Kris O'Dowd Commits to USC Trojans

By Jeff Flinn, NFLHS.com

Kris O'Dowd is that rare high school athlete who has the body, the build, to already be performing at the next level. He blends run and pass-blocking skills as few high school lineman do -- which is just fine with his new coach, Pete Carroll of the USC Trojans.

O'Dowd committed to USC on Dec. 14, spending several months whittling away a list of 40 scholarship offers to a final four - Arizona, Tennessee, USC and UCLA.

O'Dowd signed his Letter Of Intent in a ceremony at high school Wednesday, Feb. 7.

"I knew it was USC a few days before I announced," O'Dowd said. "I thought academically, I'd be able to be more successful over there, they've got a tremendous business college. Playing-wise, it was equal among the teams I considered. I really felt at home with the (USC) program, with the coaches and the players, and that's what I was looking for the whole time."

O'Dowd spent much of the year at guard for his high school, Salpointe Catholic High in Tucson, Ariz., but has seen time at all three line positions. He already knows what he thinks he will be doing for the Trojans -- and hopefully, as soon as September.

"I think I'm pretty versatile, that's what they told me, that I can play most any position along the line. But they are looking for a center right now, and they want me at a solid 300 ... I am 315 now, so I have a couple more pounds to shed," he said.

O'Dowd was a favorite son, having grown up in Tucson, home of the Arizona Wildcats, who won six games this past season under second-year head coach Mike Stoops. It was the Wildcats' first winning season since 1999. But O'Dowd was solid on USC.

Rated as a five-star guard, O'Dowd's future position will in fact be center. USC All-American center Ryan Kalil, who will graduate this spring, had a major impact on O'Dowd's decision to become a Trojan.

"Just being able to talk to Ryan (on my official visit to USC) helped me a lot," he said.

Familiarity with the program and the players -- O'Dowd was on the USC campus three times; for camp, unofficial and official visits -- was one of the convincing factors.

O'Dowd said USC coaches talked about his athleticism, and mentioned the finer points of his game.

"I believe I am quick, I've got fast feet, I believe I've got a good head on my shoulders, and I am more than willing to command the offensive line once I get there," he said.

Making the decision for USC was not an easy one, but it was his. All his.

"I did this on my own; my parents didn't push me," he said. "I kind of picked this up and did my own routine, and it's paid off tremendously. I just feel like I've completed a goal and I am going to set a couple more and hopefully I can do my best to achieve them."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.