2012 NFL Draft: USC Trojans Matt Kalil, Nick Perry Picked In First Round

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Nick Perry Signs Contract With Green Bay Packers

Two USC Trojans were selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. The first saw Matt Kalil go No. 4 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. Nick Perry had to wait it out a bit more than he probably would have like, but the talented defensive end went 28th to the Packers. Given Green Bay's success with developing pass rushers in recent years, it sure seems like a solid fit for Perry.

On Friday, news came that Perry had signed his first professional contract with the Packers. Here is Adam Schefter confirming the news:

Green Bay Packers announced they have signed first-round pick Nick Perry.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 11, 2012

Perry began working out at rookie training camp earlier in the week and all reports indicated he showed up in shape and eager to learn the Packers' new defensive scheme. It may take some time to get mentally and physically prepared for the grind of an NFL season, but the sky is the limit for Perry.

For more on the Trojans, check out Conquest Chronicles. Packers fans should visit Acme Packing Company for their excellent coverage.

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2013 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper Pegs Matt Barkley As No. 1 Prospect

Never too early to start thinking about next year's NFL draft, right? ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his 2013 NFL draft big board on Monday, naming USC's Matt Barkley as the No. 1 draft prospect entering the 2012-13 college football season.

Would have battled Robert Griffin III to be No. 2 QB taken had he been in the 2012 draft. Will have very good competition to be the No. 1 QB taken in 2013. (Via: ESPN Insider)

The other quarterback listed is Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas, ranked close behind Barkley at No. 4. The final QB prospect listed is Arkansas' Tyler Wilson at No. 13.

The Trojans have another NFL prospect in Robert Woods who Kiper ranked as the No. 7 best prospect. Early mock drafts have Barkley as a consensus No. 1 overall pick, while Woods is also considered a top ten pick.

If Barkley is picked at No. 1 overall, he will join Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer as USC quarterbacks picked in the top ten of the NFL draft. Palmer is the only Trojan in the past ten years to be picked No. 1 overall.

Learn more about Barkley and Woods from USC football fans at Conquest Chronicles.

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2013 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Barkley No. 1 Pick To Oakland Raiders, Robert Woods To Indianapolis Colts

As the 2012 NFL Draft coverage draws to a close, we start looking ahead to next season and who the top prospects might be going forward. And again it looks like a Pac-12 quarterback will be leading the pack, with this one coming from USC.

In his first mock for the 2013 NFL Draft, Ryan Van Bibber of SB Nation has two Trojans going very high. Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley figures to be the next consensus number one pick out there, and the Oakland Raiders are the ones with the pick here. They're certainly ones in need of a quarterback for the future!

Finally, Oakland gets the right USC quarterback.

Robert Woods is the second Trojan to go in the top ten, as he gets picked by the Indianapolis Cotls with the sixth overall pick to become Andrew Luck's main man on the outside.

The Colts could be on the fast track to rebound-ville. Giving Luck an elite receiver to work with should make for a thrilling sophomore campaign.

Check out how Raiders fans feel about Barkley at Silver and Black Pride, and how Colts fans feel about Woods at Stampede Blue. Learn more about Barkley and Woods from USC football fans at Conquest Chronicles.

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2012 NFL Draft Grades: Matt Kalil Pick To Vikings Praised, Nick Perry To Packers Still Uncertain

There were two significant picks for the USC Trojans in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, as both offensive tackle Matt Kalil and defensive end Nick Perry got picked by NFC North teams. Kalil went with the 4th pick to the Minnesota Vikings, while Perry was selected by the Green Bay Packers

Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated wrote up his report card, and gave the Minnesota Vikings an A, with Kalil being one of the main reasons why the grade was so good.

You can dock Minnesota if you think Claiborne should have been the pick at 4 over OT Matt Kalil. I think the Vikings did the right thing.

Burke was less sure about Nick Perry, who goes 28th overall to the Green Bay Packers.

I love the picks of Worthy and CB Casey Heyward (62) in Round 2, though I’m not sold that Nick Perry (29) will fit Green Bay’s scheme that well.

Indeed, the Packers needed a pass rusher, and Perry fits the bill.

Talk about the Kalil pick with Vikings fans at Daily Norseman. To learn more about the Perry pick with Packers fans, go to Acme Packing Company. Check out more on these two USC players at Conquest Chronicles.

More SB Nation NFL Draft analysis can be found on our YouTube channel.

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2012 NFL Draft: Three USC Players Drafted, More Sign With Teams As Unrestricted Free Agents

The NFL draft has ended and USC had three draft eligible prospects signed.

Offensive tackle Matt Kalil and defensive end Nick Perry will both head north as both were drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, respectively. On the third day, tight end/full back Rhett Ellison was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round.

No other USC Trojan was drafted.

But that doesn't mean players can't sign with teams as players can sign as unrestricted free agents.

Running back Marc Tyler, who was hampered by injuries and had notable character issues, was signed by the Green Bay Packers. Tyler rushed for 568 yards this year on 122 attempts, good for a 4.7 average. He had 913 yards last year.

Other seniors that weren't drafted, but signed by NFL teams include senior linebacker Chris Galippo (Indianapolis Colts), senior wide receiver Brandon Carswell (Oakland Raiders), and defensive tackle DaJohn Harris (Tennessee Titans). Senior defensive tackle, Armond Armstead, did not sign with a team, but is expected too.

Whether suffering from career threatening injuries or character issues, having seven prospects sign with an NFL team is a good sign for a program. USC is expected to have more prospects signed in the earlier rounds in the 2013 draft.

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2012 NFL Draft: Rhett Ellison Selected In Fourth Round By Vikings

The USC Trojans have a history of success come draft weekend, and that has been the case once again at the 2012 NFL Draft. After seeing two Trojans go in the first round, fullback/tight end Rhett Wilson was selected in the fourth round by the Minnesota Vikings with the 33rd pick. He will join teammate Matt Kalil up north, who went No. 4 overall on Thursday evening.

Congrats to Rhett Ellison, can't wait to be teammates again!!!!

— matt Kalil(@Mattkalil) April 28, 2012

Ellison earned a reputation as being one of the hardest workers in college football last season and goes all-out on every snap. He caught 22 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns in 2011. Given his ability to block and catch a few passes, the Vikings will likely utilize him in a highbred role next season until his new team figures out his role in the NFL.

A big congratulations to Rhett for his selection at the 2012 NFL Draft.

For more on the Trojans selected this weekend, check out the SB Nation Los Angeles StoryStream for complete coverage. USC fans should visit Conquest Chronicles to discuss the team with other fans.

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2012 NFL Draft: Matt Kalil, Nick Perry Give USC Trojans 17 First Round Picks In Last Decade

A pair of junior USC Trojans standouts heard their names called on Thursday night in the first round of the NFL Draft in New York City. All-American left tackle Matt Kalil was picked No. 4 by the Minnesota Vikings, and defensive end Nick Perry went No. 28 to the Green Bay Packers.

The Trojans hadn't had multiple first round picks since Mark Sanchez, Brian Cushing, and Clay Matthews were selected int he first round in 2009. USC has had 17 first round NFL draft picks in the last 10 years.

For more news and notes on Kalil, Perry or USC football, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles. Be sure to follow SB Nation for full draft news and analysis.

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2012 NFL Draft: USC Trojans DE Nick Perry Picked No. 28 By Green Bay Packers

USC Trojans defensive end Nick Perry had a standout junior season in 2011 with 9.5 sacks. He decided to strike while the iron was hot and left school after his junior season, and Perry's decision paid off, as he was selected No. 28 in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Perry joins former USC linebacker Clay Matthews in Green Bay.

Perry was one of 26 players invited to New York to attend the draft, so there was a pretty good idea he would be picked high. The only question was where he would end up. Perry had been rumored mostly in the middle of the first round, but had a wide range of prognostications, from as high as No. 11 to the Kansas City Chiefs all the way to out of the first round entirely.

Perry joins offensive lineman Matt Kalil, who was picked No. 4 by the Minnesota Vikings, as USC Trojans drafted in the first round. In the last 10 NFL drafts, the Trojans have had 16 first round picks.

For more news and notes on Perry or USC football, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles. Be sure to follow SB Nation for full draft news and analysis.

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NFL Draft 2012: Twitter Reaction To Matt Kalil To Minnesota Vikings

It has been quite a night in New York City for USC Trojans All-American left tackle Matt Kalil. The 6'6.5", 306-pound lineman was drafted No. 4 overall by the Minnesota Vikings, making him the highest lineman drafted in the draft. Kalil continues a tradition of several Trojans offensive linemen drafted in the top five who were drafted in the top five and went on to great success in the NFL.

Kalil also joins brother Ryan Kalil, a former Trojan himself, and a three-time Pro Bowl center for the Carolina Panthers. Ryan joined brother Matt for the festivities and has been tweeting pictures all night. Ryan also tweeted the following:

Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing like the love that lets us share our name. #ProudBrother #MattKalil2012

— Ryan Kalil (@RyanKalil) April 27, 2012

Geoff Schwartz, an offensive lineman who just signed with the Vikings, has a unique perspective, and tweeted, "I've had the pleasure of playing w/1 brother, @RyanKalil...Now get to play w/the other one. Congrats and welcome @Mattkalil to the #Vikings"

Then, there is this, about USC:

Kalil is 311th USC player taken in common draft era, easily the most of any school (Nebraska 2nd at 264). #NFLdraft

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 27, 2012

To find out more about Kalil and USC Trojans football, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles. For all your NFL Draft news, be sure to follow SB Nation all weekend.

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NFL Draft: No. 4 Matt Kalil Continues USC Offensive Lineman Tradition

Matt Kalil of the USC Trojans had a fine college career and was an All-American left tackle in his junior season in 2011. He parlayed that into becoming the No 4 overall pick in the NFL draft, picked by the Minnesota Vikings to protect the blindside of quarterback Christian Ponder. Kalil becomes the latest in a long line of Trojans offensive linemen drafted in the top 10, with a great track record of NFL success:

Ron Yary (No. 1 overall, 1968): Seven Pro Bowls, six first team All-Pro selections, Hall of Famer.

Tony Boselli (No. 2 overall, 1995): Five Pro Bowls, three-time first team All-Pro, six years as a starter before injuries.

Anthony Munoz (No. 3 overall, 1980): 11 Pro Bowls, nine-time first team All-Pro, Hall of Famer.

Marvin Powell (No. 4 overall, 1977): Five Pro Bowls, three-time first team All-Pro, nine years as a starter.

Ken Ruettgers (No. 7 overall, 1985): Nine years as a starter.

Ron Mix (No. 10 overall, 1960): Eight Pro Bowls, nine-time first team All-Pro, Hall of Famer.

Mike Taylor (No. 10 overall, 1968): Okay, six out of seven isn't bad.

To find out more about Kalil and USC Trojans football, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles. For all your NFL Draft news, be sure to follow SB Nation all weekend.

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NFL Draft 2012: USC Trojans' Matt Kalil Picked No. 4 By Minnesota Vikings

USC Trojans All-American left tackle Matt Kalil was selected at No. 4 in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Minneosta Vikings. Kalil left USC after his junior season, and the decision proved to be fruitful, as he was the top lineman taken in the draft.

Kalil measured out at the NFL combine at 6'6.5" and 306 pounds, and is expected to step right in and protect the backside of quarterback Christian Ponder in Minnesota. Kalil spearheaded a stellar offensive line with USC that saw Matt Barkley sacked just eight times in 12 games last season, with Kalil personally yielding no sacks.

Kalil won the Morris Trophy in 2011 as the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12 Conference.

Kalil is the 15th USC Trojan to be drafted in the first round since 2003, and the highest Trojan picked since Reggie Bush was picked second by the New Orleans Saints in 2006.

To find out more about Kalil and USC Trojans football, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles. For all your NFL Draft news, be sure to follow SB Nation all weekend.

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NFL Draft Trade: Browns Move Up To No. 3, Does Matt Kalil Go To Vikings At No. 4?

The 2012 NFL Draft is less than one hour away, and USC Trojans All-American left tackle Matt Kalil is expected to be picked quite early. We know quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will be picked first and second, and Kalil is among the candidates to be picked third. Now that third pick has changed hands.

The Cleveland Browns, who had the fourth pick, have traded with the Minnesota Vikings to move up one spot. The Vikings got the fourth pick, plus Cleveland's fourth, fifth, and seventh rounders, the 118th , 139th, and 211th picks of the draft. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Browns plan to pick Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the third pick, meaning Kalil won't be picked any higher than fourth.

Kalil has long been rumored to be picked by the Vikings, so maybe this is a case of Minnesota having their cake and eating it too, by getting the pick they wanted, plus three extra picks for depth.

For more news and notes on Kalil or USC football, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles. Be sure to follow SB Nation for full draft news and analysis.

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2012 NFL Draft: TV Times, Schedule, Online Stream, Announcers