Whatever the next era of USC Trojans football looks like after the unceremonious ousting of Steve Sarkisian this past weekend - following what has to be the quickest leave of absence in the history of college sports - it's unlikely to include many of the team's current quality players. Or, at the very least, the draft-eligible ones. While USC's senior quarterback Cody Kessler is the highest-profile player headed out the door and into the 2016 NFL Draft, it seems, according to a report from Tony Pauline of Draft Insider, that players like safety/outside linebacker Su'a Cravens and offensive tackle Zach Banner will likely make the jump as well.
Per Pauline, "word is circulating" that Cravens will enter next April's draft. Banner is reportedly waiting to see if he "finishes the season strong" before making a firm decision, though barring any setbacks, it's likely he'll be draft-bound as well.
At 6-foot-1, 225-pounds, Cravens has the kind of tweener body that can prove either a major asset, or frustrating liability at the NFL level. He's a player who moves around the Trojans formation, so he brings ample versatility, but it remains to be seen whether his move from safety to linebacker last season will be a boon or a hindrance to his professional football future. The one thing you can't deny about Cravens though, is his playmaking ability. He finished 2014 with 68 tackles, 17 for loss, five sacks, three interceptions and nine pass break ups. Through five games in 2015 he's got 31 tackles, two sacks and one interception. He's a player ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. recently compared to All Pro Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor.
Considering a tweener like Washington's Shaq Thompson landed in the first-round last year, it wouldn't be surprising to see another box safety-needy team use an early pick on Cravens should he make the leap.
As for Banner, he's managed to make big strides this season after undergoing hip surgery, but his long-term NFL prospects still seem cloudy at this point. Considering his recent injury history, it really wouldn't be surprising to see Banner choose either path - the injury could scare him into making the leap or it could convince him that he needs another season of tape to make a real run at the top of the draft board.
Interestingly, per Pauline, Kessler may wind up the lowest drafted player of the three. Scouts have indicated to Pauline that Kessler could end up a last day pick thanks to a lack of ideal height (under 6-foot-2), average arm strength and limited overall physical skill.
