COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Arizona Defense Strong Up the Middle

The highly regarded Arizona defense, which will test USC on Saturday at the Coliseum, is led by nose guard Rob Waldrop, a 6-foot-2, 274-pound junior from Phoenix who is third in the Pacific 10 Conference with 19 tackles for losses.

“He’s as good a defensive lineman as I’ve seen in the country, and I think the people who have played against us would agree,” Arizona Coach Dick Tomey said. “If there’s an All-American in the defensive line anyplace, I think it’s him. He’s just done a tremendous job. He’s the guy who has made the key plays.”

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Arizona has made 71 tackles for losses, including 32 sacks. . . . USC leads the Pac-10 with 41 sacks, but Arizona has given up only 12, fewest among conference teams. . . . Arizona has given up only 155 yards rushing during its last six games. . . . USC has lost to Stanford in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1970-71.