Maualuga tabbed as team’s MVP
Linebacker Rey Maualuga was announced Wednesday night as USC’s most valuable player during the team’s annual awards banquet at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel.
Maualuga, a senior from Eureka, also has been selected to several All-American teams, was the Pacific 10 Conference defensive player of the year and won the Bednarik Award.
Maualuga sat out one game because of a knee injury but still has a team-best 73 tackles and also two interceptions for the Trojans, who resume practice today in preparation for the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl game against Penn State.
Other team award winners: Senior defensive end Kyle Moore (most inspirational); sophomore center Kristofer O’Dowd (offensive lineman); senior defensive tackle Fili Moala (defensive lineman); senior kicker David Buehler and senior defensive end Clay Matthews (special teams).
Checking in
The Trojans will stay in a Santa Monica hotel today through Sunday.
USC did the same last season while practicing at the Home Depot Center in Carson. All practices during the next two weeks will be on campus.
USC will again stay in a Century City hotel during bowl week.
Quick kicks
Maualuga and safety Taylor Mays were selected to the ESPN.com All-America and the Sporting News All-American teams. . . . Linebacker Brian Cushing was selected to SI.com’s All-American team. . . . Jared Blank, USC’s assistant director of football operations, will join Steve Sarkisian’s staff at Washington as director of player personnel. Former USC graduate assistant Demetrice Martin was hired to coach the secondary. . . . The Trojans are tentatively scheduled to practice today through Sunday at 1 p.m. and Monday at 11 a.m. They will be off Tuesday through Christmas Day.
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