Miller Moss 'super impressed' with new USC running backs

USC‘s running back room received a make over this offseason, welcoming in the likes of Mississippi State transfer Jo‘Quavious ‘Woody’ Marks and incoming freshman Bryan Jackson as the Trojans look to form a new identity in 2024.

Fans got their first look at the young running back room during the spring game last month, where they continued to impress Trojan quarterback Miller Moss.

“Woody is obviously a veteran guy that’s that’s played a ton. He has come in and really hit the ground running and he has a ton of knowledge in terms of pass protection, which is obviously really important when it comes to playing this offense,” Moss said after the spring game. “He has really natural hands for a running back, which you don’t often see, so really helps as an offense in terms of what we can do there.

“Bryan Jackson has been one of the most impressive freshmen. Talking about the changes he made with his body in terms of weight throughout the winter. And then he has ability to come into spring — obviously he’s a high school senior — so he’s leaving this game and going prom and graduation, all that stuff. So really proud of the work that he’s done coming in and digesting a ton of new information and kind of hitting the ground running. We love the two guys that we have in the room in [A’Marion Peterson] and [Quinten Joyner] but it’s great new additions there as well.”

Four running backs were featured during the contest: Marks, Jackson, and then two incoming sophomores Joyner and Peterson. Together, the two combined for 20 carries worth of production, rushing for 139 yards and a touchdown — most of which came from Joyner’s legs.

Overall, the backfield, the Trojans’ rushing room totaled 27 rushes for 110 yards and two touchdowns, good for 4.0 yards per attempt. After the spring game, head coach Lincoln Riley brushed off the fact that his offense lost the game 43-28 to the defensive unit, stating that it’s simply a testament to how USC has improved defensively this offseason while defending his group of running backs.

Jackson was handed the heaviest load with 10 rushes, which went for 23 yards and a touchdown. Peterson was the day’s leading rusher with nine carries for 41 yards while accounting for the only other touchdown USC posted over the weekend.

Elsewhere in the rushing room, Joyner was given one carry, but managed to make the most of the play by rushing for 16 yards. Marks capped off the rushing performance with four carries for 29 yards, including a game-high 19-yard rush.

The next time fans will see the USC running back room in action will be on Sunday, Sept. 1 when they meet LSU in the season opener inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.