37 days to USC football: Julie Bescos and Buck Allen, nickname stars in No. 37

USC football’s No. 37 has featured players better known by their nicknames, Julie Bescos, a Trojan Hall of Famer, and Buck Allen, a surprise standout.

USC football’s return to the football field will come in just 37 days.

The Trojans have an upcoming date with Fresno State that is creeping ever closer, but until it arrives, there is time to kill.

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So Reign of Troy is taking a look at each USC jersey number in the meantime, including No. 37:

Who wore it best?

The No. 37 has had a pretty solid run going back to almost the very beginning, especially when it comes to players going by nicknames

In the 1930, USC Athletics Hall of Famer Julius “Julie” Bescos wore the jersey while playing end for the Trojans’ 1932 national title team. He captained the 1934 squad.

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Bescos stayed involved with Trojan sports, even after he hung up his No. 37. He coached USC’s freshman football squad before taking an assistant post on the varsity squad. Having lettered in basketball and baseball, he also helped coach those teams, holding the varsity basketball head coaching job for a time in 1942. A Navy post during World War II ended that tenure.

Other Trojans contributed in the No. 37, but it wasn’t until Javorius “Buck” Allen emerged in 2014 that the jersey really launched again.

Allen started the 2013 season in the dog house but a number of dominoes fell which resulted in a massive breakout moment for the running back. Head coach Lane Kiffin was fired and running backs like Tre Madden and Justin Davis went out with injury. Allen took advantage.

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The then-unknown No. 37 exploded with 684 yards and 12 touchdowns in just six games, with only four starts to his name.

In 2014, Allen proved his showing the year before was no fluke. He gained 1,489 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in a full season of work, picking up All-Pac-12 honors. He was also the only player in the nation to gain 100-yards of scrimmage in 13 games that year.

Who wears it now?

Walk on running back Ben Easington is the current owner of the No. 37. He redshirt sophomore, he should help the Trojans depth on the practice field.

Stats to know: 37

• End Marlin McKeever was USC’s 37th ever All-American in 1960.
• All-American quarterback Paul McDonald had 37 career touchdowns.
• Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott had 37 career pass deflections.
• Wide receiver Nelson Agholor ranks eight on USC’s career punt return list with 37 returns for 540 yards and four touchdowns. His career-long return was 37 yards.
• In 1978, Frank Jordan hit a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left to lift USC over Notre Dame 27-25.
• Adam Abrams also put himself in rivalry lore with a 37-yard field goal in 1997 at Notre Dame to secure a 20-17 victory with just over a minute left.
• When USC lost to Notre Dame in 2018, JT Daniels completed 37 passes, which is a Trojan record. He attempted 51.