There are numerous extremely fascinating freshman to watch this football season in, what should prove to be, a very exciting Pac-12 conference. Two of note: Havey Langi, running back for the Utah Utes, may be the opening game starter; and Devon Blackmon, wide receiver for the Oregon Ducks, has a tremendous opportunity for playing time right away after the loss of Lavasier Tuinei. Both could have immediate impacts for their respective schools. However, as I went through freshman after freshman in analyzing who could emerge as the crème de le crème, not just in the conference, but nationally, I found myself in Los Angeles, California – home of our preseason No.1 team, the University of Southern California Trojans.
Scholarship limits restricted Lane Kiffin and the Trojans from assembling a “monster class” in numbers; as small as it was, though it packs a punch. It does not take an in-depth look at the skill-set of whom I think could emerge from day one as an impact player for the Trojans; one must only look at the depth chart. Listed as both tailback and wide receiver, this man is fast, he has length, he is quick, he is agile; he is the Trojans most heralded recruit: Nelson Agholor.
Agholor, simply put, is a freak of nature. At 6’2, 180 pounds, Agholor is a guy – as noted by the post-spring depth chart of the Trojans – that is as versatile a player as they come. With depth as emaciated as the Trojans have it at running back, one could without doubt see Agholor have an impact there as well as a wide receiver, punt and kick returner, and the kid can also play defensive back. Agholor signed, and was recruited, as a wide receiver; but with his speed, athleticism, and versatility – the ever popular hybrid running back-receiver position seems to fit him perfectly.
Though I would not look for Agholor to have a Robert Woods/Marqise Lee-like impact as a freshman at the wide receiver position – his impact could very well be felt at four different positions.
Agholor fights on.
