A speedy and athletic rush end, Nazel will start for the second year in a row. Also a senior leader, he had 6.5 sacks last season.

From www.USCTROJANS.com

2002: Nazel started all of 2002 at defensive end as a junior. Overall in 2002 while appearing in all 13 games, he had 38 tackles, including 10.5 for losses of 46 yards (with 6.5 sacks for 39 yards), plus an interception which he returned 15 yards, 7 deflections and a forced fumble. After the season, he had arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage in his knee.In his first career start, he had 6 stops and intercepted a pass (to set up a USC touchdown) against Auburn. He then had 4 stops at Colorado and 3 (1 for a loss) with a deflection at Kansas State. Against Oregon State, he had a team-best 7 tackles (4 for loss with 2 sacks) plus a deflection and forced fumble to earn Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors. He had 3 tackles at Washington State, 4 (with a sack) versus California, 3 (with a sack) against Washington, 1 at Oregon and 2 (with a sack) against Arizona State. He added 2 stops (1 for a loss) and a deflection at UCLA, then had a sack and deflection against Notre Dame. He had 3 tackles (1 for a loss) and 2 deflections against Iowa in the Orange Bowl.

2001: As a sophomore in 2001, Nazel saw significant action while backing up Lonnie Ford and then Kenechi Udeze at the defensive end spots. Overall in 2001 while appearing in all 12 games, he had 15 tackles, including 4 for losses of 15 yards (with 3 sacks for minus 14 yards), 1 deflection and 1 interception for 11 yards. He had 4 tackles at California (2 for losses, with a sack), 3 versus Stanford and 2 against San Jose State, Oregon State and UCLA. His interception came at Arizona and set up a USC touchdown.

2000: Nazel was a reserve defensive end as a redshirt freshman in 2000. He saw brief action in 5 games (San Jose State and then the final 4 contests against Arizona State, Washington State, UCLA and Notre Dame). He did not make a tackle in 2000.

1999: Nazel redshirted as a freshman in 1999, his first year at USC. He began the year as a linebacker, but was moved to defensive end. He was slowed by a mid-season concussion.

PERSONAL: He’s a social sciences/psychology major at USC. His sports hero is Michael Jordan.