Everson Griffen, DE

Griffen arrived in Los Angeles as part of a highly touted recruiting class and emerged as a starter as a true freshman, when he was the first Trojan defensive lineman to start the season opener since 1986. Struggles with consistency pushed Griffen back to the sideline for the remainder of his freshman season and he finished with just the two starts (appearing in all 13 games) and posted 21 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

The 2008 season began just like 2007, with Griffen earning a starting spot early in the year, but ultimately losing the position. He started the first three games of the season (seeing action in 12 games), but after being benched, struggled, and finished with "only" 18 tackles, including six for loss (4.5 sacks).

Griffen re-committed to the program in 2009, and re-emerged as the playmaker USC thought he could become. His performance in the spring had scouts buzzing and a breakout season in which he posted 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in earning second-team all-Pac-10 honors.

Blessed with good size, strength and the athleticism to jump up the board in workouts, Griffen is an intriguing prospect who might be just scratching the surface of his potential. His agility and straight-line speed might be enough to convince scouts that his future position should be as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. Regardless of his pro position, teams will have to judge how likely it is that he'll return to his inconsistent ways once he cashes that first NFL paycheck.

Pass rush: Flashes a quick burst off the snap. Can pressure the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle and has good flexibility to get under his reach and turn the corner. Has a quick counter move to spin back inside. Must use his hands more consistently to break free from blockers once engaged. Uses rip and swim moves, but neither is effective enough to be a go-to move in the NFL. Good use of strength for the bull rush. Has a good closing burst when he has an open lane. Struggles locating the football. Is so concerned with getting upfield that he will run right by the action on inside running plays.

Run defense: Appears to have the bulk and strength to hold up at the point of attack, but too often is engulfed and pushed back. Quick enough laterally to extend the edge. Rides the tackle outside and keeps contain. Good enough lateral agility to play in space and handle the pitch against the option. Good balance and straight-line speed to pursue, but is inconsistent in his effort.

Explosion: Flashes an explosive first step, but is largely inconsistent in his initial quickness off the snap. Good weight-room strength, but doesn't rock the tackle back on his heels with his hands.

Strength: Good weight-room strength, but it doesn't necessarily translate to the field. Plays with leverage, but is inconsistent in his ability to hold up at the point.

Tackling: One of his more intriguing assets. Has good balance and agility to break down in space and make the secure stop against elusive athletes. Brings his hips through the tackle, leading to some impressive hits. Good strength for the drag-down tackle.

Intangibles: Some around the USC program question Griffen's work ethic and willingness to do the little things necessary to become great. Runs hot and cold. Was arrested and charged with breach of the peace after a Fourth of July party in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 2009. The charges were ultimately dropped, though Griffen (and teammate Jordan Campbell) was asked to write letters of apology to the Nantucket Police Department and his teammates.

Griffen finished the 2009 season with 45 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for losses and 8.0 sacks. In his career at USC, Griffen finished with 18 sacks.

Griffen was USC's pass rush specialist as a backup defensive end as a sophomore in 2008. Overall while appearing in 12 games in 2008 (all but Washington State) and starting the first 3 games (Viginia, Ohio State and Oregon State), he had 18 tackles, including 6 for losses of 43 yards (with 4.5 sacks for minus 39 yards). He had 3 tackles against Oregon State and California and 2 versus Virginia, Ohio State, Oregon and Stanford (1.5 for losses). He missed the Washington State game because he was sick.

Griffen had an impressive showing as a first-year freshman backup defensive end in 2007, playing primarily in pass rushing situations. Overall in 2007 while appearing in all 13 games, he had 21 tackles, including 5.5 for losses of 30 yards (all were sacks), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 2 deflections. He even started 2 games (the Idaho opener and then Arizona State). He became the first USC true freshman to start an opener on the defensive line since Tim Ryan in 1986 against Illinois and the first true freshman to start on the defensive line since Shaun Cody did so in 2001 against Utah. He was named to the 2007 The Sporting News Freshman All-American first team, Football Writers Freshman All-American first team, Rivals.com Freshman All-American first team, Scout.com Freshman All-American first team and Collegefootballnews.com Freshman All-American second team, plus was The Sporting News Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year and was an All-Pac-10 honorable mention pick. He had 2 tackles at Nebraska, 1 stop against Washington State, a sack and forced fumble against Arizona, a tackle and deflection at Notre Dame and 2 stops at Oregon. He then had 3.5 sacks among his 6 tackles (with a forced fumble) against Oregon State (it was the most sacks by a Trojan since Tim Ryan had 4 against UCLA in 1989) to earn Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week honors. He had a tackle at California, then 6 tackles (with a sack) and a fumble recovery to set up a USC touchdown at Arizona State. He added a tackle and deflection against Illinois.

His 2006 honors included Super Prep Player of the Year, Scout.com Player of the Year, Parade All-American, EA Sports All-American first team, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Scout.com All-American, Lemming All-American, Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star 100, Rivals.com 100, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Scout.com All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Tacoma News-Tribune Western 100 and Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year as a senior at Agua Fria High in Avondale (Ariz.) … He had 77 tackles, 16 sacks and a fumble recovery as a defensive end and ran for 1,251 yards on 159 carries (7.9 avg.) with 20 TDs and had 6 receptions with 2 TDs as a running back in 2006 … Agua Fria went 12-1 and won the state 4-a championship in 2006 … As a junior in 2005, he had 70 tackles, 6 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries, plus ran for 794 yards on 132 carries (6.1 avg.) with 10 TDs and had 168 receiving yards … His cousin is Arizona State tailback Keegan Herring.

His cousin is Arizona State tailback Keegan Herring.