The USC Trojans had a pair of key juniors leave after last season to enter the NFL draft, and both will be on display in a few weeks in New York. The 2012 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday night, April 26 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and offensive tackle Matt Kalil and defensive end Nick Perry will be among the record 26 players invited to attend.
↵Kalil will likely be the top offensive lineman drafted, and likely in the top five, but there has been some debate over whether or not Perry would be picked in the first round. Being invited to New York for the draft at least is a good sign for Perry, who had 9.5 sacks in his junior season. Perry has been projected anywhere from the middle of the first round to the second round.
↵The Trojans have had 15 players drafted in the first round in the last 10 years.
↵For more on Kalil, Perry, and USC football, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles.