Janzon commits to USC

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College’s Martin Janzon, a two-year

starter at linebacker, will continue his playing days and education at

the University of Southern California.

“I’m very happy about this,” said Janzon. “I really wanted to stay in

California.”

The 25-year-old said he would be vying with three or four others for

duty at weakside linebacker on the Trojans’ football roster.

A 6-foot-3, 225-pounder from Norrkoping, Sweden, Janzon posted 139

tackles last year - the seventh-highest single-season total in school

history - to help lead the Pirates to the Mission Conference Central

Division championship. He also had a key 35-yard interception return for

a touchdown in Coast’s 53-41 triple-overtime win at Santa Ana.

He was a Junior College All-American and a first-team, all-conference

player, falling one vote short of being named the conference’s Defensive

Player of the Year.

In the classroom he excelled at a GPA rate of 3.64.

Janzon’s experience amounts to about six years of “club football” in

Sweden, and his two years at Coast.

His 198 career tackles are eight best on the Pirate charts.

Janzon becomes the 15th member of Coach Mike Taylor’s title team to

finalize transfer plans, joining Manny Adams (Portland State), Vance

Babin (UNLV), Justin Blackard (Arkansas State), Thomas Cornejo (Chapman),

Justin Dale (Southwest Missouri State), Dustin Davis (West Virginia

Wesleyan), James Dawkins (Florida A&M;), Adam Fisher (Portland State), Ben

Fredrickson (Missouri), Eddie Johnson (Idaho State), Anthony Knutson

(Liberty), Johnnie Peeples (Montana), Justin Simmons (Texas A&M-Commerce;)

and Anthony Valanos (U. of San Diego).