USC's Top 10 Athletes

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jul 25, 2007

USC's Top 10 Athletes

Mark McGwire

After pitching effectively as a freshman, McGwire also began playing first base as a sophomore to get into the lineup every day. McGwire gave up pitching as a junior in 1984, his last college season, and he set a school record with 32 home runs on his way to becoming an All-American and a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics.

Lenny Krayzelburg

After transferring from a nearby Santa Monica College, Krayzelburg won an NCAA title in the backstroke at the 1997 NCAA championships before going on to win four gold medals combined at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

Carson Palmer

Palmer won the Heisman Trophy as a senior in 2002 and was selected as the top pick in the '03 NFL Draft. Palmer is the Pac-10 all-time leader in passing yards (11,818), completions (927) and total offense (11,621).

Lisa Leslie

Leslie, who averaged more than 20 points per game over her career and led the Trojans to four NCAA tournaments, is the Pac-10's all-time leader in points, rebounds and blocked shots. She was named National Player of the Year during her senior season in 1993-94.

Stan Smith

Smith was an All-American three times at USC, winning the NCAA singles title in 1967 and the doubles title the following year.

Reggie Bush

During his sophomore year in 2004, Bush was the team's MVP, a consensus All-American and fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, despite not having started a single game for the undefeated national champion Trojans. In 2005, Bush was the best player in college football, winning the Heisman Trophy for his 222.3 all-purpose yards per game.

Matt Leinart

Leinart was 37-2 in three years as a starter, including the Trojans' 13-0 run to the 2005 national title, the same year he won the Heisman. Leinart left USC as the school's all-time leader in touchdown passes and completion percentage.

Cheryl Miller

A four-time All-American, Miller earned the Naismith Player of the Year Award three times in her four years. Her teams won the NCAA titles in 1983 and 1984, with Miller winning tournament MVP honors both times.

O.J. Simpson

Simpson's 64-yard run against UCLA in 1967 was the most memorable play of one of the most famous games in the sport's history. Simpson rode the momentum from his successful junior year to an even better one the following season, running for 1,709 yards and 22 touchdowns and winning the Heisman.

Marcus Allen

Allen has been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame and has seen his No. 33 retired by USC in large part due to his 1981 season, one of the best in the sport's history. Allen rushed for an NCAA-record 2,342 yards the year on his way to winning the Heisman.