It's not just a number. At Southern California, No. 55 is a legacy. Junior Seau, Willie McGinest and Chris Claiborne all wore 55 at USC.

Linebacker Keith Rivers, USC's most recent No. 55, is hoping to follow in their NFL cleat marks.

"That's a big tradition," Rivers said of No. 55. "Great linebackers have worn it and made it proud. I was honored to have it and tried to do my best to live up to it. ... It's a great little club, little fraternity we have with No. 55."

Rivers has not had much contact with Seau, who has played 18 NFL seasons. But McGinest was a frequent caller, offering pointers. Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who played at USC but didn't wear No. 55, also has offered Rivers encouragement.

Rivers was an All-American at Lake Mary (Fla.) High School as well as Gatorade Florida Player of the Year and Florida Class 6A Mr. Football runner-up. After he arrived at USC, he was handed No. 55. The former wearers of No. 55 were informed Rivers had been selected to wear the number.

"I was the No. 1 linebacker coming out of high school, so they offered it to me," Rivers said. "... Coming from Florida, you don't know that much about it. After a while, you develop a sense of how important it is and how important it is to practice hard every day and work hard in the weight room, because the number means so much. It's bigger than you."

Rivers lived up to the number.

He started 35 games in his USC career, making 240 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 18.5 stops for loss, two interceptions, five forced fumbles and six recovered fumbles. He was voted to the All-America and All-Pac 10 teams last season despite an injured ankle that limited his range.

Rivers is nearing completion of his public policy development degree. He hopes to go into real estate as well as the NFL.

But whatever else he does, Rivers has his number.

"I don't know (who's next), but hopefully it's not for a couple of years," Rivers said.