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USC’s high receiver has joined the parade of Trojans leaving early for the NFL.
It was a foregone conclusion that Amon-ra St. Brown would declare for the draft following USC’s shortened 2020 season. On Saturday, he made his departure official, changing into the fifth Trojan to announce his intent to go away USC for the NFL.
“These previous three years have been a number of the most memorable of my life,” St. Brown stated in a press release. “Whereas I’ve had a troublesome time grappling with a choice over the previous couple of weeks, I’ve determined to forego my senior season and declare for the 2021 draft.”
St. Brown led the Trojans in receptions this season and as a freshman in 2018, rising as an virtually instantaneous playmaker on USC’s offense. One of many high recruits within the nation, out of Santa Ana Mater Dei Excessive, his arrival alone marked one of the important recruiting victories of coach Clay Helton’s tenure at USC.
His manufacturing over three seasons largely lived as much as that hype. He completed his profession with 178 receptions, 2,270 yards, and 17 complete touchdowns. This season, over simply six video games, St. Brown paced all Pac-12 receivers with seven touchdowns, scoring 4 of these in a single-quarter explosion towards Washington State.
If the convention had postponed its season to spring, St. Brown seemingly would have left for the NFL already. As a substitute, St. Brown, who was voted a group captain, wound up taking part in a central function in USC’s plea to Gov. Gavin Newsom to permit the 2020 season to maneuver ahead. With the Pac-12 the final remaining convention to approve a soccer season, the receiver known as Helton in late September and bought the ball rolling on a letter that was ultimately printed and despatched to Newsom.
The latest historical past of Trojan receivers making the leap to the NFL over the previous decade has been largely triumphant. After being drafted within the second spherical by the Indianapolis Colts final spring, Michael Pittman Jr. had a profitable debut season in 2020. Earlier than him, Steelers wideout and former Trojan Juju Smith-Schuster was additionally chosen within the second spherical. He’s since emerged as one of many NFL’s greatest younger receivers, even incomes a Professional Bowl invite in 2018.
St. Brown may very properly be drafted increased than both; although, he doesn’t have the identical measurement as Pittman Jr. or physicality as Smith-Schuster. His constant manufacturing and flexibility ought to, nevertheless, make him one of many high wideout prospects in a draft class chock filled with expertise on the place.
His exit marks the fifth Trojan starter to go away USC early for the NFL, becoming a member of Alijah Vera-Tucker, the Trojans’ high offensive lineman, Talanoa Hufanga, their high security, Marlon Tuipulotu, their high defensive sort out, and high cornerback Olaijah Griffin.
Jay Tufele, who would have began at defensive sort out, declared for the NFL earlier than the season.
USC ought to have a a lot simpler job in filling the outlet at receiver than at these different positions. Younger wideouts Drake London and Bru McCoy ought to have little hassle stepping in because the Trojans’ high playmakers on the place subsequent season, whereas freshman slot receiver Gary Bryant Jr. will seemingly step right into a a lot bigger function.
Senior wideout Tyler Vaughns may additionally choose to return, if he decides to make the most of the eligibility aid granted by the NCAA as a result of pandemic. However Vaughns briefly thought of leaving final season and is a probable candidate to affix St. Brown in leaving for the NFL.
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