Nov 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) is sacked by Southern California Trojans linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (42) in the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Photo Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — USC football boasts a long and proud tradition of outstanding linebackers leading conference championship teams.
Senior Uchenna Nwosu embarks on Friday’s Pac-12 Championship Game matchup against Stanford with an opportunity to add his name to the distinguished list.
Nwosu has been key to the Trojans’ first 10-win regular season since 2011 and their second championship game appearance in three seasons. He will be front and center when USC (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12) challenges Stanford (9-3, 7-2) for the program’s first conference title since 2008.
“Great, physical pass-rusher and run defender, and pass defender, also. So many pass deflections,” Stanford head coach David Shaw said, raving in his assessment of Nwosu.
The statistics speak volumes: Nwosu is fourth on the team in tackles (68), fourth in tackles for loss (8.5), third in sacks (6.5), and first in quarterback hurries (eight) and passes broken up (14). He ranks tops in the nation for pass break-ups among linebackers.
As impressive as Nwosu’s numbers are individually, the diversity stands out. He plays a central part to USC’s defensive pursuits whether against run or pass, settling into a relatively new position.
“Coming out of high school, he was a stack linebacker at 205 pounds,” said USC coach Clay Helton.
“Through strength and conditioning, and basically being a master of his craft, he’s worked this last two years at the outside linebacker position as a SAM, and then as a defensive end in our nickel package.”
Stopping Stanford begins with slowing Heisman Trophy contender running back Bryce Love, and Nwosu is proving adept at aiding against the run. But with the recent emergence of Cardinal quarterback K.J. Costello, another of Nwosu’s proven abilities factors in to the defense.
“The biggest thing he’s really progressed in is his pass-rush skill,” Helton said.
Helton credited Nwosu’s ability to adjust when the sack is not available as a reason for all the pass deflections at the line of scrimmage. Against Stanford on Sept. 9, with Keller Chryst playing quarterback for the Cardinal, Nwosu broke up a remarkable five passes.
Nwosu already has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He has worked his way from a role player into one of the most impactful defenders in the Pac-12 — if not the FBS.
“He’s done an unbelievable job of creating havoc on passing plays,” Helton said. “He’s a nightmare for offensive tackles with his speed and explosion off the edge, and he just has a knack for diagnosing if he’s going to be able to get to the quarterback.”
NOTES: LB John Houston Jr. came on strong at the end of the regular season. Houston made 28 of his 72 tackles in the final three games, picked off a pass in the Nov. 4 win over Arizona, and broke up a pass Nov. 11 at Colorado. … USC leads the series against Stanford 62-32-3. … RB Ronald Jones II finished the regular season with games of 216, 194, 142 and 122 rushing yards and eight combined touchdowns. Jones is nine yards shy of passing O.J. Simpson as the fifth-leading rusher in USC history.
