USC Linebacker McGinest Expected to Stay in School, Forgo the Draft

Willie McGinest, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound linebacker, is expected to announce today that he will remain at USC instead of declaring himself eligible for the NFL draft.

“If I would guess, I’d say he is leaning toward staying,” said Rickey Hunley, a Trojan graduate assistant coach. “I think he wants to have a good season under his belt.”

Hunley was attending a college coaches convention in Atlanta on Sunday. McGinest, who has said he will announce his decision today, could not be reached.

“He had a great season, but he can have a much better season,” Hunley said. “I think he would like to be more consistent. I think it would just push his stock in the NFL draft that much higher.”

McGinest, a standout at Long Beach Poly High, started the past two seasons after playing mostly as a reserve his freshman season.

“I think he would win the Outland next year,” Hunley said.

If McGinest stays, it would be another plus for the Trojans, who lost flanker Curtis Conway to the draft. Johnnie Morton, a three-year starting receiver, said Saturday he would return.