Three square-peg players put USC in first-round hole

USC receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith and Trojans center Ryan Kalil were regarded as potential first-round picks in the NFL draft.

But all three were second-round selections Saturday.

Jarrett, a two-time All-American who decided to forgo his final season of eligibility, was selected 45th by the Carolina Panthers, Smith was taken 51st by the New York Giants and Kalil was chosen 59th by the Panthers.

It marked the first time since 2002 that the Trojans did not have a player chosen in the first round.

USC Coach Pete Carroll annually counsels draft-eligible juniors that they should not make themselves available for the draft unless they are regarded as the top player at their position.

Jarrett, the Pacific 10 Conference’s all-time touchdown receptions leader, seemed to have momentum after a spectacular performance in the Trojans’ Rose Bowl victory over Michigan. But scouts apparently doubted his speed after he clocked 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash during USC’s pro-day workout.

Jarrett was the eighth receiver selected. Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson went second overall to the Detroit Lions, Ohio State’s Ted Ginn Jr. ninth to the Miami Dolphins, Louisiana State’s Dwayne Bowe 23rd to the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee’s Robert Meachem 27th to the New Orleans Saints, LSU’s Craig Davis 30th to the San Diego Chargers, Ohio State’s Anthony Gonzalez 32nd to the Indianapolis Colts and South Carolina’s Sidney Rice 44th to the Minnesota Vikings.

Asked during a conference call if he was surprised he wasn’t drafted sooner, Jarrett said, “I was, but there’s not much you can do about it in these situations. You just roll with the punches. I’m excited. I know where I’m going and I can’t wait to get there.”

Carroll could not be reached for comment.

The 6-foot-5, 213-pound Jarrett joins a Carolina team that features former USC receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Keary Colbert. Johnson told The Times in December that Jarrett should stay in school, but Jarrett said the former No. 1 overall pick called him Saturday and offered support.

Smith’s decision to return for his final season of eligibility paid off. After the 2005 season, NFL evaluators projected him as a third- or fourth-round pick and told him to return to school and work on all aspects of his game.

With Jarrett battling injuries for much of the season, the 5-11, 199-pound Smith amassed a team-best 71 receptions.

Smith, who played at Woodland Hills Taft High, was excited by the thought of playing in New York.

“I was relieved to hear my name and definitely being in the Big Apple is exciting,” Smith said during a conference call.

Smith thought the Seattle Seahawks would select him.

“I got a call from the Seahawks saying that they were going to pick me up and I was really happy that the Giants came before them,” he said.

Kalil’s stock had reportedly risen dramatically after impressive performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL scouting combine. But the 6-3, 299-pound Corona native was not counting on becoming a first-round pick.

“I knew watching the draft last year that it might be something like that this year,” he said during a conference call. “There were so many guys who they labeled first round and they didn’t go in the first round.

“I didn’t listen to the hype because you just don’t know. Seeing all of the mock drafts this year, the real draft wasn’t close to any of them. It’s kind of funny how it works out.”

Another former local product changed teams. Mike Williams, the 10th overall pick by the Detroit Lions two years ago, was traded along with backup quarterback Josh McCown to the Oakland Raiders for their fourth-round pick, No. 105 overall. With the Raiders, Williams will be reunited with Coach Lane Kiffin, who was an assistant when the receiver starred for USC.

Staff writer Sam Farmer contributed to this report.

gary.klein@latimes.com