Legendary USC defensive player Su’a Cravens thinks Trojan star Kamari Ramsey may be ruining his NFL aspirations by playing out of position so far this season.
So far this season, Ramsey has been playing nickel cornerback for USC due to injuries that USC has sustained at that position. Ramsey has historically played safety throughout his career. It is being heralded as a very unselfish, team-first move.
But it is also likely hurting Ramsey’s draft stock. Ramsey was one of the most impactful defenders not only at USC, but in the whole Big Ten last season. He had 60 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and one interception. He received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors for his efforts.
Through three games this season, Ramsey has only 4 tackles, no pass breakups, no forced fumbles, no interceptions and no sacks. His impact on the game has been invisible at best and minimal at worst.
Cravens issued a warning of sorts to Ramsey in the wake of recent discussions in the media about his position switch.
“Careful now Kamari…” Cravens wrote in a post on X. “It’s hard to find that balance of being a team first guy and wanting to win vs making sure you don’t screw your potential pro career over!”
Cravens Is Speaking From Experience
The reason why Cravens wants to make sure Ramsey thinks about himself just a little bit is because he went through something similar as a defensive star at USC.
Cravens came into USC as a star safety out of high school and immediately was a great safety at the collegiate level. But as his career went on, USC coaches asked him to switch his position 3 different times, including a stint at the nickel spot.
“I’ve got a story about a freshman All American safety that never got let back into the DB room after “covering up holes” in a defense due to injury!” Cravens said in his post on X, referring to himself.
Cravens elaborated that he feels like because of how USC handled his position changes, he missed out on millions of dollars in the NFL.
“Until that team losses multiple Head Coaches, changes your position 3 times, expects you to cover all the holes due to lack of depth & injuries and then you miss out on millions because you don’t have a true position anymore,” Cravens said, in response to a reply to his post that said “team first always.”
USC fans know Cravens as a lover and supporter of the USC program, so his comments likely do not come from a place of hatred. He just wants to see both USC and Kamari Ramsey succeed, without one succeeding at the expense of the other.
What Does Cravens Suggest The Trojans Do Instead?
In light of Cravens’s comments, one fan asked him on X what he would have defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn do instead of playing Ramsey at nickel.
“So who do you recommend to play nickel?” the fan wrote.
“If we’re playing run-heavy teams. I’d go 3-4 and have the outside linebacker/SAM play the SAM/nickel position … if we’re going against the pass I’d rather have Kamari inside at dime as an additional LB because he’ll actually play that in the NFL. He won’t play nickel corner in the NFL. But I’m not sure who’s a better nickel than Kamari because of injuries so Coach Lynn’s hands are tied at the moment,” Cravens responded.
USC is currently dealing with injuries to three of their top cornerbacks: Prophet Brown, Chasen Johnson and Alex Graham.
Johnson is out for the year after seeing limited action in Weeks 2-3, and Graham and Brown haven’t yet played this season.
USC fans, how do you think USC should balance Kamari Ramsey’s development and what’s best for team success?
USC Football Legend Criticizes Trojans, Issues Warning To Kamari Ramsey