Power Ranking USC’s Offense: No. 3 The Running Backs

USC will kick its season off vs LSU on September 1st and the B1G Conference Media Days are completed, we can put the focus back on the team as they prepare for training camp on August 2nd. WeAreSC is power-ranking the team’s position groups to prepare fans for the season.

I’ve revealed the No. 4 & No. 5 offensive groups in the power rankings ahead of training camp and the ascending poll has now reached the No. 3 position group, the running backs.

Is USC Tailback U Or Transferback U?

The most productive running backs during the last two seasons for USC have been transfers. And while Trojan fans appreciate the contributions from Travis Dye, Austin Jones, and MarShawn Lloyd, helping resurrect a running game. However heading into year 3 of the Lincoln Riley era, many think it’s time for USC to show off the guys they’ve recruited. Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks is the latest transfer. He’s also a welcome addition to a room returning a combined total of 15 rushing attempts.

Not only should Woody anticipate a large role, but, his experience in game one will benefit the younger guys as they develop. USC’s 2025 recruiting class has two more running back prospects committed in Harry Dalton and ATH Daune Morris so this could be a signal that transferback is coming to an end.

Running back Development

At some point, USC will need to rely on who they recruit and less on the running back transfers. It is crucial for A’Marion Peterson and Quinten Joyner who arrived in the spring of 2023 and C/O ’24 addition Bryan Jackson, also an early entrant, to get their opportunities.

The only way to break the transfer-reliance cycle is to put the younger guys on the field and let them run free. New running backs coach Anthony Jones Jr.‘s room isn’t big by numbers with only 4 RBs, however, the room is stacked with young talent with NFL size. If there is a position where 1st and 2nd-year players can contribute right away, it is at running back.

Coach Jones is replacing Kiel McDonald who is coaching the LA Chargers running backs. His replacement Jones comes to USC with a reputation for developing guys at Memphis and TCU who have had not just successful college careers but also flourished professionally.

Production Gone From 2023

I won’t say all of USC’s running production ran away, however, Lloyd’s (845 yards) and Jones’s (490) yards combined for 1,745 of the team’s 2,118 rushing yards.–Caleb Williams was 3rd with 410 yards while also accounting for 30% of USC’s 33 rushing TDs.

What I can say is the running back room in 2024 is essentially new with a couple of 2nd-year players, an experienced SEC transfer, and a freshman early entry.

Returning Production Numbers

–Soph. Quinten Joyner: Appeared in 7 games/ 13 rushing attempts/ 133 yards(125 Net) / 1 TD.

–RS Fr. A’Marion Peterson: Appeared in 2 games/ 2 rushing attempts/ 14 yards(14 Net) / 0 TD.

–RS Sr. Woody Marks (transfer): In 2023 appeared in 9 games/ 121 rushing attempts/ 573 yards / 4 TDs. During his career at MSU, he was No. 1 in school history with 214 career receptions and also has the most receiving yards by a running back (1,225) in Mississippi State history.

Following USC’s spring game and Williams no longer an option, Coach Riley talked about the relationship between the quarterbacks and wide receivers, and how it would be different.

He also brought up the running backs. “We’re going to be just fine there, that’s going to be a good room. I’m excited, I think Woody came in and has been a good leader and a great example for the room. We didn’t play him a ton today, but he’s played a lot of ball, and he’s been really good for us this spring. I’ve talked previously about Quinten, I think Quinten is going to be a really big part of what we do.–I really do. I think he had one carry today and he popped it.–I tell you, he pops one every day. So he’s going to be a really good player and the two young guys.

Bryan Jackson, he’s certainly come along.–You saw a couple of touchdowns out of him today. A’Marion Peterson ran the ball well, that’s a nice room right there. We feel like we can play with all four guys, which I don’t know if we felt like that at this point, this early. We’ve got some more size in that room as a whole, which has been a big emphasis point and as you saw today, all four are certainly capable of producing.”

With more size up front along the offensive line and more overall size with the running backs, there is no reason not to anticipate more production in 2024.

Running The Ball More Requires Discipline

When I compare the last two years with Riley as the head coach, USC attempted to run the ball 360 times to their 461 passes in 2023. The previous season when Caleb won the Trojans’ 8th Heisman while leading the team to 11 wins, the Trojans ran the ball 473 times to their 515 passing attempts. Those additional 113 rushing attempts averaged nearly 5 yards per touch.

Every defense that USC faced last season knew the Trojans were throwing the football with its Heisman winner returning and a talented group of WRs. In 2023, USC threw the ball close to 58% while running it just 42% of the time.

What was frustrating throughout the season was watching the play-calling forget the running game. Too many times last season, USC went away from what was working on the ground. Against Utah last season the Trojans ran the ball with ease gaining 100 yards in the first quarter. They finished the contest with 145 yards after abandoning the running game for the next 3 quarters.

With a new starting quarterback, plus a bigger more physical offensive line that’s been training for the B1G Conference, Coach Riley needs to show more discipline. He has to resist his temptation to throw the ball when the running game is doing the job.

Final Thoughts On My Ranking

Physically and mentally there is a natural progression from players year to year. Keith Jackson used to remind me as a kid watching the Trojans play on TV, that the best thing about freshmen players, is the next year they’re sophomores. He was implying growth. I’m sure Joyner and Peterson played less than they anticipated. However, a year older they should both have the mental and physical tools to execute the assignment.

I’ve seen enough anecdotal evidence showing USC’s running game works when Coach Riley is both aggressive and disciplined with his play-calling. So despite a lack of production returning, I’m predicting the running backs in 2024 will be more productive either by any means necessary.

Coach Riley needs to lean into his offseason words when he hired D’Anton Lynn. I know Coach Lynn said, “I love an aggressive offense.” However, he completed that thought with, “I think that definitely changes the way you have to call a defense at times.”

What I mean is if the team’s No. 1 priority for success going forward is to emphasize defense first, then make your new defense’s job easier and run the ball more on offense. When USC ran the ball consistently, they picked up almost 5 yards a carry in 2023. In 2024I believe they have the potential to match and surpass last year’s rushing totals if the opponents don’t know what to expect.

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