2006 Football Roster
Roster
Brian Cushing
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 245
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Park Ridge, NJ
- High School:
- Bergen Catholic
2007: Cushing, who did a standout job starting at defensive end in 2006, moved back to his natural strongside linebacker spot as a junior in 2007 and didn[apos]t miss a beat. Overall while appearing in 10 games (all but Washington, Stanford and Arizona) and starting 8 times (Idaho and USC[apos]s last 7 games), he had 25 tackles, including 2.5 for losses of 4 yards (with a 2-yard sack), plus a fumble recovery and 2 deflections. He sprained his left ankle in the Idaho opener, then played briefly but didn[apos]t start the next 2 games (Nebraska and Washington State) before re-spraining it against Washington State and being sidelined for the next 3 contests.
He had 1 tackle against Washington State, then returned from his injury and notched 2 tackles at Notre Dame. He had 8 tackles at Oregon, 5 stops (with a sack) against Oregon State, 4 tackles (1.5 for a loss) and a deflection at California, 2 tackles at Arizona State and 2 more stops against UCLA. He had 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovery (to set up a USC TD) and 1 deflection against Illinois. He was named 2007 All-Pac-10 honorable mention. He sat out most of 2007 spring practice with a strained hamstring. He had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee following 2007spring practice.
2006: Cushing, who started 4 times in 2005 at strongside linebacker, started all of his 2006 sophomore season as a stand-up defensive end in USC[apos]s hybrid 3-4 'Elephant' defense. Overall in 2006 while appearing in all 13 games, he had 57 tackles, including a team-best 13.5 for losses of 52 yards (with 4.5 sacks for minus 33 yards), plus a deflection, a forced fumble, a blocked punt that he returned 21 yards (at Washington to set up a USC field goal) and a 42-yard scoring kickoff return of an onside kick (against Notre Dame). He made the 2006 Collegefootballnews.com Sophomore All-American third team, All-Pac-10 second team and Scout.com All-Pac-10 second team. He won USC[apos]s John McKay Award (most competitive spirit). He missed some of 2006 spring drills while recuperating from shoulder surgery.
Four of his 7 tackles against Michigan were for losses (with 2.5 sacks) and he forced a fumble to help him earn Rose Bowl Defensive MVP, ESPN.com All-Bowl Team and CBSSportsline.com All-Bowl Team honors. He also had 7 tackles (1.5 for a loss) at Washington State, 6 tackles (0.5 for a loss) against California, 5 tackles against Arkansas (1 for a loss), Nebraska (0.5 for a loss), Washington (1.5 for a loss) and Stanford (1 for a loss), 4 tackles against Arizona (with a sack), Arizona State (0.5 for a loss) and Oregon (with a deflection), 2 tackles at Oregon State and UCLA (both for losses, with a sack) and 1 tackle against Notre Dame.
2005: Cushing made quite an impact in 2005 as a first-year freshman linebacker, despite missing nearly half the season with a shoulder injury. He started USC[apos]s last 4 games (versus California, Fresno State, UCLA and Texas) on the strong side after previously serving as an often-used backup there and a key special teams player. Overall in 2005 while appearing in 8 games (he missed the Arkansas, Oregon, Arizona State, Arizona and Notre Dame games after dislocating his shoulder before the Arkansas contest), he made 23 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss, plus had 3 deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and a blocked punt that he returned 6 yards. He made 2005 Scout.com Freshman All-American honorable mention. After the season, he had surgery to repair a dislocating shoulder.
As a starter, he led USC with 7 tackles at California, then added 4 stops, a deflection and a fumble recovery to set up a USC field goal against Fresno State, had 2 tackles, a fumble recovery and a deflection versus UCLA and had 1 tackle and 1 deflection against Texas. As a backup, he had 5 tackles against Stanford, 2 tackles and blocked a punt to set up a USC field goal at Washington, 1 tackle and forced a fumble that USC recovered for a touchdown at Hawaii and 1 stop versus Washington State.
HIGH SCHOOL: Among his 2004 honors were Parade All-American, USA Today All-USA first team, Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, Student Sports Top 100, Rivals 100, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, Tom Lemming All-American, Scout.com All-American first team, EA Sports All-American second team, Super Prep All-Northeast Defensive Player of the Year, Prep Star All-East and All-State Defensive Player of the Year as a senior linebacker, running back and tight end at Bergen Catholic High in Oradell (N.J.). He had 120 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 7 interceptions on offense in 2004, plus 475 rushing yards with 10 TDs and 13 receptions for 456 yards (35.1 avg.) with 7 TDs and a kickoff return for a score. He did all that despite missing 3 games with an ankle sprain.
>As a junior in 2003, he made Student Sports Junior All-American, All-State first team and All-Bergen County Defensive Player of the Year while posting 120 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and 7 interceptions.
PERSONAL: He[apos]s a sociology major at USC.
| TAC | LS/YDS | DFL | FR | PR | YDS | AVG | TD | LG | |
| 2005 (Fr.) | 23 | 0.5/0 | 4# | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2006 (So.) | 57 | 13.5/52 | 2# | 0 | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 0 | 21 |
| 2007 (Jr.) | 25 | 2.5/4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| CAREER. | 105 | 16.5/56 | 8## | 3 | 2 | 27 | 13.5 | 0 | 21 |
##Includes 2 blocked punts
| KOR | YDS | AVG | TD | LG | |
| 2006 (So.) | 1 | 42 | 42.0 | 1 | 42 |
GAME-BY-GAME WITH BRIAN CUSHING
2007
| TAC | LS/YDS | DFL | FR | |
| Wash. St. | 1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| Notre Dame* | 2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon* | 8 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon St.* | 5 | 1.5/2 | 0 | 0 |
| California* | 4 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 |
| Arizona St.* | 2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| UCLA* | 2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| Illinois (RB)* | 1 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 (Jr.) | 25 | 2.5/4 | 2 | 1 |
2006
| TAC | LS/YDS | DFL | FR | |
| Arkansas* | 5 | 1/3 | 0 | 0 |
| Nebraska* | 5 | 0.5/2 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona* | 4 | 1/11 | 0 | 0 |
| Wash. St.* | 7 | 1.5/4 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington* | 5 | 1.5/5 | 1# | 0 |
| Arizona St.* | 4 | 0.5/1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon St.* | 2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stanford* | 5 | 1/1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon* | 4 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 |
| California* | 6 | 0.5/1 | 0 | 0 |
| Notre Dame* | 1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| UCLA* | 2 | 2/5 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan (RB)* | 7 | 4/19 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 (So.) | 57 | 13.5/52 | 2# | 0 |
#Includes 1 blocked punt
2005
| TAC | LS/YDS | DFL | FR | |
| Hawaii | 1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington | 2 | 0/0 | 1# | 0 |
| Wash. St. | 1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stanford | 5 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| California* | 7 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fresno St.* | 4 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 |
| UCLA* | 2 | 0.5/0 | 1 | 1 |
| Texas* (RB) | 1 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 (Fr.) | 23 | 0.5/0 | 3# | 2 |
*Starter
