The ultimate utility man, Garrett Green has found a valuable role on and off the field.
By Pedro Moura, USCRipsIt staff writer
For senior quarterback/wide receiver Garrett Green, being a USC student-athlete is about a lot more than just the gridiron.
Emphasis on a lot.
So while he's most known for his shining moment in the 2008 Rose Bowl -- where he hauled in a lateral and found a wide open Desmond Reed to give the Trojans a 14-0 lead over Illinois -- he's accomplished plenty more at USC.
Green, 21, earned his undergraduate degree in business administration in three years. He's now working on a dual master's degree in business administration and real-estate development, all the while serving as a backup at quarterback and wide receiver and USC's holder on Saturdays.
"He's the full package of what you want to be when you come here," says freshman receiver De'Von Flournoy, a teammate of Green's on USC's service team. "He's maximized the opportunity of being at SC as a student-athlete. He already has his degree and he's still playing football. That's something that every kid wants to live up to."
Green was highly recruited as a dual-threat quarterback after going 38-2 as the starting signal-caller at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High. He chose USC over a grid of schools all over the nation that included Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
And despite never earning a start and rotating between safety, special teams, quarterback and receiver, Green says he couldn't be more satisfied with his choice.
"I would make that decision 100 times over to come here," Green says. "Even during my recruiting process I knew that there were some other schools I would have a higher probability of starting and getting serious playing time at, but choosing a school's about balance for me."
Green's biggest value to the Trojans comes in his knowledge for the game. Teammates regularly cite him as the best football mind on the team.
"He's very coachable," offensive coordinator John Morton says. "You ask him to do something, and he does it exactly the way you want him to do it, no matter what it is. He's played safety, he's played wide receiver, he's played quarterback and running back -- he's done it all. And things come easy for him. He's got a good feel for the game."
Because of his versatility, Green spends a lot of his time at practice on Brian Kennedy Field, imitating the upcoming opponent's skill position players.
It's a generally unrewarding job, but he enjoys it.
"He takes leadership of the whole team and the scout team as well," Flournoy said. "The funny thing about him is that when he says something in the huddle, I pick it up the first time because he's so fluent in offense."
Green's situation parallels that of another San Fernando Valley native who came to USC as a highly-touted quarterback -- Matt Cassel.
Cassel, out of Chatsworth High, first backed up Carson Palmer and even moved to tight end for a stretch when Matt Leinart beat him out for the starting job in 2003.
He was drafted in the seventh round by the Patriots in 2005 and, last season, took over as New England's quarterback when Tom Brady got hurt. Now, he's the Kansas City Chiefs' franchise quarterback.
Green says he plans to test out the draft process after this season.
"We have a track record here of guys who have held backup roles, secondary roles, who are making a career for themselves in the NFL," he said.
Still, his options are certainly open.
Wide open.
• You can contact USCRipsIt staff writer Pedro Moura via email.
By Pedro Moura, USCRipsIt staff writer
For senior quarterback/wide receiver Garrett Green, being a USC student-athlete is about a lot more than just the gridiron.Emphasis on a lot.
So while he's most known for his shining moment in the 2008 Rose Bowl -- where he hauled in a lateral and found a wide open Desmond Reed to give the Trojans a 14-0 lead over Illinois -- he's accomplished plenty more at USC.
Green, 21, earned his undergraduate degree in business administration in three years. He's now working on a dual master's degree in business administration and real-estate development, all the while serving as a backup at quarterback and wide receiver and USC's holder on Saturdays.
"He's the full package of what you want to be when you come here," says freshman receiver De'Von Flournoy, a teammate of Green's on USC's service team. "He's maximized the opportunity of being at SC as a student-athlete. He already has his degree and he's still playing football. That's something that every kid wants to live up to."
Green was highly recruited as a dual-threat quarterback after going 38-2 as the starting signal-caller at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High. He chose USC over a grid of schools all over the nation that included Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
And despite never earning a start and rotating between safety, special teams, quarterback and receiver, Green says he couldn't be more satisfied with his choice.
"I would make that decision 100 times over to come here," Green says. "Even during my recruiting process I knew that there were some other schools I would have a higher probability of starting and getting serious playing time at, but choosing a school's about balance for me."
Green's biggest value to the Trojans comes in his knowledge for the game. Teammates regularly cite him as the best football mind on the team.
"He's very coachable," offensive coordinator John Morton says. "You ask him to do something, and he does it exactly the way you want him to do it, no matter what it is. He's played safety, he's played wide receiver, he's played quarterback and running back -- he's done it all. And things come easy for him. He's got a good feel for the game."
Because of his versatility, Green spends a lot of his time at practice on Brian Kennedy Field, imitating the upcoming opponent's skill position players.It's a generally unrewarding job, but he enjoys it.
"He takes leadership of the whole team and the scout team as well," Flournoy said. "The funny thing about him is that when he says something in the huddle, I pick it up the first time because he's so fluent in offense."
Green's situation parallels that of another San Fernando Valley native who came to USC as a highly-touted quarterback -- Matt Cassel.
Cassel, out of Chatsworth High, first backed up Carson Palmer and even moved to tight end for a stretch when Matt Leinart beat him out for the starting job in 2003.
He was drafted in the seventh round by the Patriots in 2005 and, last season, took over as New England's quarterback when Tom Brady got hurt. Now, he's the Kansas City Chiefs' franchise quarterback.
Green says he plans to test out the draft process after this season.
"We have a track record here of guys who have held backup roles, secondary roles, who are making a career for themselves in the NFL," he said.
Still, his options are certainly open.
Wide open.
• You can contact USCRipsIt staff writer Pedro Moura via email.
Garret green is the best team player in USC history. I have been a season ticket holder for 36 years and have never seem a player think of the team more then Garret does. his is what Fight On Means.
Wow, this blog could not have come at a better time. I was just thinking about asking about him and his plans for the future. He is an extremely valuable asset to the team, and exemplifies what it means to be a student athlete. Along with Jeff Byers. Speaking of which, what are Jeff's plans for the future? Either way, much respect and congratulations to both student-athletes.