

-Your Gridiron Goddess

***The North Carolina Tar Heels also had nine players drafted.