Fullback is one of the most overlooked spots on a football roster, but having a good one is a huge plus.
USC will be without theirs, Stanley Havili, for the Rose Bowl game against Penn State. Havili had a nice fall on the gridiron — rushing for 71 yards on 13 carries plus catching 24 passes for 324 yards — but he did not have a good fall in the classroom. He is academically ineligible for the game (but should be back for spring practice).
The Trojans are expected to go with a fullback by committee consisting of Adam Goodman, D.J. Shoemate and Rhett Ellison.
The always stout USC defense will also have to get by without big hitting, all PAC-10 starting safety Kevin Ellison, whose knee did not fully recover from an injury suffered in the UCLA game.
Neither of these losses are surprises, and a deep USC team should be more than ready for Penn State.
