Julian Jacobs, Nikola Jovanovic Undrafted and More USC Football News

Draft hopefuls Julian Jacobs and Nikola Jovanovic were both passed over at the 2016 NBA Draft. Plus USC football news from the web.

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

1st & 10:

First Word… It was failure to launch for Julian Jacobs and Nikola Jovanovic, who failed to hear their name called at the 2016 NBA Draft Thursday night.

Unfortunately, neither appeared among those signed as undrafted free agents following draft night either.

The pair of Trojans who were so pivotal to USC’s successful 2015-16 season both entered the draft presumably to test the waters without hiring an agent, leaving the door open for a return to the college game.

Despite the two being snubbed an NBA Combine invitation, each opted to remain in the draft pool, ending their college eligibility and leaving USC in a weakened position going into next season.

Many called their decision a mistake at the time and the draft results appear to have been a fairly sizable, “I told you so.”

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

Jacobs may still be able to land on a summer league roster while Jovanovic, a Serbian national, may pursue his professional aspirations in Europe.

Either way, the departure of key players seems a waste without NBA success at the end of it.

No doubt the Trojans will go through the coming 2016-17 thinking of what might have been with senior performances from Jacobs and Jovanovic.

Instead, USC will depend on guard Jordan McLaughlin to step into a solo starting role after sharing the burden of setting the teams’ tempo with Jacobs last year. The Trojans will also have promising young talents like Bennie Boatwright and Chimezie Metu ready to take the next step up as sophomores.

Andy Enfield’s squad will also be boosted by the now-eligible Louisville transfer Shaqquan Aaron and incoming freshmen Jonah Matthews, Harrison Henderson and Nick Rakocevic.

Somewhat softening the blow of no draft picks in 2016? USC got the news Thursday that Minnesota graduate transfer Charles Buggs has chosen to join the Trojans for his final season of eligibility.

And Ten USC Football and Basketball News Links…

1. “USC vs. Alabama: Looking Back at the Series’ History” (Reign Of Troy)William Quimby takes a look at the history of the USC vs. Alabama series focusing on marquee match ups from 1970-1985.
2. “12 Pac-12 Stats You Need to Know for 2016” (Athlon Sports)Teams on USC’s schedule this season had 99 combined wins in 2015. That’s a lot. There’s also some good stats for the Trojans’ conference opponents.
3. “WeAreSC mailbag (6-23 edition)” (WeAreSC)Garry Paskwietz answers questions on the slow recruiting start — the staff did so well to close last year they deserve some benefit of the doubt — and what it means if targets don’t show at Rising Stars — lots who didn’t come last year still signed. There’s a lot more info on summer battles and the depth chart as well.
4. “USC Rising Stars Camp – Day 2 Morning Recap” (WeAreSC)Johnny Curren breaks down the happenings at USC’s Rising Stars Camp, like a scholarship offer for Osa Masina’s younger brother Salua.
5. “Watch USC WRs conquer USC Bank Tower’s ‘Skyslide’ ” (Fox Sports)In the latest installment of “Crazy Things To Do In LA,” USC receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rogers slid down US Bank Tower’s ‘Skyslide,’ which connects the 70th and 69th floor of the building.
6. “Predicting the Top 25 Programs of the Next 10 Years” (Bleacher Report)USC checks in at No. 10 for the programs who will thrive over the next ten years, which would be great news for Clay Helton to realize.
7. “Power Ranking Top 25 CFB Stadiums of 2016” (Bleacher Report)In a ranking of the top stadiums in college football, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum did not make the cut. Does that seem right to you?
8. “5-star OL Wyatt Davis to announce Friday” (247 Sports)Wyatt Davis, the nation’s top guard, is set to announced his college decision Friday with USC among his top schools. However, Ohio State and Alabama appear to be favorites.
9. “Lindy’s ’16 Top 12 Non-conference games” (Lindy’s Sports)Alabama vs. USC is the top non-conference game for the year with Notre Dame at USC sitting No. 6.
10. “Ranking CFB’s Top 30 Impact QB Transfers for 2016” (Athlon Sports)Ricky Town, remember him, is the No. 20 impact transfer for 2016 at Arkansas, though he won’t be starting. Presumptive Oregon starter Dakota Prukop is No. 4  and Cal’s Davis Webb is No. 1 — USC will face both this year.

Stat of the Day:

USC has not had a player selected in the NBA draft since 2011.

Social Media Snapshot: