USC Trojans alumni Ronnie Lott and Bruce Matthews have been highlighted as some of the best first-round picks in NFL Draft history. College football analyst Ben Solak ranked them among the top players at their positions.
Ronnie Lott, a former safety for the USC Trojans, was ranked eighth on Solak’s list. Known for his impressive career with the San Francisco 49ers, Lott was picked eighth overall in the 1981 NFL Draft. During his time at USC from 1977 to 1980, he contributed significantly to the team’s national championship win in 1978. In the NFL, Lott led in interceptions twice and achieved a career-high of ten interceptions in 1986. He retired as a four-time Super Bowl champion and an eight-time First-Team All-Pro selection. Lott was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and later joined the Pac-12 Hall of Fame in 2019.
Bruce Matthews follows closely behind Lott at ninth place on Solak’s list. As an outside tackle, Matthews was drafted ninth overall by the Houston Oilers in 1983. At USC, he earned All-American honors and captained the team as a senior. Matthews played for 19 years with the Oilers, who later became the Tennessee Titans, and demonstrated versatility by playing every position on the offensive line. He never missed a game throughout his career, starting 296 games—third most in league history. Matthews was inducted into both the USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Both Lott and Matthews continue to influence future generations while representing USC’s football legacy.
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