Most important player: USC Trojans
(Kevin Gemmell | ESPN Pac-12 Blog )

So why Kennard over, say, Morgan Breslin or Leonard Williams or Dion Bailey (who by the way should flourish back at his natural safety spot)? Because Kennard could blow up in 2013 in this new scheme. There is going to be so much focus on Breslin — we know what we’re getting with him — that Kennard is going to get plenty of one-on-one opportunities to make plays in the backfield and/or stuff the run.

Buffalo Bills “In Conversation” to Start Robert Woods as No. 2 Receiver
(Josh Hill | FanSided)

The Bills obviously aren’t going to rush the decision to start Woods, but he’s got the chops to do so and the time spent between now and the beginning of the season can go a long way in preparing him to be one half of a potentially deadly receiving duo. But for now, Woods says he’s just trying to get settled in with the Bills and their new system. “Right now it’s just trying to catch the pace and the rhythm and keep it going,” Woods said, via WRG 550 AM. “Right now we’re just setting the fundamentals of the game. It’s going to get different when the whole team comes back.”

Breaking Down 2014 Offers by the Numbers
(Rick McMahan | Bleacher Report )

At least early on, there are specific units that are being targeted for re-stocking and in looking at the 2013 roster; it is easy to see how graduation and reduced numbers to start with are mandating increased attention in these areas. Obvious units of need—such as defensive line—are receiving increased attention while others, well, not so much.

Ole Miss Offers Juju Smith
(Ricky Widmer | FanSided 150 )

2014 athlete John “Juju” Smith received another offer from the Ole Miss Rebels. Smith is the 2nd best athlete and California recruit. He is also ranked 39th on the Fansided150 2014 Football Rankings.Out of eight predictions, the 247 Sports Crystal Ball currently has Notre Dame and USC as the favorites to land the 2014 recruit. Although the Irish and Trojans are the leaders, some of the experts are predicting UCLA to make a push when it comes to Smith.

Tweets of Note

Lakeland (Fla.) Lake Gibson safety Kendall Gant tells me #USC assistant Ed Orgeron offered him a scholarship today es.pn/10oosMp

— Blair Angulo (@bangulo) May 14, 2013

2014 CB Denzel Fisher of Compton Centennial –> RT @denzelfish: USC and San Jose State visited practice !

— Blair Angulo (@bangulo) May 15, 2013

Per @bellevuefb, USC has offered Budda Baker

— Scott Enyeart (@ScottEnyeart) May 15, 2013

Is Marqise Lee or Sammy Watkins Best WR Threat to Win 2013 Heisman?
(Randy Chambers | Bleacher Report )

As for Lee, well, nobody can even name the USC starting quarterback, and once he’s announced, most of the college football world won’t know much about him. Lee is in a rare situation, as he doesn’t have a legitimate quarterback at the moment, and there certainly aren’t any with a big name. Unless a USC quarterback has a Johnny Manziel-type season, there is no chance at a Heisman, which plays into Lee’s favor. Without any type of buzz entering the season, this award is a mountain to climb.

Looking ahead to the 2014 NFL Draft
(Kevin Gemmell | ESPN Pac-12 Blog )

USC wide receiver Marqise Lee is the highest rated Pac-12 player, checking in at No. 3 behind No. 1 Jadeveon Clowney and Teddy Bridgewater. Kiper on Lee: “That USC had several good weapons in the passing game last season didn’t stop defenses from paying extra attention to Lee, but it didn’t matter. He has the ability to separate with speed and as an effective route-runner. He’s dropped a few easy ones, but makes most routine catches and can play bigger than his size. Dangerous after the catch. He’s also physical and could’ve been a top safety if he’d chosen that direction.”

Father-daughter team aims to bring USC a national title in water polo
(Diane Pucin | LA Times)

Vavic, who has coached the USC men’s team to five straight NCAA titles, including last year when the Trojans were undefeated, is aiming for title No. 4 with the women this weekend. On Monday a Times photographer wanted Jovan and his daughter Monica, a USC sophomore who has scored 71 goals this season, to leave the pool and go over to the USC cinema building for some portrait photos. “No, here,” Jovan said on the pool deck as Monica tapped her foot. Jovan Vavic doesn’t lose many arguments but he capitulated when it was explained it would be a better picture because the pool was surrounded by construction. But Jovan had a parting shot to his 19-year-old daughter. “You’ll swim extra afterwards,” Jovan said. Even if she scowled at that “punishment,” one suspects Monica Vavic will always swim extra. Top-ranked USC (24-1) opens NCAA Championship play Friday at Harvard against eighth-seeded Pomona-Pitzer.

No. 1 USC One Stroke Back After NCAA West Regional First Round
(USCTrojans.com)

Freshman Annie Park fired a 4-under 67 to lead No. 1 USC to second place after the first day of the 2013 NCAA Championships West Regional at the Stanford (Calif.) G.C. on Thursday (May 9). USC, coming off a win at the Pac-12 Championships for its school-record tying fifth victory of the season, combined for a 6-over 290, one back of first-round leader Vanderbilt (289). The tightly bunched top 8 is rounded out by Purdue in third (291) and followed by Oregon (292), Baylor (295), Georgia and South Carolina (296) and California (297).

Tweets of Note

#USC coaches at Centennial High School paying special attention to corner John Plattenburg.

— Gerard Martinez (@gmartlive) May 10, 2013

#Wisconsin and #Wazzu have offered #USC commit Tashon Smallwood from Fresno (Calif.) Central East.

— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) May 10, 2013

2014 NFL Draft: Pre-Season Break Down Of Marqise Lee
(Peter Smith | With the First Pick )

In many ways, Lee is an even more impressive version of the former Seminole and Cincinnati Bengal, Peter Warrick. It would be a mistake to assume this is a dig at Lee. When Warrick was coming out of Florida State, he was an open field nightmare who had incredible quickness and could make plays all over the field. Lee is faster and more dangerous than Warrick was coming out and he should have a more promising career arc, but Warrick was the 4th overall pick in 2000 for a reason and did find success in the NFL; just not enough of it. Lee could be everything people hoped Warrick could be when he was drafted and because he has more physical gifts than Warrick did, he could end up pulling it off and being the franchise player Warrick was not.

Will USC, UCLA and ND Schedule FCS Schools?
(Lisa Horne| Bleacher Report)

Prior to the 2011 season, the then-Pac-10 had no conference championship game. It made sense to bolster a team’s strength of schedule by playing all FBS teams. But one only has to look at the Big 12 to see that a conference without a championship game is still scheduling FCSteams. And nobody cares. Seven consecutive BCS Championships have been won by Southeastern Conference teams. Almost every one of those teams also had an FCS team on its schedule the year it won the BCS—LSU’s 2007 schedule was the exception.

Pac-12 Players To Watch In 2013
(Sports Illustrated)

Lee followed up a breakout year in 2011 with an even better 2012, catching 118 passes for 1,721 yards and 14 touchdowns. Those totals ranked first, second and third in the NCAA, respectively. Lee was also a dangerous kick returner, leading the Pac-12 with 856 kick return yards — including an 100-yarder for a touchdown against Hawaii in last year’s season opener.

Tweets of Note

#UVA transfer Paul Jesperson visited #SLU yesterday. He will trip to #USC on Thursday.

— Ben Weixlmann (@BWeixScout) May 8, 2013

2014 pg Tra Holder Brentwood / Earl Watson Pangos Elite will visit USC today.

— Ryan Silver (@RyanSilver1) May 8, 2013

Scored 28 Pts in 3OT win over USC RT @doughaller Guard Evan Gordon leaving the Arizona State basketball program. bit.ly/1453EcM

— Galen Central (@USCGalenCentral) May 9, 2013