USC coaches and fans were hoping this would be the season senior defensive end Devon Kennard finally made the kind of impact suggested by his five-star recruiting hype three years ago, just in time to lead a concerted push for the BCS title. And it looks like he very well might, although it's not going to be the kind of impact they were expecting: As reported Thursday night by CBS' Chris Huston (as well as by Kennard himself Friday morning), Kennard is expected to miss at least three or four months after undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle next week, which could cost him the entire 2012 season. And with that, an undisputed national frontrunner may have just lost its best player at the one position it could least afford a loss.
Even with Kennard, a part-time starter over the last three years at end and linebacker, the defensive line stood out like a big, vulnerable thumb on the Trojans' otherwise imposing depth chart, thanks to the graduation of tackles DaJohn Harris and Christian Tupou and the early departure of All-Pac-12 end Nick Perry for the first round of the NFL Draft. On a roster just beginning to feel the crunch from NCAA-imposed scholarship restrictions, the front four rivaled tailback as the most pressing concern, and may have just surpassed it.
Besides Kennard, USC has only one other experienced defensive lineman, senior end Wes Horton, who has started 22 games over the last three years and came in last year for a second-team all-conference nod. So far, so good. But the candidates for Kennard's spot are a junior college transfer (Morgan Breslin, who was enrolled for spring practice), a pair of incoming freshmen (Leonard Williams and DeVante Wilson, who were not) and a pair of returnees who have yet to see a significant snap in their college careers (junior Kevin Greene and redshirt freshman Greg Townsend). On the interior, the defensive tackle rotation consists of sophomore George Uko (two career starts) and a trio of second-year guys (Christian Heyward, Antwaun Woods and J.R. Tavai) who remain anonymous beyond their recruiting rankings. This being USC, those rankings are inevitably impressive. Across the board, though, with the exception of Horton, it will be virtually an entirely new line.
CBSSports.com reports
Even with Kennard, a part-time starter over the last three years at end and linebacker, the defensive line stood out like a big, vulnerable thumb on the Trojans' otherwise imposing depth chart, thanks to the graduation of tackles DaJohn Harris and Christian Tupou and the early departure of All-Pac-12 end Nick Perry for the first round of the NFL Draft. On a roster just beginning to feel the crunch from NCAA-imposed scholarship restrictions, the front four rivaled tailback as the most pressing concern, and may have just surpassed it.
Besides Kennard, USC has only one other experienced defensive lineman, senior end Wes Horton, who has started 22 games over the last three years and came in last year for a second-team all-conference nod. So far, so good. But the candidates for Kennard's spot are a junior college transfer (Morgan Breslin, who was enrolled for spring practice), a pair of incoming freshmen (Leonard Williams and DeVante Wilson, who were not) and a pair of returnees who have yet to see a significant snap in their college careers (junior Kevin Greene and redshirt freshman Greg Townsend). On the interior, the defensive tackle rotation consists of sophomore George Uko (two career starts) and a trio of second-year guys (Christian Heyward, Antwaun Woods and J.R. Tavai) who remain anonymous beyond their recruiting rankings. This being USC, those rankings are inevitably impressive. Across the board, though, with the exception of Horton, it will be virtually an entirely new line.
CBSSports.com reports
