Smith and Marshall Named Freshmen All-Americans

Linebacker Cameron Smith and cornerback Iman Marshall was named to the Freshman All-American team according to USA Today. This is the second consecutive year the Trojans have had two freshmen receive the honor as well as the second year with a defensive back on the list. USC hasn't had a linebacker win the honor since Dion Bailey in 2011.

Courtesy of USC Athletics

A season-ending injury limited Cameron Smith to only 10 games in his debut however he was the leader of the defensive unit, racking up 78 tackles, three interceptions (all versus Utah), and a defensive touchdown. Smith's growth and development will lead USC once he's back on the field, particularly a defense that has missed him tremendously in games such as Oregon, UCLA, and Stanford.

Iman Marshall experienced his growing pains a bit differently than Smith, often being flagged for pass interference due to his aggressive style of play. Despite seeing the yellow flag often, that didn't stop Marshall from producing. Iman registered over 50 tackles and three interceptions, including two that were much needed versus UCLA. The Long Beach Poly product started the majority of the season after Kevon Seymour suffered a knee injury earlier this year. Marshall will be another impact player within this young secondary if he can remain healthy and continue to develop as a defender.