USC football: Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush name Trojans with breakout potential

Former Trojans Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush named USC football players with breakout potential.

Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush were major breakout players for USC football back in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

Who is next?

The two former USC stars who appear on FOX College Football’s Big Noon kickoff included a couple of Trojans on their lists of the Top 5 breakout players for 2020.

USC football should expect big things from Amon-Ra St. Brown and Bru McCoy.

Though the panel agreed on Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler as the No. breakout player for 2020, USC wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Bru McCoy also got a mention.

For Reggie Bush, Amon-Ra St. Brown is the name to watch.

MORE: Amon-Ra St. Brown is on the path to greatness

The Trojan receiver has already had a 1,000-yard campaign as the second-leading pass catcher on the team last year. His opportunities will only grow in 2020 with Michael Pittman’s absence. Those yards and catches will have to go somewhere else and St. Brown is the top target to take advantage.

St. Brown undoubtedly has talent. Already this offseason he’s been named on the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list while Athlon Sports included him in their list of Heisman candidates from the Pac-12.

Leinart also called attention to a USC wide receiver, but his pick is flying even further under the radar.

Bru McCoy didn’t get a chance to play last season for a variety of reasons. After a wild signing and transfer saga, he had to sit out Year 1. That may have been moot anyway because he came down with a debilitating and unexplainable illness which kept him off the practice field for months.

He’s back eligible and healthy for the 2020 season with a huge chance to make an immediate impact.

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Like St. Brown, McCoy could benefit from Pittman’s departure. There is an open starting job up for grabs in the Trojans’ pass-heavy offense. Sadly, Kyle Ford won’t be in contention for that spot because of an offseason ACL tear. Ford being unavailable should only make McCoy’s ascension even more inevitable.

“People are sleeping on Bru McCoy,” Leinart said.

Will St. Brown and McCoy be household names in college football by the time the 2020 campaign is complete? It’s not a bad bet.