Jonathan Okanes
The matchup between No. 21 Cal and No. 7 USC on Saturday features two of the best linebacker corps in the nation. Each team has two players on the watch list for the Butkus Award, given to the country's top linebacker. "I have a lot of respect for their linebacking corps," Cal Coach Jeff Tedford said. "They're great players, as well as ours. When you look at these two teams, you're looking at two linebacking corps that you'd match up against anybody." The USC group is led by middle linebacker Rey Maualuga and strongside linebacker Brian Cushing, who are expected to be first-round NFL draft picks in April. In addition to the Butkus Award, both players are on several other watch lists for postseason awards, with Maualuga on the list for the Walter Camp Award as the top player in the country overall.
"They're great players, there's no question about it," Cal quarterback Kevin Riley said. "They're athletes, they're big. But the guys on our team are athletes and big, too. I think it's the best two groups of linebackers in the Pac-10. It's good for us to practice against them every day. We'll be ready." Although Cal's corps, led by Zack Follett and Worrell Williams, gets its share of attention, it's not quite on the level as the Trojans' group. But Cal might have more depth at the position, with Anthony Felder, Eddie Young and Mike Mohamed also making an impact. In fact, Mohamed and Felder are Cal's top tacklers, with Mohamed ranking fourth in the Pac-10 at 7.4 tackles per game.
"I think our linebacker corps is going to step it up a little bit and grab that No. 1 spot," Follett said. "We're second behind them. I think the way we've been playing this year, we've been just as good, if not better. Hopefully we can go out there against them and show it." Cal's linebackers are getting noticed by NFL scouts as well. Follett has been projected as a third-round pick, and Felder and Williams are expected to be drafted as well. Young is a junior, Mohamed a sophomore. "You always want to find a personal matchup that you can get a little extra reason to go hard," Williams said. "Those guys are great. They're big guys who fly around the field. I think we match up with them well, though."
USC Coach Pete Carroll said his linebackers are the anchor of the defense, which is really saying something. The Trojans have allowed just 7.1 points per game, best in the nation. USC also leads the country in total defense, yielding 211.6 yards per game, and has recorded shutouts in three of its past four games.
Cal ranks 23rd in total defense (300 yards per game) and third in the Pac-10 in scoring defense (21 points per game). Riley and Nate Longshore continued to split first-team reps Thursday night, but Tedford has yet to name his starting quarterback for Saturday. Right guard Noris Malele returned to practice and should play against USC. Malele did not play last week because of a sprained ankle.
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