While there may (and I stress the word may) be question marks at defensive line and linebacker, USC could not be in better shape at the third level. This secondary is absolutely loaded with talent, depth, and most importantly, experience. In fact, the unit looks so strong that head coach Pete Carroll (a former college DB himself) has stated that it may be the best group the program has had since his arrival at USC.

It will be impossible for the defensive backfield to improve on its statistical production from last year (#1 pass defense and scoring defense in nation for 2008), but repeating the utter dominance actually seems quite achievable.

The cornerbacks look great and the safeties look downright scary. New defensive coordinator Rocky Seto (also secondary coach) should have a fun time with this unit in 2009.

Cornerbacks

Leading the way at corner will be senior Kevin Thomas. Thomas enters his last season at SC coming off of a successful 2008 campaign. He played in all 13 games last season (two starts) and contributed 14 tackles, three interceptions (team high, one INT returned for TD), two sacks, and seven pass deflections.

His junior campaign was especially rewarding considering the adversity Thomas has dealt with during his career. He missed most of the 2006 season with a broken foot, and then missed all of 2007 in order to recover from off-season shoulder surgery (redshirted that year as a junior).

Now, Thomas will look to end his Trojan career with another injury-free season.

At 6-1 190 pounds, Thomas possesses excellent size for a corner as well as the speed (4.47) and leaping ability (38 inch vertical) to cover any receiver that opponents throw his way. The Oxnard (CA) native was given 4-stars by both Rivals and Scout.com, and he was voted a PrepStar All-American.

Thomas has looked great during fall camp, and is a lock to start in 2009.

Starting alongside Thomas will be junior Shareece Wright. Wright started the first two games of the 2008 season against Virginia and Ohio State, looking excellent in both. Unfortunately, he suffered a hairline fracture in his neck during practice the following week, and his season was cut short. Because the injury occurred so early in the season, Wright was allowed to redshirt.

As a reserve in 2007, he demonstrated a promising skill set, making 29 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and four pass deflections in 11 games of action. At 6-0 185 pounds, Wright has great size and strength, along with tenacious cover skills. He is not a burner (4.5), but he does possess elite quickness, fluid hips, and polished technique. Wright is a savvy cornerback, who can be a legitimate lockdown defender.

The Colton (CA) native was given 4-star recognition from Rivals and Scout.com, and he was also a PrepStar All-American.

Like Thomas, Wright is a lock to start, and he may draw the opposition’s number one receiver frequently in 2009.

Sophomore T.J. Bryant should see significant playing time this season. Bryant appeared in seven games as a true freshman, totaling seven tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception.

At 6-0 180 pounds, he is yet another tall and rangy Trojans cornerback. Bryant is faster than the two starters (4.4), and also possesses the same amount of physicality in his play. He has a very fluid change of direction and great recovery speed, while also demonstrating exceptional field awareness. His greatest strength may be his ball skills, and he can become a dangerous open-field threat after an interception.

The Tallahassee (FL) native was a big-time recruiting coup for Pete Carroll and Co., as he chose the Trojans over local favorites Florida State and Florida. Rivals and Scout.com gave him 4-star recognition, and he was voted USA Today All-USA First Team.

Bryant will be a key reserve for USC in 2009.

Safeties

A very strong argument can be made that senior Taylor Mays is the best defensive player in all of college football. At the very least, he is the most intimidating.

Now, he enters the final chapter of his decorated career as a fringe Heisman contender. Surely he would have been a first-round pick in last year’s draft but he chose to return to SC because of his desire to win a national championship.

Last season, he anchored the best defensive secondary in the country on his way to consensus First-Team All-American honors (for second year in a row). He totaled 53 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a team-high nine pass breakups, all while opposing offenses tried to avoid his area as much as possible.

Even with relatively mediocre statistics, he was a finalist for the Thorpe Award in 2008 (Nation’s Top DB), and will be one of the favorites to win it this season. For his career, Mays has accounted for 180 tackles, 18 pass breakups, and four interceptions.

At 6-3 230 pounds, he is the quintessential intimidator at safety. His otherworldly combination of size, strength, speed (he’s been timed at 4.32 in 40), and leaping ability (41 inch vertical) has allowed him to make plays that most DB’s can only dream of.

Mays burst onto the scene as a true freshman starter, earning a variety of post-season honors, including Sporting News Second-Team All-American. The Seattle (WA) native received five-star recognition from Rivals and Scout.com, while also being named a Parade All-American.

Mays will be a team-captain in 2009, and he’s looking to close out his prolific Trojan career with some hardware.

Senior Josh Pinkard will move from cornerback to strong safety this season. Last season, he started 11 games at CB, totaling 39 tackles, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one interception on his way to Honorable Mention All-Pac 10.

Pinkard received a sixth year of eligibility after missing most of 2006 and all of the 2007 season with severe knee ligament damage. His road back has been a trying one, but after all of the surgeries and rehab, Pinkard has prevailed.

At 6-1 215 pounds, he is a great athlete with an outstanding football IQ. His versatile skill set allows him to play at every spot in the secondary, and he should fit in nicely at strong safety.

The Oxnard (CA) native has been fantastic in fall camp, and like Mays, he will also serve as a co-captain in 2009.

The top reserve at safety this season will be senior Will Harris. Like Pinkard, Harris has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and last season was his first real chance to see significant action. He totaled 38 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and three pass deflections in 2008 (six total tackles in his previous three years).

At 6-1 210 pounds, Harris is one of the best athletes in the secondary. His combination of speed (4.4) and leaping ability (40 inch vertical) will serve him well this season, and he also has the ability to play cornerback (started his career as CB). Harris demonstrated that he’s capable of performing in pressure situations, stepping in as a starter at strong safety last season while Kevin Ellison was injured.

The Covina (CA) native will be Pinkard’s main backup at strong safety.

Other players competing for time are: freshmen Patrick Hall, Jawanza Starling, Byron Moore, T.J. McDonald, and Torin Harris, sophomores Drew McAllister, and Daniel Harper, and junior Marshall Jones.

My Take

Is there a better secondary anywhere in the country? On paper, it doesn’t seem like there could be. Not even Aaron Corp and Matt Barkley can solve these guys, and they see them everyday.

Pete Carroll and Rocky Seto always find something that needs improving, but it has to be hard with this unit. If USC finishes outside the top 10 in pass defense, assume that numerous injuries have mounted.

It all starts with Taylor Mays, who I believe is the best defensive player in the country. I know what you’re going to say SEC fans, and yes, Tennessee’s Eric Berry is incredible. But Mays doesn’t need 12 interceptions and 500 INT return yards to be a better player. If I am starting a college team, Taylor Mays is the first defensive player that I take because of the frightening affect his presence has on opposing offenses.

Having a veteran like Pinkard at strong safety ensures that the last line of defense in the Trojans D is also the strongest.

At corner, Thomas should carry the momentum of 2008 into this season, and I look for a breakout final year for him. Wright may actually be the best CB on the roster, and as mentioned before, he may be matched up against number one wideouts for most of the season.

From there, the plethora of young defensive back talent is never ending, so expect contributions from a variety of underclassmen.

Along with offensive line, this secondary should be SC’s strongest unit in 2009.