LOS ANGELES — USC running back Waymond Jordan may be nicknamed “the junkyard dog,” but head coach Lincoln Riley sees a diamond.
Jordan is a highly decorated junior college running back who survived being under-recruited and grinded through two seasons at Hutchinson CC in Kansas before arriving in Los Angeles, and he could make a big impact in USC’s run game.
“The one thing you know about junior college guys — they love football,” Riley told reporters. “If they have character and if you like what you see on tape, you can get a diamond in the rough. And I feel like — I know — that we’ve got one now.”
Jordan entered Hutchinson CC as an overlooked three-star recruit out of high school but emerged as the No. 1 junior college running back in the country, as ranked by multiple recruiting websites. He was the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Offensive Player of the Year and helped Hutchinson win the NJCAA DI Football Championship.
“I’ve been playing this sport since I was 4, so I love this game tremendously,” Jordan told reporters after a fall training camp practice on Friday.
“When you go to JUCO, it takes a different type of love to keep playing the sport because you’re in the middle of nowhere with less resources, you see a lot of guys just fall out. But when you really love the game, you just stick with it.”
He rushed for 1,614 yards and 20 touchdowns on 218 carries in 2024. He was the best junior college running back in the nation in terms of yards, yards per game and touchdowns.
USC’s rushing attack ranked 10th out of 18 Big Ten teams last season, averaging 145.3 yards per game. Woody Marks was the Trojans’ leading rusher with 94.4 yards per game and 1,133 total yards.
Film from his junior college career foretells Jordan finding his way into Riley’s offense as Marks’ successor. His speed and physicality pop, but not as much as his spatial awareness and ability to jet into open spaces.
“Waymo’s the way to go,” quarterback Jayden Maiava said. “Every time the ball’s in his hands, just let it go and watch what he does.”
Jordan might also find his way onto special teams. He’s been seen practicing with the group during media viewing periods and returned kicks regularly in high school and did some special teams at Hutchinson.
He credits Hutchinson coaches like head coach Drew Dallas, running backs coach Greg Cross and strength coach Davin Hawkins for helping him get to USC — now, he said, he can pay them back by succeeding at a four-year program.
“I believed this since I was a little boy, that I’ll play at a big school,” Jordan said. “I didn’t know which school, but I just knew it was going to be at a big school. And I just kept my eyes on that the whole time.”
Injury update
Prophet Brown, a cornerback with a high ceiling, suffered a non-contact injury that will force him to miss multiple games, Riley told reporters after practice on Friday.
“He’s going to miss certainly the first part of the season, we’ll see how it plays out,” Riley said. “Certainly, hopeful to get him back here at some point. I think that’s very much a real possibility, but we’ll see how that progresses.”
Friday was the first practice that the media had seen in full pads. Additionally, half the team was wearing Guardian caps
Receiver Ja’Kobi Lane was in full pads and no guardian cap on Friday, taking part in individual drills during the media viewing period. The junior had been limited in previous practices.
“He’s going to start ramping up here in the next couple of days, be able to do a little bit more,” Riley said. “But totally fine, just a little bit of recovery that we got to get him back to a certain point before we turn him loose in team drills.”
Lane was second on the team in receiving yards with 525 last season and led the team with 12 touchdown receptions.
