Mike Battle, a USC national defense and former member of the Jets, passed away last week, the university announced Tuesday.
The battle died of natural causes in Nellisford, Virginia on March 6th.
He was 78 years old.
The battle won the national championship with USC in 1967, and was then filmed by the Jets in the 12th round of the 1969 NFL Draft.
During his two seasons at Gang Green, he appeared in 28 regular season games and one playoff contest.
The battle also appeared in a film in 1970 starring teammate Joe Namath and actress Ann-Margret, known as “CC and Company.”
Battle was a star of the Grid Irons in college and helped USC win three conference championships in many years (1966-68).
Each season peaked in the Rose Bowl appearance.
Battle has been the Trojan punt return leader for all three seasons, and he still holds a school record where most of the punts have been returned (99).
He was the 1967 NCAA statistical champion, averaging 49 punt returns for 608 yards and 12.4 yards.
On defense, he is tied to the sixth career intercept in school history (13 for 148 yards).
Battle was the intercept leader of a five-man team in 1967.
