Re-imagining 2014 With Josh Shaw and More USC Football News

Can’t get enough USC football? We’ve got your morning dose of all the best content from around the web concerning the men of Troy.

1st & 10:

First Take… Imagine a world where Josh Shaw hadn’t concocted the story about saving his drowning nephew. Imagine one where, yes, he missed the first few weeks of the season, but maybe, just maybe got healthy just in time for USC’s October 4th tilt with Arizona State.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

Imagine the Trojans had a veteran member of the secondary available in a game during which they gave up 510 yards and five passing touchdowns.

Imagine it was Shaw, not Hayes Pullard, who was back in Hail Mary coverage, setting up to defend the pass which Jaelen Strong caught as time expired to win the game.

Imagine he made a play on the ball, knocked it down and, in a moment that is way to early to be sure, sent USC to the Pac-12 championship.

Hypotheticals are ultimately pointless, but as USC gears towards spring camp and the long offseason still looms, there can be a point to thinking about these things.

Every offseason decision has the potential to change the fate of a team in the fall.

And Ten Links…

1. We imagined this scenario because Shaw had such a standout day at the Combine. Here’s the breakdown from Lindsey Thiry. (LA Times)
2. Here’s a full recap of all the Pac-12 representatives at the Combine on Sunday. (ESPN)
3. Jamie Newberg goes indepth with the Big Cat, Leonard Williams. (Scout)
4. For more on Williams, Sean Tomlinson wonders if he is the “perfect NFL draft prospect. (Bleacher Report)
5. Max Browne is thinking of himself as an “alternate starter” at USC in 2015. (USCFootball.com)
6. In news that should surprise no one, the NCAA will continue its attempts to keep documents from the Todd McNair case away from the public. (OC Register)
7. Greg Katz explores how the Big Ten’s proposed freshmen ineligibility idea would have hurt USC even more than sanctions. (ESPN)
8. USC’s match up with Cal on Halloween is one of the 25 biggest trap games of the 2015 season according to Greg Wallace. (Bleacher Report)
9. Julian Lopez previews the cornerbacks and safeties for spring camp. (Conquest Chronicles)
10. Meanwhile, we previewed the loaded offensive line heading into camp. (Reign of Troy)

Stat of the Day:

Josh Shaw’s 26 reps on the bench press was the best among cornerbacks at the Combine.

Tweets of the Day: