David Buehler's Got Game

Go figure. Only at USC could they harbor a kicker that could start at a handful of positions on virtually any other collegiate team without the rest of us ever even hearing of him.

Rarely, if ever, does anyone get excited about the kickers at the NFL combine. However, everything changed at the 2009 combine when former USC Trojan David Buehler walked into the building.

The 6'2, 227 pound Buehler played running back, linebacker, and kicker at San Ana Junior College before he landed at USC (according to Larry Brown Sports). At USC, Buehler was a two-year starter as a kicker. Pete Carroll experimented with him at fullback and safety in practices although he never saw time on the field at either position. However, Buehler did manage five career tackles in kick coverage for the Trojans. (David Buehler was the guest blogger at PeteCarroll.com throughout the 2009 combine.)

Back to the ridiculous combine performance...

Buehler bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times in a row. To put that into perspective, that is more than projected first-round offensive tackles Eugene Monroe and Michael Oher, who are both listed at 6'5 and 309 pounds and push people around for a living. In fact, the L.A. Times claims that 25 reps at 225 pounds would have made him the strongest cornerback, second-strongest wide receiver, third-strongest safety, fourth-strongest tight end, sixth-strongest running back and eighth-strongest linebacker at the combine.

Next, Buehler busted out the 40 yard-dash in 4.56 seconds and 4.63 seconds. That's faster than former USC linebackers and teammates Brian Cushing (4.74) and Clay Matthews (4.67). And upon further investigation of the fastest 40 yard-dashes, that would have made him the second-fastest linebacker, the third-fastest tight end, the 10th fastest running back (Marlon Lucky was 4.59), and not far off at all from the fastest cornerbacks and safeties.

As you would guess, Buehler also kicked at the combine. According to CNNSI.com, "David Buehler of USC had the strongest kickoff leg as most of his kicks went 70+ yards deep into the opposite end zone. His problem came during the field goal portion of the session as Buehler missed on all three attempts from 50 yards."

Regardless if he ever plays or not in the NFL, I think we all have to agree that this is pretty impressive --- even for a kicker and even for a USC Trojan.