Briggs out for the season
The USC Trojans are again near the top of the team recruiting rankings, loading up on a local and national talent to help bolster their class in the public eye.
One high school senior partially responsible for the ranking is Lake Balboa (CA) Birmingham tailback Trajuan Briggs. Briggs returned two weeks ago from a fractured bone in his ankle, one that had kept him out to open the season and an injury now that will end the talented rusher's senior season.
"I only played in one quarter last week," said Briggs. "Everything was going good. I had physical therapy on Thursday and they gave me this stem treatment and it was really rubbing on the main spot I was still aching at, which made it real sore. So me going out there on Friday and running the football pretty much beat up on it and made it more sore.
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"I talked to my chiropractor and everything and we found out what's really going on, so I'm going to sit out the rest of the season and get healthy. It's a matter of me relaxing at this moment, so now it's just a matter of resting and looking to college."
The news came as a major disappointment to Briggs, who expected his senior season to entail a couple thousand yards rushing and plenty of visits to the pay dirt.
"It was a disappointing year this year," said Briggs of the Patriots 0-7 start. "Our playoff hopes went down the drain, and I was expecting to have a big year. I just really honestly grew up from it, and it made me a stronger person overall, not just putting me head down and dragging my feet. I'm just getting ready for January when my football career continues."
Despite missing nearly his entire senior season, Briggs has managed to keep a positive frame of mind with the support of those around him, in particular head coach Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans.
"It honestly has taken a toll on me," said Briggs of the injury. "They always say everyone has an injury, and I thought that because I didn't have one yet, I thought it wasn't going to come any time soon. I had a lot of supporters. I had SC supporting me through the whole situation, my mother and my grandfather, and my church helped me through it.
"Throughout the whole process SC wanted to make sure I was healthy in time for January. They were just letting me know they were 100 percent behind me and I didn't have to take one snap this year for them to honor my scholarship. They just really wanted me to come in healed, and at this point they said I should concentrate on school and getting my grades right. SC was there from day one, they weren't fading on me or not talking to me as much, they started talking to me more."
The USC Trojans, the school in which Briggs is verbally committed, surprised the Patriots' running back by staying behind him while he was slightly worried about the reaction from the coaching staff.
"It's really big," continued Briggs of the Trojans support toward him, "because I honestly came into this season thinking that they offered me, but I have to make something happen for them to see I was the real deal. For them to say I didn't have to take one snap and their 110 percent positive that they wanted was really big for me.
"I was a little worried about it but I prayed over it and it worked out in my favor."
The Birmingham star was given a taste to what his future may look and sound like this past Saturday evening when the Trojans downed the Oregon State Beavers 42-36 under the lights of the Coliseum in a close matchup.
"That was a great game," said Briggs. "I was really happy to go, and I met and talked to Xavier Grimble and (Jeff) Luc out of Florida. I had a lot of fun and I brung one of our friends, one of the linebackers on our team and he doesn't go to a lot of college games.
"I was happy to see that experience for him was a real good time too and he enjoyed it. It was a live crowd as always and I had fun."
The game put reality into perspective for Briggs as he imagined himself in the cardinal and gold.
"I was just talking to my friend yesterday and telling him I'll be here in a couple months," said Briggs. "I'm going to be looking at this crowd and we were laughing because in high school you look around to see if your parents are there, and now how are you going to be able to see your mom or dad in this many people.
"It makes me excited to be there because the fans are so loyal."
A look around at some of the best ESPN affiliate team sites have to offer today. Some of the following links may require a premium subscription to the ESPN affiliate site.
Alabama (www.crimsonconfidential.com)
Eyeing Eleven - DeMarcus Smith talks favorites
2010 safety prospect Ahmad Dixon talks favorites
Auburn Tigers (www.auburnundercover.com)
How they fared: A look at AU commitments, targets
Recruiting rewind, Oct. 27: Coping with injuries
Clemson Tigers (www.theclemsoninsider.com)
Florida Gators (www.gatorcountry.com)
Gator Country on Dr. Phillips - Oak Ridge prospects
Florida State Seminoles (www.noleinsider.com )
Pearl River Update: Daniels, Deas leaning FSU
Lattimore still considering FSU
LB Miles Pace key for Central's defense
LSU Tigers (www.eyeonthetigers.com)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (www.irishsportsdaily.com)
Jones likes what he sees at ND
Ohio State Buckeyes (www.bucknuts.com)
Will Bell toll for Ohio State?
Did visit shift Floyd's preference?
Penn State (www.nittanynetwork.com)
Floyd checks in after OSU visit
South Carolina (www.thebigspur.com)
South Carolina moving up with Dexter Staley
Texas A&M (www.texags.com)
Elder's scouting report: Klein Collins vs. Klein Oak (several top prospects in attendance)
