USC Football: Trojans Insider Believes The RB Spot is The Position Battle to Watch For in Fall Camp
Last year the Trojan backfield featured the dynamic duo of two veteran transfers: Travis Dye of Oregon and Austin Jones of Stanford. The duo worked beautifully together, with both rushing for over 700 yards.
Dye, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets, suffered a fractured ankle against Colorado, ending his college career early and forcing Austin Jones and the rest of the Trojan backfield to step up.
Jones, who returns for his senior year, took the bulk of Dye's carries. In the four games after Dye's injury, Jones averaged over 20 carries and over 92 yards, scoring two touchdowns against UCLA.
Then freshman Raleek Brown, who dazzled fans with his speed and versatility, averaged 5.4 yards per carry and 10.9 receiving yards per game, adding 6 touchdowns. The speedy back has been spending some time practicing in the slot in which he could utilize his speed and hands.
The Trojans can afford to use Brown as the Swiss Army Knife of the Trojan offense as their running back room is suddenly crowded.
True freshman A'marion Peterson, who averaged 165 yards per game in high school, and Quinten Joyner, who starred in the backfield and as a returner in high school, are two valuable additions to the Trojan backfield.
Standing at 6 feet tall and over 200 pounds, Peterson is a threat in the open field. He's a strong back who can accelerate downfield with force.
Joyner has a good first move in the hole and runs hard. The 200-pound back from Paige, Texas, will be a contender for the starting spot at running back.
If Jones, Brown, Peterson, and Joyner were the Trojans' only options at running back, they would still be in great shape at the position. But that's not all.
Sophomore Marshawn Lloyd transferred from the U of SC to USC, going from Columbia, South Carolina, to Los Angeles. One of the best players available in the transfer portal, Lloyd averaged 5.2 yards per carry and averaged a touchdown a game last season with South Carolina.
Not only is Lloyd a strong runner and a capable receiver, but his strong lower body allows him to be a solid blocker in the backfield.
With the plethora of options at running back, Lincoln Riley has his hands full in his second year. It is likely that one of the veterans, either Jones or Lloyd, will begin the season as a starter. But expect the Trojans to employ each of their talented backs as USC looks to return to the Pac-12 Championship game.
Read USC football insider Chris Trevino's column on the top position battles to watch for at USC fall camp for more on the running back battle.
