Why Playing USC Can Be Great For NFL Exposure
Oct 8, 2021, 10:42 AM
Vavae Malepeai #29 of the USC Trojans scores a touchdown against the Utah Utes during their game at Rice Eccles Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah travels to the famed L.A. Coliseum to take on the mighty USC Trojans and no matter how good, or bad the Trojans are people want to watch those games.
Of the people who watch those games are NFL scouts and decision-makers at the next level.
USC always has a lot of talent and five-star recruits which means there will be NFL personnel watching. They have had 55 players taken in the NFL Draft since 2010, so the NFL always has its eyes on that is going to be on this team.
“You always want to have a game. My brothers always talk about, ‘Make sure you find out the guy you are going against, if he is a top draft prospect, make sure you have a game against that guy,'” Kaufusi said. “Eyes are on that draft prospect and if you handle his butt, scouts are like, ‘who is this guy?’ That stuff is fun to think about.”
Going up against a guy who might be drafted and you have a big game, then when that tape gets passed around with scouts looking at the USC guy, then you show up as well. So, having a huge game and handling your opponent is a great way to get noticed by NFL higher-ups.
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The Utes are no slouch in getting its players to the NFL, in that same timeframe dating back to 2010, Utah has had 38 players taken in the draft. That includes a handful of guys who were recruited to play in the Mountain West since 2011 was the first year of Pac-12 competition.
Also, playing at USC there is an aura of sorts, as they are one of the premier college football programs in the country with usually extremely high aspirations that include a national title and their star quarterback in the running for the Heisman trophy.
So, it can mean a little bit more to take it to USC when given the chance, and while it is just one of 12 games on the schedule, there is more juice to playing at Southern California and in the famed L.A. Coliseum.
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