USC Football: Couple of Former Trojans headline the inaugural AAF season

If you thought football ended after the Super Bowl then you thought wrong. The Alliance of American Football kicks off this weekend and will be filled with players and coaches that many fans are familiar with from their time in College Football and/or the NFL. The AAF is a new spring football league which gives players another chance to be showcased on National TV. The league has recently caught the interest of a few people to the point where many are claiming teams, however there’s only eight teams and some many find it hard to root for a team due to location. There are some USC ties in the AAF with a couple of players that some Trojan fans may be familiar with.

Offensive Guard Damien Mama

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Many Trojan fans will be familiar with Damien Mama. The former Trojans offensive lineman was a 4 star out of St John Bosco and committed to USC back in 2014. Mama was a multi year starter where he was named as an All-American and All Pac-12. Mama declared for the NFL draft following the 2016 season and went undrafted where he was then picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs and placed on their 2017 practice squad. He was picked up by the New York Giants and placed on their active roster that season before being cut after the season. Mama was last with the Dallas Cowboys during training camp before being cut in 2018. The former all-American offensive lineman is currently on the San Diego Fleet.

Defensive Back Demetrius Wright

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A former USC defensive back who some might remember. Wright committed to USC in 2010 out of Corona High School where he would start at safety during his freshman season with the Trojans. Wright would play all four years at USC while being a co-starter at safety. Following his senior season with the Trojans Wright went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, however he would be signed by the Miami Dolphins in May. The former Trojans safety would be released by Miami in August of 2014. Wright spent two seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) before making his way to the AAF where he is currently playing for the San Diego Fleet along with Damien Mama.

Head of Player Relations Troy Polamalu

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AAF also has a former Trojan as apart of their executive staff. USC and College Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu is the Head of Player Relations in the new spring league. Polamalu is a former two time All-American and first team All Pac-10 during his four years at USC. The former Trojans safety would get drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2003 NFL draft. From there Polamalu would win two Super Bowls, make eight pro bowls, named as an first team NFL All Pro four times and won the NFL Defensive player of the year in 2010.