Trojans by position: USC RB room

The running back room at USC is filled with intriguing talent, but the spotlight for 2025 falls on Waymond Jordan, the nation’s top-ranked JUCO prospect and a player poised to make an immediate impact. A junior transfer, Jordan arrives in Los Angeles fresh off a dominant season in which he led his team to the NJCAA Division I National Championship and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors.

He racked up over 1,600 rushing yards and averaged an eye-popping 7.2 yards per carry, ranking in the top four nationally in that category. With his elite burst, vision, and physicality, Jordan is expected to anchor the Trojans’ rushing attack and bring a new level of explosiveness to the backfield.

Originally from Pensacola, Florida, Waymond Jordan adds another versatile weapon to an already talented USC offense, one built to withstand the physical demands of Big Ten football. While Jordan will likely split carries with Eli Sanders, all signs point to him emerging as the lead back in 2025. His presence is especially significant given USC’s need to re-establish a consistent ground game. Coach Lincoln Riley’s offense thrives on rhythm, particularly when utilizing RPO concepts, but the Trojans' run game lacked consistency at critical moments last season.

Looking for strong presence from USC running backs

That deficiency played a key role in their inability to close out games down the stretch. Jordan’s arrival signals a deliberate move by coach Riley and his staff to address that issue to ensure the Trojans have the personnel to grind out tough yardage, control the clock, and stay ahead of schedule with a more balanced offensive attack.

The first month of the season will be a clear indicator of how prominently Waymond Jordan factors into USC’s offensive game plan. With so much talent on this side of the ball and only one football to go around, how the touches are distributed will be one of the key storylines early in the year. If Jordan asserts himself as expected, he could quickly become the tone setter for a more physical, balanced Trojan offense built to survive the weekly grind of Big Ten play.