USC’s Su’a Cravens is moving forward in his pursuit of greatness

Steve Sarkisian knew what he had seen on tape and in person but he sought another opinion, an additional set of expert eyes.

So when USC began training camp in August, the Trojans’ first-year coach asked former USC All-American safety Ronnie Lott for a favor:

Watch sophomore Su’a Cravens this season. Evaluate his strengths. Identify his weaknesses.

“I know there’s going to a be a day when Ronnie and Su’a cross paths,” Sarkisian said, “and I just want Ronnie to be able to converse with Su’a and really critique his game.

“I think Su’a is looking forward to that opportunity.”

No meeting has been scheduled, but Lott — a college and pro football Hall of Famer — has kept a watchful eye on USC’s most dynamic defensive playmaker.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Cravens was moved from safety to a hybrid linebacker spot early this season. He leads the Trojans with 9 1/2 tackles for losses and two interceptions.

“He’s had moments when I’ve seen him do things and I’m saying , ‘Yeah, that’s a first-round pick,’” Lott said.

Cravens is not getting ahead of himself.

“If Ronnie Lott saw the way I practiced today, he wouldn’t even talk about me at all,” he said after a workout in preparation for a game Saturday at Utah. “I need to be more disciplined in my coverage skills.”

Cravens, 19, is aware of USC’s legacy at safety.

Lott, Mike Battle, Artimus Parker, Charles Phillips, Dennis Thurman, Tim McDonald, Mark Carrier, Cleveland Colter, Troy Polamalu, Darnell Bing, Taylor Mays and T.J. McDonald were All-Americans.

Some played the position in the classic sense, others as rovers or hybrids similar to Cravens.

“I remember watching Taylor Mays decapitate people on the field,” Cravens said. “Darnell Bing was probably one of the biggest safeties on the field coming down, grabbing interceptions and taking it back to the house.

“Ronnie Lott cut off his pinkie. I would never do that. He’s on a whole new level. And Troy Polamalu …

“So you can say I’m trying to live up to that. I’m trying, but I’m not there yet.”

Cravens came to USC from Vista Murrieta High in Riverside County, where he starred on offense and defense and was named USA Today’s national defensive player of the year.

But Cravens’ roots are close to USC.

He said that until age 6 he lived not far from the school, and then moved with his family to Rialto and eventually Riverside County.

One of the many tattoos on his left arm is an intricate image of the peristyle end of the Coliseum. Cravens said he got it a few months after enrolling at USC in the spring of 2013.

“I wasn’t going anywhere else,” he said of his recruitment, adding, “I love this school. Why not show my appreciation?”

Cravens made an immediate impact last season, intercepting a pass in the opener against Hawaii. He finished with four interceptions and was selected to several Freshman All-America teams.

The new USC staff experimented with Cravens at linebacker during training camp. They moved him there after the Trojans gave up 452 rushing yards against Boston College.

Cravens initially resisted the change.

“I talked to my dad and he said, ‘Suck it up and do what you do best, make plays,’ “‘ Cravens said.

Cravens had three tackles for losses against Boston College, two against Oregon State and 3 1/2 against Arizona State. He intercepted passes against Oregon State and in last week’s victory over Colorado.

Playing closer to the line of scrimmage has grown on him.

“The coaches know what they’re doing,” he said. “I’ve just got to do my job.”

Lott, a college football analyst for the Pac-12 Networks, is not the only USC All-American Cravens has impressed.

Bing, who is working toward completing a masters degree in education counseling at USC, marvels at Cravens’ versatility.

“The kid is just a play-maker,” said Bing, a fourth-round NFL pick in 2006. “He’s all over the field. He’s definitely set himself up to do something big.”

Mays said he spent time with Cravens last summer at USC. The fifth-year NFL veteran was struck by Cravens’ approach.

“A lot of times, kids come to college and they get distracted,” said Mays, who was a second-round draft pick in 2010. “He stepped in and figured out what he wanted and started to attack it. He’s handling it like a pro.”

The next step, Lott said, is to combine Cravens’ “motor” with a commitment to be great every practice and game that was displayed by such players as Carrier, Tim McDonald, former Trojans safety Dennis Smith, receiver Lynn Swann and Heisman Trophy running backs Charles White and Marcus Allen.

“You’ve got to practice, think, dream and sleep that way,” Lott said, adding, “That’s the kind of spirit you’ve got to have.”

Cravens sounded as if he was already on track.

“I love football,” he said. “I take every little thing that maybe the fans don’t see and take it to heart.

“I’m trying to master my craft.”