Don't forget the TE - Grimble and Telfer are a big part of the USC offense

With all the attention focused on Marqise Lee and Robert Woods, as well as Silas Redd and Curtis McNeal, it is important not to lose focus on USC's other important offensive weapon...

TE's Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer.

From Grimble's USC profile.

2011: Grimble started 7 games (Minnesota, Utah, Syracuse, Arizona State, California, Notre Dame, Stanford) at tight end as a redshirt freshman in 2011 and was an often-used backup in USC's other 5 games. He also played on special teams. Overall in 2011 while appearing in all 12 games, he had 15 catches for 144 yards (9.6 avg.) with 4 TDs, plus 2 kickoff returns for 3 yards (1.5 avg.). He made 2011 CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-American honorable mention.

He had a 1-yard catch against Minnesota, then caught 5 passes for 66 yards, with a 9-yard TD catch, against Utah. He had 2 catches for 17 yards (with a 9-yard TD) against Syracuse and a 7-yard TD catch against Arizona. He had 2 receptions for 12 yards at Notre Dame, 2 catches for 15 yards and a 3-yard kickoff return against Stanford, a 5-yard TD catch at Colorado and a 21-yard reception at Oregon. He caught a 2-point conversion pass against UCLA.

From Telfer's USC profile.

2011: Telfer started 5 games (Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, UCLA), including the season's last 4 games, at tight end as a redshirt freshman in 2011. Overall in 2011 while appearing in all 12 games (he also played on special teams), he had 26 receptions (thrd on USC) for 273 yards (10.5 avg.) with 5 TDs, plus a 2-yard kickoff return, a tackle and a blocked field goal. His 26 catches in 2011 was a USC freshman tight end season record. He made 2011 All-Pac-12 honorable mention. He made the 2011 CollegeFootballNews.com and Phil Steele Freshman All-American second team.

He had 2 grabs for 19 yards against Minnesota and 2 receptions for 28 yards against Utah. He caught a 44-yard TD. He had a 10-yard catch against Arizona, 2 catches for 12 yards at California and 2 catches for 14 yards at Notre Dame, with a 2-yard TD. He had 5 receptions for 45 yards against Stanford, with a 12-yard TD. At Colorado, he had a 6-yard reception and blocked a field goal. He added 4 catches for 43 yards against Washington, 2 catches for 8 yards (with a 5-yard TD) at Oregon (he also made a tackle) and then he caught 4 passes for 44 yards, with a 1-yard TD, against UCLA.

Obviously, the TE position has been an import part of the USC offense for years.

Grimble and Telfer may not be as flashy as some of the plays that we have seen from Lee & Woods But they are just as, if not more important in giving Barkley protection and that check down when the other options aren't there. A reliable TE that is multi-faceted can be just as important as the big play maker!

Grimble and Telfer are seen by some as potential first round picks, but that is premature at the moment. They still have have a lot of football to play before they get to that point. Lots to learn and lots to achieve.

But as they progress, how awesome would it be to have TWO TE's in the hunt for the Mackey Award!

In the environment that we are in with the spread or gimmicky offenses, it is nice to see some old time football still being played. Don't get me wrong, it is hard not to enjoy the things that Oregon does or what Florida did under Meyer...we all like to see a lot of scoring. But watching USC, and Stanford of late, use the TE as an important part the offense is still pretty cool.

Any opposing defense that goes to sleep on Grimble and Telfer does so at their peril!

FIGHT ON!