LOS ANGELES — USC’s running back room was depleted rapidly in Saturday’s 31-13 victory over Michigan.
Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders both left the game due to injury, and their return isn’t likely to happen soon. The running back situation unraveled so rapidly that the coaching staff decided to deploy Bryan Jackson, who was originally listed as “out” on the official Big Ten Conference availability report.
USC was ultimately slapped with a $5,000 fine for violating the availability report, but a loss to Michigan likely would have been even more costly. It also was a baptism-by-fire that showed that Jackson, who has been healing from turf toe, is ready to play again.
“He did well, came out of the game really clean, felt good,” head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters after practice on Tuesday. “He was in a position, I think, regardless of this happening, that we were going to be able to continue to ramp him up this week. We’re probably pushing that a little bit more than we would have.”
Jackson had five carries for 35 yards after entering the game in the fourth quarter. The late arrival didn’t rattle quarterback Jayden Maiava in the slightest.
“Juice, energy, that grit, that toughness,” Maiava said of what Jackson brings to the offense. “That unity, the sacrifice. Everything that we’re sacrificing off the field just to come out here and play with each other.”
It’s unclear who the starting running back will be on Saturday when the 20th-ranked Trojans (5-1 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) play at No. 13 Notre Dame (4-2), but freshman walk-on King Miller has a solid chance after stealing the show with 158 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Miller has raked in the awards as a result and has been named the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week, the Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week and the Big Ten Freshman Football Player of the Week.
“I just want to keep like moving forward,” King told reporters on Tuesday. “I always have things I can improve on just looking back from the game, but honestly, I think it’s just playing more – just continue going out there and just following what I see. I think everything else will work out from there.”
True freshmen Ryan Wormley and Harry Dalton III, a former high school quarterback, are also available to play running back.
“Two young guys, two talented young guys,” Riley said, “but right now with our running back situation, anyone and everyone is certainly an option.”
COMPETITION REMAINS HIGH ON O-LINE
The Trojans’ offensive line saw virtually no drop-off in performance despite having a new center against Michigan.
J’Onre Reed started at the position in his first game since playing at his previous school, Syracuse. USC rushed for 224 yards and Maiava passed for 265 yards with Reed snapping the ball, and the Trojans kept their quarterback clean with no sacks.
“He did a good job of getting the ball and he saw everything and made it made a made a call and then, if it needed to change, you could change it fast,” Raymond said of Reed. “He’s got some power to him. That’s one thing that we notice in the weight room – just squatting a lot of weight.”
USC has had to shuffle the offensive line this season and finally seems to have continuity. Tobias Raymond moved to left guard this season after DJ Wingfield was ruled ineligible for the season, and Justin Tauanuu has been starting at left tackle since Elijah Paige sustained an injury in Week 4 against Illinois.
It’s created a competitive environment within the group. USC’s original starting center, Kilian O’Connor, is expected to miss at least one more week due to a lower-body injury and, although he’s proven he’s a competent starter, his spot isn’t guaranteed.
“All of them are going to have to (earn their spot), some of the guys that have been out,” Riley said. “It’s the Wally Pipp. That’s the way the sport works.
“That’s the nature of the beast. You look at a lot of the great players throughout history, and just the ability to stay healthy – there is some luck to it, but there’s obviously a lot of skill to it, and a lot of the way you train and take care of your body. In this sport, it’s everything, because the opportunities are so limited, no matter who you are.”
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