3 biggest takeaways from USC football’s win over UCLA

Talanoa Hufanga is approaching Troy Polamalu status

Let’s just say it right now: Talanao Hufanga is the best safety to play for USC since Troy Polamalu. If that wasn’t already clear, he put the question to bed with his outstanding rivalry performance.

Against UCLA, Hufanga led all players with 17 tackles. His 11 solo tackles were more than any player on the field bar one. Along with those tackles, Hufanga had two tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. He has had an interception in four-straight appearances for USC.

Hufanga’s No. 15 jersey flies around the field like Polamalu’s No. 43. He doesn’t have the trademark long hair, but he’s working on it. His play does more than enough talking. Whatever USC asks of him, he gets it done with reckless abandon.

Unfortunately, Hufanga won’t have a full season to truly take a run at matching Polamalu’s All-American level in his final season at USC. Assuming the junior leaves for the NFL once the season is done, Trojan fans need to enjoy every second of him in cardinal and gold while they can. Players like Hufanga don’t come around all that often.