USC’s running back room looks a lot different than it did a year ago, and that’s the point. After losing Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders to significant injuries last season, the Trojans invested in depth and now have a backfield that can win in a few different ways. At the top of the group sit Jordan and King Miller, but there’s also a wave of freshmen waiting to push for touches.
Miller is coming off the kind of season that changes a player’s standing fast. He entered last year as a walk-on freshman and made the most of every chance he got.
When Jordan went down in Week 7 against Michigan, Miller stepped in and ran for 158 yards and a touchdown in a dominant win. He kept rolling after that, adding three more 100-yard games the rest of the season, including two in a four-game stretch.
By the end, he had piled up 972 rushing yards, scored eight touchdowns, and averaged 6.2 yards per carry. Fully healthy and carrying momentum into this year, he looks positioned to get the first reps.
Jordan gives USC a different kind of force. In just six games, he totaled 576 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.
His presence alone changed how defenses had to play the Trojans. Paired with Miller, he gives USC a one-two punch that could make the run game one of the offense’s most dangerous weapons.
Both backs should have productive seasons, and the Trojans will lean on them to take turns making defenses pay.
Behind those two, Riley Wormley is the next name to watch. He missed most of last season because of an injury he suffered during his senior year of high school, but he was available for the final two games of his freshman season and got some useful snaps.
This offseason, he’s been a frequent topic of conversation around the program. Coaches have praised his work ethic, and his speed adds another layer to the backfield.
For now, he sits as the third back.
Then come the freshmen, and there’s no shortage of talent. Deshonne Redeaux brings a skill set that stands out in a passing offense because he can work as a third-down option and a reliable check-down target.
At the same time, he’s not just a niche piece. His senior season produced 156 carries for 1,447 yards, a 9.3-yard average, and 15 touchdowns.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if he forced his way into the rotation. He’s also wearing Makai Lemon’s number 6.
Shahn Alston arrives with just as much production. His senior season featured 172 carries for 1,548 yards, a 9.0-yard average, and 29 touchdowns.
He’s a blend of power and burst, the kind of back who can run through contact and still separate from defenders. He made a strong impression in the spring by standing out in workouts and earning reps when other backs were hurt.
Alston and Redeaux both have a chance to chip away at carries.
Kayne Miller brings another layer of depth. Like his brother King, he was a walk-on, and like King, he made his presence felt in the Big Ten once he got opportunities.
In high school in California, he ran for 1,463 yards on 174 carries, averaged 8.4 yards per carry, and scored 20 touchdowns. He offers versatility out of the backfield, and that versatility extends beyond offense.
In high school, he played running back and corner, which could also make him a candidate for special teams.
Tyson Park is another freshman with real production on his resume. The IMG Academy product rushed for 362 yards on 41 carries as a senior, averaged 8.8 yards per carry, and scored four touchdowns.
He enters a crowded room, but he’s another player who could find a role on special teams because he needs to be on the field. Taken together, the group shows just how deep USC’s backfield has become.
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