Former star LB Chris Claiborne discusses his return to USC as a QC analyst

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USC's hiring of former star linebacker Chris Claiborne as a quality control analyst was in the works for a while before it could be officially announced a couple weeks ago.

But more to the point, this step in Claiborne's career has really been the payoff for a long process of personal patience and determination.

"You can't move up in this game until you have your degree, so it was very important for me to go back [to school]. I wanted to get my degree. Once I had my degree, it was something that we could even discuss," Claiborne said while joining the Trojan Talk podcast. "... Once I got my degree, I started to inquire, reached out to coach to see if there was any opportunities and just had to wait and see how it worked out. Thank God it worked out, and it's a great opportunity for me."

Claiborne and fellow former Trojans linebacker Hayes Pullard were formally announced as new USC quality control analysts on May 28, having their moment delayed by the pandemic-induced hiring freeze.

Their additions are part of the athletic department's follow-through on a pledge to add more resources to the football program, as the Trojans went from seven analysts previous to nine now.

The position has become a means for college programs to add more help to their support staff, as analysts can either be up-and-comers in the business like Claiborne and Pullard, former head coaches in between jobs (like Alabama has done with the likes of Steve Sarkisian, Butch Jones and Mike Locksley in recent years), or veteran coaches who want to contribute in a less-intensive role like USC did a couple years ago bringing in former Dallas Cowboys head coach Dave Campo.

The role has its limitations -- analysts can not do any on-field coaching in practice or games, or recruit off campus -- but they can do scouting, break down film, help players off the field, make recruiting calls and contribute to on-campus recruiting events, etc.

Interestingly, in Claiborne's case, he's been assigned to the offensive side of the ball -- that just happened to be the opportunity available -- despite being an accomplished linebacker who remains USC's only Butkus Award winner while starring for the Trojans from 1996-98 before become the No. 9 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft and enjoying an eight-year pro career.

That intrigued Claiborne, though, because again, he has had a strategic big-picture plan for his post-playing career.

"I'm working on the offensive side of the ball so that's awesome. They're very, very successful, and for what I want to do furthering my career down the road, I was lucky to get that opportunity," he said. "I get to listen, learn, help as needed -- anything they need from me I'm there to help and contribute. ... For me, if you want to be a coordinator the best thing you can possibly do one day in your career is to spend some time on the offensive side of the ball, and to be with an offense that is so potent and good, these guys are so successful over there, man, it's a blessing that I get to go over there and spend some time with them."