USC football: Kedon Slovis among Top 40 players in CFB for 2020

USC football’s Kedon Slovis made the list of Sporting News’ Top 40 players in college football.

Kedon Slovis is getting his due going into the 2020 USC football season.

Coming off an outstanding freshman campaign, the sophomore is ranked among the Top 40 players in college football, as determined by Sporting News.

He settled in at No. 27 overall, just a place behind Notre Dame’s Ian Book.

Should more USC football stars have made the list?

There’s no question why Slovis warrants a place in the Top 40. In his debut season, he tossed 30 touchdowns and 3502 yards while completing 71.9 percent of his passes with a rating of 167.65. That last figure was seventh nationally.

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The quarterback fit Graham Harrell’s Air Raid to perfection and their partnership could yield big things for the Trojans in 2020.

However, Slovis was one of just four Pac-12 players included in Sporting News’ rankings and the only Trojan. Did they miss anyone worthy?

Amon-Ra St. Brown could argue. He had 77 catches for 1,042 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. Those numbers and his influence should only rise as a junior now having to fill the gap left by Michael Pittman.

The Biletnikoff Award candidate could vie for All-American honors, but he wasn’t among the seven wide receivers included.

Defensive tackles weren’t on the mind of those who voted for the Top 40. Only two made the cut, so Jay Tufele can be more comforted about his lack of inclusion. He too could make major waves for the Trojans as a redshirt junior.

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Talanoa Hufanga isn’t so much a snub as a prime dark horse candidate to belong on a list like this after the season. The safety has been exceptional in his first two seasons. However, his national acclaim has been limited by a string of injuries cutting into his playing time as well as the overall underachievement of USC’s defense.

If Todd Orlando can get the Trojans rolling on that side of the ball, Hufanga could become a household name.