LOS ANGELES -- Mike Battle, an All-American defensive back and a member of USC's 1967 national championship team who later played two seasons for the New York Jets, has died. He was 78.
He died of natural causes on March 6 in Nellysford, Virginia, the school said Tuesday.
In 1967, Battle led a USC defense which allowed only 87 points all season. The Trojans were 26-6-1 and won three conference titles during his three-year career. Battle played in the 1967, 1968 and 1969 Rose Bowl games, all won by the Trojans.
Battle was USC's annual punt return leader in each of his three seasons and still owns the school record for most punts returned in a season.