USC football HC Lincoln Riley feeling confident in 'effective' RBs

An area that will look completely different from last year for USC football is the running back room. Woody Marks and Quinton Joyner were the leading rushers last year and are both no longer with the program. While Marks is looking to take his talents to the NFL, Joyner is now part of the Texas Tech Big 12 side.

To make up for the lost production, Waymond Jordan from the JUCO levels, along with Eli Sanders, Bryan Jackson, and A'Marion Peterson, is expected to take that next step in their careers for the Trojans.

Sanders is a transfer from New Mexico. The senior is coming off a 1,063-yard and nine-touchdown season. Jackson had 188 yards as a true freshman and a TD for head coach Lincoln Riley. Peterson will enter his third year with the program and gained 65 yards on the ground last year, as well as a TD. As a redshirt freshman, he also spent some time on special teams, returning two kicks.

There is a lot of potential in the running back room, and the staff feels good with the group that they currently have on campus. It will be a new lineup for the Trojans with athletes who haven't carried the ball for a significant amount of snaps in the Cardinal and Gold.

Resounding confidence from USC football HC

Following Thursday's practice, coach Riley was asked by LA Times USC beat writer Ryan Kartje about which area of the team has impressed him and the rest of the coaches the most in terms of what they thought heading into camp. The head coach elaborated on his running back response with:

"I think that could be the most effective room that we've had in the years we've been here based on what I've seen on the field at this point."

Yes, it's that point of the year where all coaches throughout the nation feel good about where their units are. Coach Riley making a point to single out the RB room is somewhat telling, however. As mentioned, it is a group that doesn't have a lot of USC football experience in it right now.

For some, it's an area of concern until they prove it on the field in meaningful games. The level of trust and high praise of coach Riley in the backs should help to enhance optimism in the rushing attack. They'll be needed, especially when the Big Ten conference schedule hits.

The key word from coach Riley here is 'effective.' Whether there ends up being a 1,000+ yard guy or it's more of a committee approach, picking up key first downs and converting third and fourth and short is going to be the measure of success among this year's RBs. This USC football staff believes they have the right bodies for the job to make that happen.