USC football: Trojans add tremendous 4-star RB to 2023 class
By Savannah Leigh
USC football added a commitment on Tuesday ahead of their annual spring game as 4-star running back Quinten Joyner announced his decision.
The Texas running back is a speedster, but one of the more explosive runners in this 2023 class, so the Trojans picked up someone that'll compliment this team nicely.
With the addition of Joyner, the Trojans are no No.16 on 247Sports team rankings with four pledges. This class currently has three 5-stars and one a 4-star in it. Head coach Lincoln Riley is off to a great start for his first full recruiting cycle with the Trojans.
USC finished No. 65 in recruiting with eight signees during the last recruiting cycle, so the strong start is a big positive for this program. Plus, the Trojans will have some room to work with and could grab some talented players because they will have the space.
USC football adds an impressive 4-star running back to 2023 class.
According to 247Sports Composite rankings, Joyner is the No. 13 running back and the No. 39 player in Texas. He is such a strong football player, but also is a track and field athlete — that adds an extra element to him.
At 5-10 and 190-pounds, he not only runs in track events, but he is also a guy that throws the shot put. This March, he threw it 49-feet, which is a personal record. Not to mention he has over 10 100-meters in 11.34 or better. Joyner has a 10.99 personal best, but it's safer to say he runs in the lower 11-second time, and that is still extremely quick.
That speed Joyner has allowed him to outrun defenders, but his strength also allows him to break tackles which makes him tougher to tackle. His speed and athleticism remind us of Nick Chubb from the University of Georgia, so Joyner is a heck of a pick up for Riley and his staff.
He could add some weight and improve on his pass-catching abilities, but the guy has potential. His tape is strong, riping through arm tackles and being able to keep balance are two big takeaways from it.
Joyner is a massive commitment for the Trojans. Riley is using the relationships that he built at Oklahoma to grab a Texas running back, which isn't always easy to do.
Riley needs to keep this momentum going for the Trojans because recruiting is where the rebuild really begins to grow. If he can sign athletes as he did at Oklahoma, then the Trojans will be running the Pac-12 again, and it won't take long.