USC’s Su’a Cravens is comfortable with move to linebacker

Su’a Cravens’ NFL future might be at safety.

But for now, the USC sophomore is optimistic about staying at linebacker.

“I’ve been very successful this year, so I’m grateful,” he said recently.

Cravens was selected first-team All-Pac-12 after recording 16 tackles for losses, including five sacks. He also intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown.

Cravens was a Freshman All-American at safety in 2013, but the new staff moved him to linebacker early this season to take advantage of his playmaking ability. Cravens said that during high school and his freshman year at USC, people told him he was going to gain weight and be moved to linebacker.

“I was like, ‘No I’m not,’ ” he said. “Here I am, I guess they were right.”

The 6-foot-1 Cravens started the season at about 230 pounds. Last week, he said he weighed 215.

“As the season wears on, you just lose a lot of weight,” he said. “People get beat up, and with all the spread teams we play, you’re going to lose weight because you’re running to the ball, and it’s a pass every down.”

Cravens does not foresee a problem returning to his previous weight.

“It’s not a hard weight to get back to,” he said.