Today's Rose Bowl game against Illinois marks the final day of their USC careers, but there will be little if any break in competition for Trojans players who will enter the NFL draft.
Defensive end Lawrence Jackson plans to enjoy his final time on the field with teammates. The next phase begins Wednesday.
"I'm in a race with a bunch of others just to get drafted, the competition is on," Jackson said. "That's what I'm going to be thinking about when the game is over."
Jackson, nose tackle Sedrick Ellis, linebacker Keith Rivers, tight end Fred Davis, quarterback John David Booty, running back Chauncey Washington and offensive linemen Sam Baker and Drew Radovich have been invited to participate in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 28.
Baker said that former Trojans center Ryan Kalil, a second-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2007, had prepared a notebook for him to use as a guide as he makes his way through a process that includes the NFL scouting combine and USC's pro day before culminating with the April draft.
"He's told me little things that would help me, things he wished he'd known going into the thing," Baker said.
Baker is looking forward to finishing his career with a victory and then turning pro.
"I'm going to miss the little things, just like playing charades with the O-line on the bus," he said.
Booty threw 45 passes in last year's 32-18 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan. Four of his 29 second-half passes went for touchdowns.
"We couldn't really run the ball for whatever reason; I'm still not quite sure to this day why, but we had to dial it up if we wanted to get anything going," Booty said.
Booty does not expect a similar strategy to be required against Illinois, but he would welcome the opportunity to air it out again if necessary.
"Any day of the week you'd love to go out there and throw 50 times," he said.
USC's five sideline passes for the Rose Bowl were scheduled to be used by Ronnie Lott, Heisman Trophy winners Marcus Allen and Matt Leinart, actor Will Ferrell and a guest of the actor's, a football program official said.
Last year, controversy erupted after USC denied Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush's request for a Rose Bowl sideline pass. Bush and his family were, and remain, under investigation by the NCAA for allegedly taking extra benefits from would-be marketing agents while Bush was playing for the Trojans.
