Damien Mama

A two-year starter at USC, Mama saw early playing time and grew into a steady starter for the Trojans, earning All-Conference honors the past two years. Mama was widely considered the top guard recruit in the country three years ago and committed to USC over BYU and Alabama. He saw immediate action as a true freshman, appearing in all 12 games and starting four in 2013. Mama became a full-time starter as a sophomore in 2015, starting 13 games to earn All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention honors. He started 12 games as a junior in 2016 and was named to the All-Pac 12 Second Team. The Southern Cal native has the wide-base and core strength to dominate his square, flashing violence and torque with his upper body to generate a surge in the run game and absorb rushers in pass protection. Mama can unlock his hips to handle different types of rushers, but needs to better sink and use leverage. He has the raw traits to get the job done at the next level, but the more he continues to focus on the details and mechanics of the position will be the key to his development - projects as a NFL starter.

strengths

Wide-hipped with lower and upper body thickness. Powerful base to absorb and re-anchor. Core strength to engage, redirect and toss. Rolls his hips as a run blocker to create movement at the point of attack. Strong hands to strike, halt rushers and move bodies. Stays square in pass pro and resets well mid-mirror to frustrate interior rushers. Coordinated movement skills when pulling to cut off speed. Keeps busy on-the-field with constant hustle, always searching for someone to block with a nasty demeanor. Proud of his Samoan culture with the body ink to prove it. Worked hard to shed weight, losing nearly 75-pounds since enrolling at USC. Durable starting experience with 29 career starts, seeing time at both left and right guard.

weaknesses

Weight ballooned to near 400-pounds as a true freshman and his body development needs monitored. Tall pass-sets and needs to use better knee bend to win leverage battle at the point of attack, getting underneath rushers. Catches too much and leaves his body open to blockers. Heavy-legged and late working up a level. Undeveloped mental process, causing him to be delayed reacting to stunts/spins. Needs to be a better finisher on the move, ducking his head and struggling vs. moving targets. Out-played during 2016 spring and fall practices and lost his starting spot for the season opener against Alabama.

He made 2013 USA Today All-USA first team, Parade All-American first team, Prep Star All-American Dream Team, Max Preps All-American first team, Student Sports All-American first team, ESPN 300, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, Max Preps All-State Division I first team, All-CIF Pac-5 Division, Los Angeles Times All-Area Lineman of the Year, Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team and Wave Newspapers All-East Region as a senior offensive and defensive lineman at St. John Bosco High in Bellflower (Calif.). St. John Bosco won the 2013 CIF Pac-5 Division championship and CIF state championship Open Division bowl game. He made the 2012 Cal-Hi Sports All-State Junior first team. Current Trojans Nico Falah, Malik Dorton and Reid Budrovich also prepped at St. John Bosco.

He is a sociology major at USC.