09-09-2004, 07:22 AM
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Head Coach
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,...389237,00.html
Quote:
Byers turns building block
USC's Loveland star in line for playing time against CSU
By John Henderson
Denver Post Staff Writer
AP / Chris Carlson
USC freshman center Jeff Byers, resting during practice Wednesday, has a backup role for now.
It's painfully easy for Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick to imagine Jeff Byers, the once-in-a-generation high school center from Loveland, playing for the Rams.
All Lubick has to do is recall those lazy summer days when Byers attended CSU's football camp when he was in the 11th grade. And 10th grade. And ninth grade. And eighth grade. And, yes, seventh grade.
Hey, maybe Lubick and his staff trained Byers too well. Maybe that's why, instead of lining up Saturday night for the Rams (0-1) against top-ranked Southern California at the Los Angeles Coliseum, he'll line up for the Trojans (1-0).
"They (CSU coaches) always talked to me," Byers said from Los Angeles. "I'd see them around a lot. They've always been big supporters of me at Colorado State."
Byers, one of the most highly recruited players in state history, isn't scheduled to start Saturday. Even Jeff Byers has limitations. In a wide- open competition after the departure of the graduated Norm Katnik, Byers lost the starting spot to true sophomore Ryan Kalil.
But in only his second college game, Byers is expected to play on the offensive line for the defending co-national champions. As a true freshman. Most true freshman offensive linemen have a better chance of scoring a 9.9 on the balance beam.
In USC's season-opening win over Virginia Tech, Byers played on only the place-kicking teams. In practice this week, however, he's worked with the first team more.
"He's a fantastic kid, and he's going to be a great Trojan football player," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "His attitude that he brings, the work ethic that he brings, is perfect. He's hard- nosed. He pushes himself. He has very high expectations. He won't settle for anything but the best."
No wonder. He never has been anything but. If Colorado prep football flies below your radar, the Byers file from Loveland High School reads something like the script from a Gil Thorp cartoon. The Denver Post Golden Helmet Award winner was the Gatorade and Parade national player of the year. He recorded pancake blocks in an estimated one quarter of Loveland's plays and never allowed a sack in leading the Indians to a state championship last year. He stands 6-feet-3 and 275 pounds, yet runs a 4.7-second 40.
Oh, yes. He also carried a 3.9 GPA, served as a junior high science fair judge and youth basketball coach, tutored elementary school kids and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The day after he graduated he flew to L.A. and started working out with the team. So what's the best part about being a Trojan? The palm trees? The national TV coverage?
"Being part of the Trojan family," he said. "On the team there's so much love for each other, so much love for the coaching staff. No matter how far away from home you are, you feel at home because of the people around you.
"That's the Trojan family."
Yes, he considered CSU and Colorado, but USC had too many benefits. Carroll wasn't the least of them. He has built a reputation - not to mention a national title - on playing the best players regardless of age. That's why Byers isn't redshirting like 99 percent of freshman offensive linemen nationally.
However, Byers has experienced some struggles. He had problems with center snaps until a one-on-one lesson from USC quarterback Matt Leinart, a Heisman Trophy candidate.
That problem disappeared. Next came the downside of playing for a predominantly running high school team. Byers' pass blocking was like, well, a true freshman.
"It's been a big adjustment," Byers said. "It's not like my pass blocking is horrible, but I need to get better."
Carroll said he has gotten better, quickly, and has not excluded him starting by the time USC makes its title run in November - or sooner.
"I don't feel any job is closed," Byers said. "I still feel likeI'm earning a spot. It's week to week, and anybody can get on the field at any time. I'll be in the mix (for CSU)."
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Jeff handled the recruiting process perfectly. He took all 5 visits, played it close to the vest and choose the school that was best for him. He was a class act all the way. I remember the bucknuts radio he did when they asked him the probability of him being a buckeye and he said: I have narrowed it down to 5 schools and I am taking 5 official visits so I would say the chances are 20%. Not that that means much, but it is just so hard to dislike this kid, even though he choose U$C
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