NFL Legend Clay Matthews Reveals Underachieving USC Trojans Need To Make College Football Playoffs

It's been five years since former NFL star linebacker Clay Matthews hung up the cleats after terrorizing opposing quarterbacks for 11 seasons in the league. The former USC Trojan has been enjoying the retirement life, coaching up his three sons in flag football, but made his return to Green Bay, a place he called home for ten seasons with the Green Bay Packers, for to experience something he had yet to do in his decorated football career.

Visit the NFL Draft Green Room.

Former Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews speaks during a press conference before the 2024 Packers Hall of Fame induction banquet on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Matthews and former Packers defensive lineman Aaron Kampman were both inducted to the Hall of Fame on Thursday night. | Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Lowe's is sponsoring this year's green room and with the draft being held in Green Bay, the company decided to partner with Matthews, a former walk-on at USC who understands all about hard work and grinding.

"Quite honestly, I shop at Lowe's, so I was like heck yeah this is a perfect opportunity, perfect sponsorship," Matthews said with a chuckle.

Matthews opened up to USC Trojans on SI about his time at USC, including his senior season where he posted 4.5 sacks and was invited to play in the 2009 Senior Bowl.

"I just remember my senior year being such a great experience for me...we just had so much success. I think we were rated as the best defense that year. We really took it to Penn State in the Rose Bowl. We had to work so hard for four years to get to that point. I think it was just a culmination of things and that obviously led to the draft," Matthews said. "That final year was truly special for a lot of us."

MORE: USC Trojans’ Signee Jazzy Davidson Finishes as No. 1 Ranked High School Recruit

MORE: USC Trojans New Coach Chad Savage Already Making Huge Impact On Lincoln Riley's Team

MORE: What 5-Star Recruit Jett Washington Said About USC Trojans, Alabama, Oregon Ducks

Nov 8, 2008; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive end Clay Matthews (47) celebrates after game against the California Golden Bears at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated California 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Matthews said he was impressed from the work USC general manager Chad Bowden has put in during the offseason, particularly the work Bowden's put in on the recruiting end.

"[Bowden is] making USC a destination for so many blue chip, five-star recruits athletes out of high school and the transfer portal. I'm hopeful that they can continue to ascend and get better each and every year," Mathews said.

In Bowden's first offseason with the Trojans, USC currently the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for the 2026 recruiting cycle. The Trojans have 23 commits in their top ranked class, including two five-star recruits in linebacker Xavier Griffin and cornerback RJ Sermons.

However, Matthews admitted that the Trojans' recent shortcomings have been falling short of the standard that was set many years prior.

"For a team like USC who has that talent and the talent pool to choose from and is just USC in of itself, they need to be in the playoff every year...for anything else, it's underachieving. I'm hopeful, I'm always hopeful for the Trojans," Matthews said.

The Trojans have began to build a defensive unit similar to the one during the days when Matthews donned the Cardinal and Gold with a strong defensive front anchored by linebacker Eric Gentry and defensive linemen Keeshawn Silver and Jahkeem Stewart, but only time will tell if they can live up to the legacy set by Matthews and former Trojans legends.

Recommended Article