At some point in his life, Markus Steele began to enjoy the feel of bone-jarring, headache-inducing hits.

The USC linebacker transformed from a basketball player full of finesse to a monster of the gridiron. He became someone who loves to leave his opponents lying prone on the field after a huge tackle.

Steele was a standout basketball player at Chanel High in New Bedford, Ohio and loved the sport. But floor burns and the referees' constant whistle blowing began to pale in comparison to giant bruises and unchecked full contact.

"I got to a point between tackling someone and getting called for foul," Steele said. "I chose to take the one that was more painful."

He pursued his collegiate football career at Long Beach City College, where he played two seasons. But Steele's life was transformed again when he transferred to USC and made an immediate impact in 1999.

Once at USC, Steele's alterations continued when his new coaches asked him to wear No. 55. It was both an honor and a curse.

After all, it is a number worn by great Trojan linebackers of years past including Junior Seau, Chris Claiborne and Willie McGinest. It is the equivalent of wearing No. 56 on a New York Giants uniform.

The decision hardly came easy for Steele.

"At first I didn't want to wear it because I didn't want the pressure," the senior said. "But you know, last season was an all right year for me. I'm just looking to really establish No. 55 this year."

Steele will attack that goal by morphing into the aggressive, angry player who loves to cause pain.

Friday nights are spent relaxing and watching movies with his girlfriend, Marina. He likes to get a good night's sleep and concentrate on being at peace.

But come Saturday mornings in autumn, Steele puts on his headphones, isolates himself from his teammates and becomes a different person.

"I'm a laid back guy, but when I'm on the football field I have attitude with the world," he said. "I want to take it out on the other team. When you walk on field, the other team always has something smart to say and it's like, 'You started me up, so now I have to go out there and take care of business.' "

Just as Steele's ability to adapt has helped him break through offensive lines and reach the opposing quarterback, it helped him break through one of the most difficult times in his life.

In July of 1999, Steele's grandmother, Rosetta Lenda, passed away after a long battle with cancer at age 67. The two were very close, and Steele returned home to grieve with his family.

"I didn't want to do anything but sit home and mourn," Steele said. "There was no point in doing anything anymore. My anger and frustration built up, so my solution was to go out on the football field and take care of somebody."

Taking care of somebody meant getting three sacks, 91 tackles, one interception and six pass breakups in 1999. For as much havoc as he wreaks on the Trojans' opposition, he provides his teammates with peace of mind.

"Markus is the kind of guy that relaxes you," Trojans linebacker Zeke Moreno said. "He is all over the field, he is a great athlete and a great person. He's a leader on and off the field and he's there for you if you need help. He's a great piece of this puzzle on defense."

It's a riddle that Penn State will attempt to solve Sunday at the Kickoff Classic.

Steele, as well as Moreno, is one of the deceptively speedy defensive players. Typical to his changeling nature, Steele can take on players bigger than he, thanks to advanced technique and natural athletic talent.

"They have outstanding athletes," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "They have a couple of kids who can really move and run. They are a very experienced defensive team with two or three kids that are probably very high draft picks, if not number one picks."

If history has anything to do with it, Steele could transform himself into an NFL player, too.