13 days to USC football: Munir McClain, Adonis Otey look to carry on No. 13

The countdown to USC football’s 2019 season continues with No. 13, worn best by Irvine Warburton and now in the hands of freshmen Munir McClain and Adonis Otey.

USC football is officially less than two weeks away, with Day 13 of the countdown to kickoff arriving on Sunday.

Saturday’s scrimmage took fans one step closer to seeing the Trojans in action on August 31 against Fresno State.

CHECK OUT: Projecting USC’s 2019 starting lineup after Fall Camp

While the wait continues, here’s what you need to know about the No. 13:

Who wore it best?

Quarterback Irvine “Cotton” Warburton was listed at just 5-foot-6, 148 pounds. That would make him the smallest All-American in USC history by at least three inches and 30 pounds.

Good things came in a small package for USC when it came to the “welterweight” Warburton in the No. 13 jersey.

George A. Barton of the Minneapolis Star Tribune marveled at Warburton’s “remarkable change of pace which enables him to float away from a tackler just when the latter thinks he is sure of bringing him down.” The AP described him as “the fastest, shiftiest and probably quickest thinking ball carrier Troy has had in years” in 1933.

In 1932, his first season at the helm of the Trojan backfield, he led the team to a national title, tossing two touchdowns in a Rose Bowl victory over Pittsburgh to finish the campaign. He returned the following season and lit up the field on his way to unanimous All-American honors.

The 1934 campaign saw Warburton’s powers diminish as the Trojans slipped to a 4-6-1 record.

In his post-USC career, Warburton is best known for wining an Academy Award for his editing of Mary Poppins.

Who wears it now?

The No. 13 has been taken up by a pair of freshmen for the 2019 season.

Wide receiver Munir McClain had an impressive debut in Fall Camp as his size and catch radius belied his relatively low recruiting ranking. Unfortunately an injury put an end to some of the momentum he built in the first week of camp. Fortunately, that injury isn’t long term and he more than made his case for some early playing time.

On the other side of the defense, Adonis Otey is donning the No. 13 at cornerback. He saw regular second-team reps in Fall Camp, but some hiccups in coverage in scrimmage situations likely have him on track for a redshirt. That’s the best-case scenario at least. Limited depth in the secondary could change that.

Stats to know: 13

• Back Erny Pinckert was USC’s 13th ever All-American in 1931.
• Howard Jones’ 1932 national championship team allowed just 13 points all season. They bested Notre Dame 13-0 en route to the title.
• Johnnie Morton, Dwayne Jarrett had 13 career 100-yard receiving games.
• Mike Patterson had 13 fumble recoveries in his four-year defensive tackle career.
• Fred Davis set tight end records at USC with 13 career touchdowns.
• Seven players share a piece of the sixth rank on USC’s career pass interception list with 13 each, including Charles Phillips, Dennis Thurman, Bruce Dyer, Mike Battle, Mark Carrier, Jim Hardy and Manuel Laraneta.
• Uchenna Nwosu led USC with 13 deflections in 2017. Cleveland Colter did the same in 1987 ass well Jaseon Sehorn in 1993 and Kevon Seymour in 2014.
• The trio of Dan Owens, Craig Hartsuyker and Tim Ryan led USC in tackles for loss with 13 each in 1988, along with Willie McGinest in 1993, Ennis Davis in 1998, Michael Morgan in 2009, Nick Perry in 2011 and Porter Gustin in 2016.
• Mike Garrett won the Heisman Trophy in 1965 with 13 rushing touchdowns.
• In 1967, O.J. Simpson contributed 13 touchdowns to USC’s national title run.
• In 1972, Sam Cunningham scored 13 touchdowns during another championship run.
• In 1974, Anthony Davis also rushed for 13 touchdowns and Pat Haden threw 13 touchdown passes as the Trojans stormed to the title.
• In 1992, USC racked up 13 sacks in a game against Oregon.
• In 1996, USC beat Notre Dame 27-20 to end a 13-year losing streak to the Irish.
• In 2004, Dwayne Jarrett led USC with 13 touchdowns in another national championship season.
• In the 2017 Rose Bowl, Deontay Burnett caught 13 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns. He tied a Rose Bowl record for touchdown receptions that night.
• Head coach Don Clark won 13 games in three seasons in charge of the Trojans from 1957 to 1959.