The unquestioned leader of one of the premier defenses in college football, Cushing is also regarded as one of the finest strong-side outside linebackers in the game. Whether it is blitzing the quarterback, chasing down running backs or dropping back in pass coverage, the chiseled athlete has excelled at whatever task the coaches ask from him.

His steady performances each week brought back memories of former Trojans standout linebacker Duane Bickett, who went on to star in the NFL for Indianapolis (1985-93), Seattle (1994-95) and Carolina (1996) after being selected in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Colts.

Cushing felt that the 2008 season was his chance to prove to scouts that he was not only capable of being a first-round pick, but also prove that he could stay on the football field. Having missed more than a third of his freshman and junior seasons combined due to a rash of injuries, he underwent a rigorous training and nutritional program before the 2008 campaign. His exploits in the training room eventually earned him the honor of being named the team's Co-Lifter of the Year.

On the field, he received All-American recognition in addition to being named All-Pac 10 Conference first-team in 2008. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award, semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy. He accomplished all of this despite playing with a cast for close to a month to protect a broken bone in his hand.

Cushing earned Parade, USA Today, Prep Football Report, Scout.com, Super Prep, EA Sports and Prep Star All-American honors as a senior at Bergen Catholic High School. He was a member of the USA Today All-USA Team, in addition to receiving Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, Student Sports Top 100, Rivals 100, Super Prep All-Northeast Defensive Player of the Year, Prep Star All-East and All-State Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Despite missing three games with an ankle sprain, Cushing recorded 120 tackles, 11 stops for loss, 10 sacks and seven interceptions as a linebacker in 2004. On offense, the running back and tight end gained 475 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns and caught 13 receptions for 456 yards (35.1 avg) with seven scores. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

As a junior, Cushing was named Student Sports Junior All-American, All-State first-team and All-Bergen County Defensive Player of the Year. He went on to register 120 tackles, including 22 behind the line of scrimmage, adding nine sacks and seven interceptions.

Despite missing more than half his freshman season with a shoulder dislocation, Cushing returned to start four games for Southern California in 2005. He shared strong-side outside linebacker duties with Thomas Williams and also excelled on the special team coverage units. He returned a blocked punt 6 yards, delivered 23 tackles (14 solos), recovered a pair of fumbles and caused another. For that performance, Scout.com placed his named on their Freshman All-American squad (honorable mention).

With the depth on the defensive front wall depleted after four starters graduated, Cushing shifted to right defensive end for the 2006 campaign. He underwent a crash course at his new position during fall camp, having missed spring drills due to arthroscopic shoulder surgery. He recorded 57 tackles (27 solos) in his only season on the defensive line, as he ranked tied for second on the squad with 4.5 sacks and paced the Trojans with a career-high 13.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He blocked a punt for the second consecutive year, returning it 21 yards, and also fielded a kickoff that he returned 42 yards for a touchdown. He was named the winner of the team's John McKay Award, given to the player showing the most competitive spirit.

The injury bug resided in Cushing's locker in 2007. He missed a portion of spring drills with a hamstring injury, and at the conclusion of camp underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention suffered a bone chip and high ankle sprain vs. Idaho in the season opener and two games later, re-injured the ankle in the Washington State clash, missing the next four games. He finished with 25 tackles (14 solos) while starting eight of 10 games he played in at strong-side linebacker.

For the third consecutive spring, Cushing was on the sidelines, this time due to arthroscopic ankle surgery. He wore a cast for close to a month after breaking a bone in his hand vs. Oregon State and suffered a shoulder contusion vs. Arizona State, but still started all 13 games at strong-side linebacker in 2008. He was named All-American and All-Pac 10 Conference, as he collected 73 tackles (46 solos), ranking second on the team. He delivered three sacks and led the Trojans with 10.5 stops for losses. He also deflected six passes and picked off another.

GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 6.7

Body Structure: Cushing has the size and frame to play any of the three linebacker positions. He displays solid upper body muscle development with good arm length, and large, natural hands. He has an athletic physique that will fill out further. He has a tight waist and hips and a strong lower frame with minimal body fat (10.8 percent).

Athletic Ability: Cushing has adequate speed with good balance and change of direction agility. While known more for his power than having blazing speed, he does a nice job of moving down the line and has good playing quickness, thanks to loose hips and the ability to avoid on the move. He shows good power and pop on contact and makes plays all over the field with his smooth, long stride, but can sometimes get outside himself and over-pursue. His problem is staying healthy enough to remain on the field, as he has missed a considerable amount of time due to injuries. GRADE: 6.6

Football Sense: Cushing has good eyes to locate the ball, reminding some of former USC standout Duane Bickett (Colts). He closes on the ball with good urgency and picks things up well on the field. He is able to read hats and track the ball with good urgency and is perfectly capable of handling the mental aspect of the game. He has played in a variety of roles and positions at USC, showing that he has the ability to easily learn on the fly. GRADE: 7.0

Character: Cushing is a quiet person off the field, very business-like in his approach to the game. He gets good family support and is not the type that will beat his chest after a good play or draw attention to himself. He has a solid work ethic and while reserved in his personal life, he is very confident of his ability to play the game. GRADE: 6.6

Competitiveness: Cushing is the type that gives 100 percent effort. He is at a different level than his teammates, as he will not hesitate to sacrifice his body to make the play. The problem is, he will get a bit reckless, leading to durability issues. The game comes easy to him, thanks to his above average instincts and while he is not outward with his emotions, he plays with good toughness and plays until the whistle. GRADE: 6.6

Work Habits: Cushing shows great energy in practices and games. He plays at full speed and with a high adrenalin rush. He has good leadership skills and his example sets the tone for others to play up to their level. GRADE: 6.7

ATHLETIC REPORT: GRADE: 6.76

Key and Diagnostic Skills: It is very hard for a quarterback to get Cushing to bite on misdirection or play-action fakes. He has a keen sense for the ball, especially on plays in front of him and playing the run. He is alert dropping back in zone coverage. He shows awareness sifting through trash and his anticipation skills will generally see him get to the ball quicker than most, but even with his loose hips he does struggle to recover when he over-pursues. He has a good grasp of the playbook at several positions and does a good job of finishing his assignments. GRADE: 8.0

Playing Strength and Explosion: Cushing's weight room strength does not always translate to the field. He tries to avoid blocks too much when he should be using his upper body strength to beat his opponent. He does play square, but can be positioned at the Xs when he fails to keep his hands inside his frame. He is just too inconsistent taking on and shedding blocks and is better served playing on the move than battling in the trenches. He has the arm length to get separation, but needs to take on blockers better and utilize his strength instead of trying to use his adequate quickness to avoid and slip past blocks. GRADE: 6.0

Lateral Pursuit/Range: Cushing shows a good flow to the ball, as his ability to get to the edge allows him to generate solid outside containment vs. the run. He can cut through traffic and being a former safety, he still has the ability to get wide for plays. He uses his hands well to avoid low blocks on the move, but will get a bit reckless at times and out-run the play, where despite loose hips he does take some time to recover. He takes good angles and shows good effort in pursuit. GRADE: 7.0

Use of Hands: Cushing uses his hands well to avoid blocks on the move, but despite good weight room strength he will struggle to shed when his hands get outside his frame (leaves his body exposed). He has the upper body strength to rip and shed vs. tight ends and smaller blockers, but sometimes gets too caught up in one-on-one battles. He just needs to do a better job of jumping around and eluding offensive linemen rather than taking them on, as he does not have the punch to stun. He is not a natural hands catcher, resulting in more deflections than interceptions. GRADE: 6.0

Tackling Ability: Even though he might lack the strong punch to shed, Cushing is an impact type of wrap-up tackler, as it is rare for a ball carrier to break free when he engulfs his opponent. He is a very effective open-field tackler, thanks to his ability to break down and read hats. He will get reckless at times and try to hurt people, but that leads to missed tackles. He is better when he uses his long arms to secure, but on the move he can strike and explode on contact. GRADE: 7.2

Run Defense: Cushing is a much better tackler on the move than when trying to make plays in-line. He holds his ground well at the point of attack, but gets caught up in the battle too much and is slow to shed vs. inside running plays. He fills quickly, but is best when unblocked. When he slips through and avoids blocks shooting the gaps, he is able to use his quickness to close. But, when he gets out of position he struggles to get back into the play. Against the outside running game, he excels at getting containment. He has the speed to close and the range to make plays at the opposite sideline. He does a nice job of keeping his feet when getting wide for the play and tracks the ball well along the perimeter. He takes good angles to the ball and shows the alertness to avoid on the move. GRADE: 7.5

Pass Defense: As a former defensive back, Cushing gets back in coverage better than most linebackers. He has good vision locating the ball and does a nice job of anticipating the quarterback. He does not get great depth to cover in the deep third of the zone, but in the short area he has the containment skills to make plays in front of him. He does look a little tight in his movement coming out of his backpedal, but does a good job when asked to just cover the tight end or running back. He does a good job of shadowing underneath, but with that slight hips stiffness he might not be as effective in deep man coverage. GRADE: 6.8

Zone Defense: Cushing shows good instincts, but lacks great depth in his pass drops and is a bit slow coming out of his turns. He will make plays on the ball, but does not have the natural hands to secure the interception. He just needs to be quicker coming out of his breaks, but he is good at anticipating where the ball will go. GRADE: 6.0

Pass Rush and Blitz: Cushing is used quite a bit on stunts through the gaps, but is not really an explosive pass rusher, posting just four sacks in his last 23 games. He is more of a bull rusher that is a one-move type and needs to show more variety in his moves in order to get better success attacking the pocket. He can find the rush land, bring heat and close on the quarterbacks when taking the route through the "A" and "B" gaps, but needs to use his hands better to get free when blockers get into his body. GRADE: 6.2

Compares To: CHAD GREENWAY, Minnesota -- Like Greenway, Cushing is quick to read and react to the play, having a good feel for blocking schemes and the take-off speed to beat offensive tackles upfield. He has enough acceleration to turn the corner, but is best when he slips through the gaps uncontested, as he is quick to fill the inside rush lanes. He stays low in his pads and attacks with good leg drive to neutralize the lead blockers when attempting to fill the run lanes. There are big concerns about his durability, but when healthy he is consistent if not spectacular.

OVERALL GRADE: 6.75

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

Cushing started 38 of 44 games he played in, including 13 at right defensive end and 31 at strong-side outside linebacker … Finished his career with 178 tackles (101 solos) that included 8.5 sacks for minus 57 yards, 27.0 stops for losses totaling 106 yards and two pressures … Intercepted one pass and deflected 12 others … Blocked two punts that he returned for a total of 27 yards and recovered an onside kick vs. Notre Dame that he returned 42 yards for a touchdown in 2006 … Caused and recovered three fumbles.

All-American first-team selection by Sports Illustrated, earning second-team accolades from The Sporting News and Associated Press, and third-team recognition from The NFL Draft Report, Rivals.com and College Football News … Consensus All-Pac 10 Conference first-team choice … Finalist for the Butkus Award, semi-finalist for the Lombardi Award and quarter-finalist for the Lott Trophy … Named the team's Co-Lifter of the Year … Limited in spring drills after undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery … Suffered a broken bone in his hand vs. Oregon State and was forced to play wearing a cast for about one month … Also suffered a shoulder contusion vs. Arizona State, but still managed to start all thirteen games on the Trojans' schedule … Ranked second on the team with 73 tackles (46 solos) … Added three sacks for minus 22 yards and led the squad with 10.5 stops for losses totaling 50 yards … Also had a QB pressure, along with a forced fumble … Deflected six passes and recorded his first career interception … On 54 running plays he was involved in, Cushing held the opposition to 119 yards, no touchdowns and eight first downs (2.2 ypc), as he made six third-down stops, two more on fourth-down plays and took down ball carriers for no gain on four other runs … On 30 pass plays into his area, the opposition completed 19 passes (63.33%) for 132 yards (6.95 yards per completion/4.40 yards per pass attempt) and one touchdown, allowing four first-down receptions … Made six of his tackles inside the red zone, including four on goal line plays … Added one more tackle for the kickoff coverage unit.

Virginia … Cushing contributed two tackles and a pass deflection in the Trojans' decisive 52-7 victory over Virginia … All of Cushing's statistics were tallied on a drive that occurred midway through the third quarter, when the linebacker limited Virginia tailback Cedric Peerman to 2 yards on a rushing attempt from the Cavaliers' 29-yard line, stopped Peerman for a 3-yard loss later in the drive, and broke up quarterback Peter Lalich's third-down pass to tight end John Phillips, forcing UVA to punt the ball away … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#37-Cedric Peerman (5:10-208)-Eight carries for 32 yards, two catches for 7 yards, one kickoff return for 17 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made two tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense -1 yard, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 32 yards on 21 carries (1.52 ypc) … The opposition completed 0-of-1 passes that were thrown into his area … Cushing was involved in one third-down pass play and made one tackle for loss, as the defense allowed 187 total yards on 56 plays (3.34 yards per play) … The opposition completed 18-of-35 passes for 155 yards, with one interception … Part of a unit that led the nation in pass efficiency defense (85.75 rating) and scoring defense (9.0 ppg), as the Trojans also placed second nationally in total defense (221.77 ypg) and fifth in rush defense (87.38 ypg).

Ohio State … Cushing led No. 1 USC in tackles in the much-anticipated match-up with No. 5 Ohio State, finishing the Trojans' 35-3 dismantling of the Buckeyes with 11 stops (7 solos) … On a drive that started at the 11:51 mark in the first quarter, Cushing was credited with three tackles, stopping Buckeye tailback Dan Herron for gains of 6, 2, and 6 yards, the last of which occurring on a 3rd-&-goal play from the USC 18-yard line, forcing Ohio State to settle for a 29-yard field goal … The USC linebacker also was credited with two tackles on pass plays in the first half, stopping Herron after a pickup of 7 yards and limiting running back Brandon Saine to a 5-yard reception in USC territory … Early in the third quarter, Cushing stopped Dan Herron after a 2-yard rush … During a drive later in the third quarter, Cushing tackled wide receiver Ray Small after a 3-yard reception, allowed Brandon Saine to gain 10 yards on a 2nd-&-7 play, and, on the next play, stopped Saine for no gain at the Ohio State 33-yard line … At the 1:33 mark in the third quarter, Cushing stopped tailback Beanie Wells for a 2-yard loss on a rushing attempt … Early in the fourth quarter, the USC defender tackled running back Dan Herron after a 4-yard reception from quarterback Terrelle Pryor … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#1-Dan Herron (5:10-193)-Eleven carries for 51 yards, three catches for 23 yards, 2 kickoff returns for 32 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made seven tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 24 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 71 yards on 34 carries (2.09 ypc) … The opposition completed 4-of-4 passes that were thrown into his area for 19 yards … Cushing was involved in one third-down play, made two red-zone tackles, including one on the goal line (third down), made one tackle for loss, and one tackle for no gain, as the defense allowed 207 total yards on 64 plays (3.23 yards per play) … The opposition completed 21-of-30 passes for 136 yards, with two interceptions.

Oregon State … Despite eight tackles from Cushing, the Trojan defense allowed 343 total yards, including 176 on the ground, in Oregon State's stunning 27-21 upset of the top-ranked Trojans … For the game, Cushing registered eight tackles (5 solos), including one for loss, and one pass breakup … Midway through the first quarter, Cushing tackled OSU tailback Jacquizz Rodgers after gains of 7 and 8 yards … In the second quarter, the All-American linebacker was credited with limiting flanker James Rodgers to a 5-yard catch and tackling Jacquizz Rodgers for a 2-yard loss … At the 10:12 mark in the third quarter, Jacquizz Rodgers was tackled by Cushing after a 5-yard run … Later in the third quarter, Cushing broke up a pass by OSU quarterback Lyle Moevao … In the fourth quarter, Cushing was credited with tackling Beaver receiver Darrell Catchings after a 7-yard reception and limiting Jacquizz Rodgers to no gain on a rushing attempt and, later in the drive, stopping the tailback after a 4-yard gain on 3rd-&-6, forcing OSU to punt … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#1-Jacquizz Rodgers (5:07-193)-37 carries for 186 yards and two touch-downs, two receptions for 27 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made six tackles vs. the run, with netted the offense 22 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 176 yards on 45 carries (3.91 ypc) … The opposition completed 2-of-3 passes that were thrown into his area for 12 yards … Cushing was involved in one third-down play, one tackle for loss, one stop for no gain, one goal-line tackle, and one pass deflection, as the defense allowed 343 total yards on 73 plays (4.70 yards per play) … The opposition completed 18-of-28 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

Oregon … Following the Trojans' disappointing loss to the other team from Oregon the previous week, USC came ready to play vs. Oregon, soundly defeating the No. 23 Ducks, 44-10 … The Trojan defense limited the Ducks to 239 total yards, including just 60 yards on the ground, thanks, in part, to the play of Cushing, who finished the game with six tackles (2 solos), one sack, and two pass breakups … On the Ducks' first drive of the game, Cushing registered a tackle of tight end Ed Dickson after an 8-yard reception, stopped quarterback Jeremiah Masoli after a 2-yard rush to the USC 38-yard line on 4th-&-1, and brought down Masoli after a 7-yard rush to the USC 1-yard line … Early in the second quarter, the USC linebacker broke up a Masoli pass and tackled quarterback Chris Harper for a 1-yard loss at the USC 9-yard line … Midway through the second quarter, Cushing stopped tailback LeGarrette Blount for no gain in USC territory … Less than a minute before halftime, Masoli attempted a pass to Ed Dickson that was broken up by Cushing … Early in the final stanza, Cushing sacked Masoli for a 7-yard loss on 3rd-&-26 to force the Ducks to punt … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#24-Jeremiah Johnson (5:09-210)-13 carries for 45 yards and one touchdown … Defensive Impact: Cushing made four tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 8 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 60 yards on 39 carries (1.54 ypc) … The opposition completed 1-of-3 passes that were thrown into his area for 8 yards … Cushing was involved in one fourth-down play, one third-down play, two red-zone plays, one sack, one goal-line stop, one tackle for loss, one tackle for no gain, and deflected two passes, as the defense allowed 239 total yards on 72 plays (3.32 yards per play) … The opposition completed 20-of-33 passes for 179 yards, with one interception.

Arizona State … Cushing finished with seven tackles (4 solos) and 0.5 sack in USC's 28-0 shutout of the Arizona State Sun Devils … Cushing had a busy first half, tallying all seven of his defensive stops in the game's first two quarters … In the first stanza, Cushing limited ASU tailback Dimitri Nance to a 2-yard run … With 4:56 remaining in the second quarter, the USC linebacker stopped running back Keegan Herring after a 4-yard gain … On ASU's next drive, Cushing was credited with tackling Nance after a 10-yard reception on 3rd-&-8 and a 5-yard run on first down, was penalized 3 yards for pass interference, sacked Sun Devil quarterback Rudy Carpenter for an 8-yard loss inside the ASU 20-yard line, and tackled Keegan Herring after a 3-yard rush on 3rd-&-17 and a 7-yard gain on 4th-&-14 … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#31-Dimitri Nance (5:10-220)-14 carries for 64 yards, five catches for 31 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made five tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 21 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 75 yards on 36 carries (2.10 ypc) … The opposition completed 1-of-1 passes that were thrown into his area for 10 yards … Cushing was involved in one fourth-down play, two third-down plays, and one sack, as the defense allowed 229 total yards on 73 plays (3.14 yards per play) … The opposition completed 15-of-37 passes for 154 yards, with three interceptions.

Washington State … USC's defense was ranked first in the nation in scoring for good reason, as the Trojans defeated Washington State 69-0, limiting the Cougars to a mere 116 yards of total offense … Cushing finished the game with three tackles (1 solo) and one forced fumble … In the first half, Cushing was credited with stopping tailback Chantz Staden after a 4-yard rush and tackling halfback Logwone Mitz 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage … On the Cougars' first drive of the second half, Cushing hit Logwone Mitz after an 11-yard gain, causing the tailback to fumble the ball, which was recovered by USC's Josh Pinkard at the WSU 40-yard line … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#34-Logwone Mitz (6:01-219)-19 carries for 52 yards, one catch for -1 yard … Defensive Impact: Cushing made three tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 7 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 88 yards on 37 carries (2.38 ypc) … Cushing was involved in one tackle for loss and one forced fumble, as the defense allowed 116 total yards on 46 plays (2.52 yards per play) … The opposition completed 6-of-9 yards for 28 yards, with one interception.

Arizona … Arizona entered the game averaging 40.4 points per game, ranking them ninth in the nation, but the USC defense limited the Wildcats to 188 total yards in the Trojans' 17-10 victory over their PAC-10 foes … Cushing was credited with six tackles (5 solos) in the contest … Early in the first quarter, Cushing limited wide receiver Mike Thomas to 3 yards on a reception from quarterback Willie Tuitama and tackled tailback Keola Antolin after an 11-yard gain on 1st-&-10 … Later in the quarter, the USC linebacker stopped Mike Thomas after receptions of 2 and 10 yards … In the second quarter, Cushing was credited with tackling Keola Antolin after a 6-yard rush and stopping tight end Rob Gronkowski after an 8-yard reception to the USC 48-yard line … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#5-Nic Grigsby (5:10-194)-14 carries for 69 yards and one touchdown … Defensive Impact: Cushing made two tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 17 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 100 yards on 30 carries (3.33 ypc) … The opposition completed 4-of-4 passes that were thrown into his area for 23 yards … The defense allowed 188 total yards on 61 plays ( 3.10 yards per play) … The opposition completed 14-of-31 passes for 88 yards, with one interception.

Washington … The USC defense limited Washington to 184 total yards in the Trojans' decisive 56-0 victory over the Huskies, with their All-American linebacker contributing three tackles (2 solos) before his head coach, Pete Carroll, put in backups for the second half … Early in the first quarter, Washington tight end Kavario Middleton hauled in an 8-yard pass before Cushing could bring him down … Early in the second half, Cushing tackled Huskie Alvin Logan after the wide receiver converted a 3rd-&-11 play with a 13-yard reception … At the 5:24 mark in the third quarter, the USC linebacker limited Washington tailback Brandon Johnson to 2 yards on a 3rd-&-3 rushing attempt from the USC 15-yard line … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#6-Brandon Johnson (5:09-207)-18 carries for 54 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made one tackle vs. the run, which netted the offense 2 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 71 yards on 30 carries (2.37 ypc) … The opposition completed 2-of-2 passes that were thrown into his area for 21 yards … Cushing was involved in two third-down plays and one red-zone tackle, as the defense allowed 184 total yards on 63 plays (2.92 yards per play) … The opposition completed 14-of-33 passes for 113 yards, with three interceptions.

California … USC's defense, which has allowed an NCAA-low 6.7 points, including just seven touchdowns, this season, continued its domination, holding Cal to 165 total yards in the Trojans' 17-3 win over their PAC-10 rival … Cushing finished the contest with nine tackles (6 solos) and one sack … During the game's first drive, Cushing tackled Cal tailback Jahvid Best after rushes of 6 and 3 yards and stopped the running back for a loss of 6 yards on third down to force the Golden Bears to punt … At the 10:04 mark in the first quarter, the USC linebacker limited Best to a 5-yard rush … Near the end of the quarter, Best picked up 2 yards before Cushing brought him down, and the linebacker was flagged for roughing the passer at the USC 33-yard line, which wiped out an interception by Trojan defensive back Kevin Thomas … Cushing was credited with a tackle on a kickoff return at the 4:54 mark in the second quarter … Early in the third quarter, he tackled Cal running back Shane Vereeen after a 2-yard reception … In the fourth quarter, Cushing sacked Cal quarterback Kevin Riley for an 8-yard loss, followed later in the quarterback by a tackle of Jahvid Best after a 1-yard rush … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#4-Jahvid Best (5:10-193)-13 carries for 30 yards, three catches for 15 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made six tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 11 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 27 yards on 26 carries (1.04 ypc) … The opposition completed 1-of-1 passes that were thrown into his area for 2 yards … Cushing was involved in one third-down play, one tackle for loss, and one sack, as the defense allowed 165 total yards on 57 plays (2.89 yards per play) … The opposition completed 15-of-31 passes for 138 yards, with one interception.

Stanford … Cushing contributed six tackles (4 solos), one interception, and one pass breakup in the Trojans' 45-23 victory over Stanford, a win that avenged last season's disappointing loss to the Cardinal … On the game's first drive, Cushing was credited with three tackles, stopping Stanford tailback Toby Gerhart after gains of 2 and 4 yards and limiting quarterback Tavi Pritchard to 1 yard on a rushing attempt … Early in the second quarter, Cushing tackled quarterback Alex Loukas for a 6-yard loss on third down, forcing Stanford to punt … Cushing put pressure on Tavi Pritchard at the 4:11 mark in the second quarter, forcing the quarterback into an incompletion … With 2:36 remaining in the third quarter, the USC linebacker tackled Gerhart after a 4-yard gain and was credited with another quarterback pressure when he forced Tavi Pritchard to throw an incompletion … In the fourth quarter, Cushing tackled Cardinal wide receiver Doug Baldwin after a 3-yard reception on 3rd-&-10, forcing Stanford to punt, and, later in the quarter, intercepted a Tavi Pritchard pass at the USC 36-yard line, which led to tailback Stafon Johnson's 3-yard touchdown run and a 45-17 Trojan lead … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#7-Toby Gerhart (6:01-232)-23 carries for 101 yards and one touchdown, two catches for 15 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made five tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 5 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 202 yards on 41 carries (4.93 ypc) … The opposition completed 1-of-1 passes that were thrown into his area for 3 yards … Cushing was involved in one fourth-down play, two third-down plays, two quarterback pressures, one interception, and one tackle for loss, as the defense allowed 367 total yards on 68 plays (5.40 yards per play) … The opposition completed 14-of-27 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown, with one interception.

Notre Dame … How dominant was the USC defense vs. the Fighting Irish? Notre Dame didn't convert a first down until the very last play of the third quarter in USC's 38-3 rout of the Irish … When the game was over, Notre Dame had only mustered 91 yards of total offense, thanks to a defense that was led by Cushing, who finished with three solos tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, and one pass deflection … Early in the first quarter, Cushing got his hand on a pass attempt by Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen, causing the ball to fall incomplete … Later in the quarter, Cushing tackled tailback Armando Allen for no gain on 3rd-&-2 from the Irish 28-yard line, forcing Notre Dame to punt … In the second quarter, Cushing was credited with limiting Irish tight end Kyle Rudolph to 4 yards after catching a pass from Clausen and tackling Armondo Allen for a loss of 6 yards after a reception … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#34-James Aldridge (6:00-225)-12 carries for 58 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made one tackle vs. the run, which netted the offense no yardage, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 50 yards on 27 carries (1.85 ypc) … The opposition completed 2-of-3 passes that were thrown into his area for minus 2 yards … Cushing was involved in one third-down play, one tackle for loss, one tackle for no gain, and one pass breakup, as the defense allowed 91 total yards on 49 plays (1.86 yards per play) … The opposition completed 11-of-22 passes for 41 yards, with two interceptions.

UCLA … After UCLA took an early 7-0 lead, the USC offense rattled off 28 unanswered points to defeat their cross-town rivals 28-7 and give the Trojans their ninth victory over the Bruins in their last 10 meetings … The USC defense, which held UCLA to 157 total yards, including just 47 yards on the ground, received three solo tackles and a pass breakup from senior linebacker Brian Cushing … On UCLA's first drive of the game, Cushing limited Bruin tailback Kahlil Bell to 1 yard on a rushing attempt … Later in the quarter, the USC linebacker tackled Bell for a loss of 2 yards inside the Trojan 20-yard line … With 1:03 remaining in the first quarter, Bell was stopped by Cushing after a 3-yard gain at midfield … Midway through the fourth quarter, Cushing deflected a pass thrown by UCLA QB Kevin Craft … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#36-Kahlil Bell (6:00-219)-15 carries for 39 yards, one catch for 21 yards and a touchdown … Defensive Impact: Cushing made three tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 2 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 47 yards on 21 carries (2.24 ypc) … The opposition completed 0-of-1 passes that were thrown into his area … Cushing was involved in one play in the red zone, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup, as the defense allowed 157 total yards on 50 plays (3.14 yards per play) … The opposition completed 12-of-29 passes for 110 yards and one touchdown, with one interception.

Penn State (Rose Bowl) … Cushing led the Trojan defense in tackles in USC's 38-24 victory over No. 6 Penn State in the Rose Bowl, making seven stops (6 solos) and 0.5 sack in the win … In the first quarter, Cushing was credited with limiting Penn State tailback Evan Royster to runs of 4 and 3 yards … Seconds before halftime, the USC linebacker tackled Nittany Lion tailback Stephfon Green after a 9-yard reception … In the third quarter, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark rushed for 3 yards to the USC 2-yard line before Cushing brought the signal-call down … In the fourth quarter, Cushing sacked Clark for a 7-yard loss, tackled wide receiver Derrick Williams after a 14-yard gain on a rushing attempt, and limited Stephfon Green to 7 yards on a rush inside the USC 20-yard line … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#22-Evan Royster (6:01-209)-six carriers for 34 yards … Defensive Impact: Cushing made five tackles vs. the run, which netted the offense 31 yards, and helped the defense hold the opposition to 137 yards on 29 carries (4.72 ypc) … The opposition completed 1-of-1 passes that were thrown into his area for 9 yards … Cushing was involved in two red-zone plays, one goal-line play, and one sack, as the defense allowed 410 total yards on 66 plays (6.21 yards per play) … The opposition completed 21-of-37 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions.

Earned All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention, despite playing in only ten games … Underwent left knee arthroscopic surgery following spring drills and was limited in that camp due to a hamstring pull … Suffered a left ankle sprain and chipped a bone in his leg vs. Idaho in the season opener … Re-injured his ankle two games later vs. Washington State, sitting out the next three contests vs. Washington, Stanford and Arizona … Finished with 25 tackles (14 solos), a 2-yard sack and 2.5 stops for losses of 4 yards … Deflected two passes and recovered one fumble … Helped the Trojans rank second in the nation in both scoring defense (16.0 ppg) and total defense (273.15 ypg), as they also ranked fourth vs. the run (84.15 ypg) and sixth in pass efficiency defense (102.07 rating).

Sprained his left ankle in the Idaho opener … Had one tackle vs. Washington State, then returned from his injury and notched two tackles at Notre Dame … Added eight tackles (2 solos) at Oregon, followed by five stops and a 2-yard sack vs. Oregon State … Posted four hits that included 1.5 stops for a loss and a pass deflection at California … Made a pair of tackles at Arizona State and two more stops vs. UCLA … .Delivered one tackle and recovered a fumble to set up a USC touchdown drive vs. Illinois in the Rose Bowl.

Cushing shifted to the right defensive end position in USC's hybrid 3-4 "Elephant" defense, earning Sophomore All-American third-team honors from College Football News … All-Pac 10 Conference second-team choice … Recipient of the team's John McKay Award, given for most competitive spirit … Missed spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery to repair a dislocation suffered in 2005 … Recorded 57 tackles (27 solos) with 4.5 sacks for minus 33 yards, tied for second on the team … Led the Trojans with a career-high 13.5 stops for losses of 52 yards … Added a QB pressure, a pass deflection and a forced fumble … Scored on a 42-yard onside kick return and blocked a punt that he advanced 21 yards.

Tackled tailback Darren McFadden for a 3-yard loss and made five hits (4 solos) vs. Arkansas in the season opener … Followed with five tackles and a stop behind the line of scrimmage vs. Nebraska … Sacked QB Willie Tuitama for an 11-yard loss and was in on four tackles (3 solos) vs. Arizona … Added five tackles with 1.5 stops for loss and blocked a punt that he returned 21 yards to set up a USC field goal vs. Washington … Delivered five hits with a stop behind the line of scrimmage vs. Stanford … Had just one solo tackle, but scored for the only time during his USC career when he took an onside kick 42 yards for a touchdown vs. Notre Dame … Credited with a 4-yard sack among his two stops behind the line of scrimmage vs. UCLA … Closed out the year with seven tackles, sacking QB Chad Henne 2.5 times for minus 18 yards, causing a fumble on one sack, as he also had four stops for losses vs. Michigan in the Rose Bowl, earning ESPN All-Bowl Team honors, in addition to being named the Rose Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player.

Scout.com Freshman All-American honorable mention … Cushing made quite an impact as a first-year freshman linebacker, despite missing nearly half the season with a shoulder injury … Started USC's last four games vs. California, Fresno State, UCLA and Texas on the strong side after previously serving as an often-used backup there and a key special teams player … Overall, while appearing in eight games (missed the Arkansas, Oregon, Arizona State, Arizona and Notre Dame games after dislocating his shoulder before the Arkansas contest), he made 23 tackles (14 solos), including 0.5 for a loss, plus had three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt that he returned 6 yards …

After the season, he had surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder.

As a starter, he led USC with seven tackles at California, adding four stops, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery to set up a USC field goal vs. Fresno State … Totaled two tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection vs. UCLA … Registered five vs. Stanford, and made a pair of hits and blocked a punt to set up a USC field goal at Washington … Forced a fumble that USC recovered for a touchdown at Hawaii.

2004: Missed three games during his high school senior year with an ankle sprain.

2005: Suffered a shoulder dislocation prior to the Arkansas contest (9/17), sitting out that game and also vs. Oregon (9/24), Arizona State (10/01) Arizona (10/08) and Notre Dame (10/15) … Underwent surgery after the season, missing 2006 spring camp.

2007: Missed most of spring drills with a right hamstring strain … After spring camp, he underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery … Suffered a slight bone fracture and a high ankle sprain vs. Idaho (9/01) … Saw limited action the next two games vs. Nebraska (9/15) and Washington State (9/22), but re-injured the ankle vs. WSU, sitting out the next three games vs. Washington (9/29), Stanford (10/06) and Arizona (10/13).

2008: Missed spring drills after undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery … Played with a cast after suffering a broken bone in his hand vs. Oregon State (9/25) … Suffered a shoulder contusion vs. Arizona State (10/11).

Combine: 4.64 in the 40-yard dash … 1.53 10-yard dash … 2.62 20-yard dash … 4.22 20-yard shuttle … 6.84 three-cone drill … 35-inch vertical jump … 10'0" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 30 times … 31 1/2-inch arm length … 10-inch hands.

Attended Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) High School … Earned Parade, USA Today, Prep Football Report, Scout.com, Super Prep, EA Sports and Prep Star All-American honors as a senior … Member of the USA Today All-USA Team, in addition to receiving Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, Student Sports Top 100, Rivals 100, Super Prep All-Northeast Defensive Player of the Year, Prep Star All-East and All-State Defensive Player of the Year honors … Despite missing three games with an ankle sprain, Cushing recorded 120 tackles, 11 stops for loss, 10 sacks and seven interceptions as a linebacker in 2004 … On offense, the running back and tight end gained 475 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns and caught 13 receptions for 456 yards (35.1 avg) with seven scores … Also returned a kickoff for a touchdown … As a junior, Cushing was named Student Sports Junior All-American, All-State first-team and All-Bergen County Defensive Player of the Year … Registered 120 tackles, including 22 behind the line of scrimmage, adding nine sacks and seven interceptions.

Sociology major … Born 1/24/87 … Resides in Park Ridge, New Jersey.