In Saturday's Ohio State game -- the biggest stage of the college football season so far -- Trojans were propelled in part by players just three months from earning their high school diplomas.
And we're not only talking about Matt Barkley.
Four first-year freshmen saw significant playing time in USC's 18-15 win at Ohio Stadium, a remarkable feat for players who were competing as high-schoolers last season. Safety T.J. McDonald, a few months removed from Fresno's Edison High, had a valuable role on the kickoff and punt return units. On the line, defensive end Devon Kennard, from Phoenix's Desert Vista High, rotated in and played 20 out of the 55 snaps, notching a tackle and proving he belonged.
"He's playing really well, especially for a freshman," defensive line coach Jethro Franklin said.
A freshman from Columbus, Ga., linebacker Jarvis Jones appeared at home in Columbus, Ohio, as the true freshman was a vital part of the goal-line unit that produced two huge stands against the Buckeyes. Jones also started on the punt and punt return units.
"He's knocking people around and he's really smart," linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. said. "He's definitely one of the guys already."
And then there's Matt Barkley, who took all 72 snaps from center and coolly directed the dramatic 86-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes Saturday. Overall, the freshman from Mater Dei went 15-for-31 for 195 yards in his first road game, a matchup in front of 106,033 fans and the largest TV audience for a college football game in ESPN's history.
All that for a few guys who were at their proms just a few months ago.
And we're not only talking about Matt Barkley.
Four first-year freshmen saw significant playing time in USC's 18-15 win at Ohio Stadium, a remarkable feat for players who were competing as high-schoolers last season. Safety T.J. McDonald, a few months removed from Fresno's Edison High, had a valuable role on the kickoff and punt return units. On the line, defensive end Devon Kennard, from Phoenix's Desert Vista High, rotated in and played 20 out of the 55 snaps, notching a tackle and proving he belonged."He's playing really well, especially for a freshman," defensive line coach Jethro Franklin said.
A freshman from Columbus, Ga., linebacker Jarvis Jones appeared at home in Columbus, Ohio, as the true freshman was a vital part of the goal-line unit that produced two huge stands against the Buckeyes. Jones also started on the punt and punt return units.
"He's knocking people around and he's really smart," linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. said. "He's definitely one of the guys already."
And then there's Matt Barkley, who took all 72 snaps from center and coolly directed the dramatic 86-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes Saturday. Overall, the freshman from Mater Dei went 15-for-31 for 195 yards in his first road game, a matchup in front of 106,033 fans and the largest TV audience for a college football game in ESPN's history.
All that for a few guys who were at their proms just a few months ago.
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