default-cbs-image

The USC Trojans have a ridiculously impressive list of talented football players who have matriculated from the program. And Redskins rookie Su'a Cravens believes he belongs on the list with the best of them.

Apparently inspired by an "All-USC Team" ranking from USCFootball.com (only using players from the rather arbitrary years of 2002-2015), Cravens decided to tell the world where he stands.

Daniel Weber of the USC Scout site didn't feature Cravens on his list, obviously. Troy Polamalu, Darnell Bing, T.J. McDonald and Taylor Mays made up the defensive backfield. Lofa Tatupu, Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing were the linebackers. Cravens didn't appreciate it and it set him off a little bit, so he launched off on a Twitter rant about where he stands in terms of all-time greats at the school.

"Rant" is perhaps unfair, because he was actually rational with his social media approach. And goodness some level-headedness is appreciated.

Now, as to the claim -- "one of the best ever" to play football for USC -- well, it depends on how we want to stack this up.

Cravens was a really good player in college. He has zero claim to the USC G.O.A.T. title however.

O.J. Simpson is perhaps not a wonderful person off the field, but he was an incredible running back for the Trojans (he won the 1968 Heisman Trophy and ran for 3,423 yards in just two seasons). Marcus Allen ran for 2,427 yards ... in his senior season. Reggie Bush scored 38 touchdowns in his final year with the Trojans. THIRTY EIGHT. Those are just three running backs.

So, yeah, no real claim there. But he might be onto something if he's just saying he deserves inclusion into the group posted by Weber.

He did make the "Just Missed" list provided and he does make fair points about his inclusion. Ironically, Cravens playing multiple positions -- he is expected to play linebacker for the Redskins but he's more like a modern hybrid LB/S than anything else (and played both in college) -- might hurt him more than anything.

On the other hand, maybe Cravens' list of best ever players in USC history is really, really long and he makes it. The important thing for Redskins fans is Cravens believes he's the best and is easily willing to lob a chip on his shoulder. It should only serve to motivate the young man further.

Wink of the CBS Eye to Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post for the link