Athlon Sports Names USC No. 1 in 2012 Preseason Top 25 Poll

Athlon Sports, publisher of the No. 1-selling college football magazine, continues the release of its preseason Top 25 poll at www.athlonsports.com. The countdown commences every year in early May and leads to the on-sale date of Athlon's category-leading college football preseason annuals.

To celebrate the USC Trojans being named No. 1, AthlonSports.com will devote an entire day to the program, including a look at the Top 10 Players for 2012, the Greatest Players since 1967 and a Team Preview. (Direct links are included below.)

Lane Kiffin’s USC Trojans conclude the countdown at No. 1 with seven preseason All-Americans and 13 players selected as All-Pac-12 performers. Athlon Sports predicts USC will finish first in the Pac-12’s Southern Division. In the five year period from 2007-11, Athlon Sports was one of the most accurate preseason magazines in prediction accuracy.*

“Heisman candidate Matt Barkley and the nation's best set of receivers have USC looking like the top team in the country,” says Athlon Sports Managing Editor Mitch Light. “The Trojans have talent throughout the roster, and they are the favorite to win the Pac-12 and compete for a national title.”

Seven USC standouts were named preseason All-Americans, with quarterback Matt Barkley, wide receiver Robert Woods and defensive back T.J. McDonald being voted to the first team. Offensive lineman Khaled Holmes and defensive back Nickell Robey were named to the second team, and wide receiver Marqise Lee and linebacker Dion Bailey made the third team. In addition, the Trojans quarterbacks and wide receivers units were ranked No. 1 nationally. The offensive line was rated No. 4 in the country and best in the Pac-12, while the defensive backs group was tabbed No. 6 in the nation and tops in the conference.

Thirteen Trojans earned preseason All-Pac-12 honors, including Barkley, Woods, McDonald, Holmes, Robey, Bailey, offensive lineman Kevin Graf, defensive lineman Wes Horton and kicker Andre Heidari on the first team. Lee and linebacker Hayes Pullard were named to the second team, while offensive lineman Marcus Martin and defensive lineman Devon Kennard garnered third-team honors.

USC Team Preview

USC's Top 10 Players of 2012

USC’s 10 Greatest Players Since 1967

 *Stassen.com analysis of college football preseason publications.