Austin Jones evaluates other running backs on USC's roster

USC enters the 2023 season the same way they left 2022 with a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Recently star wide receiver Mario Williams highlighted the depth the Trojans have at quarterback and how the younger QBs have progressed during the spring. Piggybacking off of that following the USC spring game, running back Austin Jones gave his evaluation of the incoming freshman running backs on the Trojans roster.

“I mean, they got different types of games,” said Jones. “Quinten’s got deceptive speed. Like, you don’t really think he’s running fast until you really get up on him, and he takes off. And then A’Marion, he’s real fast too; you just haven’t really got to see it yet. But I mean, he’s a powerful runner, runs through tackles, obviously. No one person could take him down. It’s going to take at least two, three, maybe even four.”

Jones is the elder statesman of the group and the senior voice of the running back room. It is his second year in the program after transferring to USC from Stanford just in time for the 2022 season. Last year for the Trojans, Jones was the team’s second-leading rusher in attempts and yards with 135 carries for 705 yards.

Quinten Joyner and A’Marion Peterson were both highly touted recruits in the 2023 recruiting class. Both were four-star recruits out of Texas, with Joyner grading out higher according to On3’s consensus rankings.

With the assessment and vote of confidence Jones gave to both the incoming freshmen; it appears as if there will be no drop off in production in USC’s running back room. And with the kind of talent they possess, expect Joyner and Peterson to play considerable roles in the Trojans’ offense for years to come.

Williams breaks down the growth from USC’s quarterback room

Even with Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams running the Trojans’ offense, there is also some serious talent behind him. And following the Trojans’ spring game, Williams gave his thoughts on the growth he’s seeing from the young QBs during spring practice.

“They always stand out, man. I see them every day in practice,” said Williams. “So just seeing them every day in practice getting better, like Malachi. He’s a young guy, but he’s growing. Especially working with Caleb (and) Coach Riley even Miller. All of them work together. So, I think everybody’s growing.”

USC was able to bring in two of the nation’s top quarterbacks in their respective classes, both from the state of California. Miller Moss, who’s from Mission Hills, CA, was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 79 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle. Whereas Malachi Nelson from Los Alamitos, CA, is a five-star prospect and the No. 11 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.