I've been meaning to ask this for a while now, but the day of the Sun Bowl seems like a fitting time. USC keeps getting ridiculously good recruiting classes, the one they're putting together right now included, but look at the NFL leaders in stats or Pro Bowl rosters or whichever metric you find salient. Where are they? The biggest thing that sticks out is that once in a lifetime LB corp, all three of whom are legit NFL stars, but beyond that it's pretty slim. Especially in the offensive skill positions where they shine so brightly at 'SC.

Cal seems to almost have the inverse issue. Players who perform so well in the NFL that Cal seasons seem retroactively even more disappointing. But I can go all around the PAC and think of ex-players who are serious game changers: UofA has Gronk, Oregon St. has had Chad Johnson, Stephen Jackson, Jones-Drew from UCLA, Steve Smith from Utah, Oregon is harder to think of, but that's likely because they're reaching the zenith of their talent right now. Lamichael James is doing well for a rookie, and I imagine Thomas and Barner will do well.

Also, on a side, but somewhat related note, I stopped worrying about the NFL pipeline being shut off because Dykes runs a more unconventional offense, when a few weeks back the 49ers beat the Patriots. Lamichael James returned a kick to the 50. Then Kaepernick through a TD to Crabtree. All on a team coached by the most pro-style coach in the league.