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Lincoln Riley credits offense for stepping up during key players' absences

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•11/17/22•

BarkleyTruax

Tahj Washington
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 04: Tahj Washington #16 of the USC Trojans stiff arms Luc Bequette #93 of the California Golden Bears during the game at California Memorial Stadium on December 04, 2021 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Michael Urakami/Getty Images)

USC has been dealing with injuries to its star wide receivers Jordan Addison and Mario Williams for the past three weeks, and Trojans headman Lincoln Riley has been forced to rely on their second receiving unit as Caleb Williams‘ primary targets.

Instead, a flurry of wideouts led by Tahj Washington have more than made up for the key injuries out wide. Michael Jackson III, Brenden Rice and Kyle Ford have all benefitted from the extra playing time as well.

“We needed them to step up. Those were important games during an important stretch without some of our guys there,” Riley said Thursday. “I think offenses are always more dangerous when they ball is flowing through a lot of different people making plays. … It makes you more unpredictable. I think it’s given Caleb [Williams] a lot of confidence for being able to spread the ball around, not just random with this guy or that guy, just going where the read determines.”

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Addison returned to action last week on an extreme pitch count. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner was only able to haul in one reception for two yards.

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In his place, Washington has been the sure-handed receiver for the Trojans since the 43-42 Utah loss – the game where Addison and Williams were injured in. He’s produced two 100-yard receiving games since the injuries and has a team-high four receiving touchdowns in the period. He trails Addison as the team’s second leading receiver with 510 yards on the season.

Meanwhile Jackson, Rice and Ford have combined for 720 receiving yards and six touchdowns on the season. Now, USC has 11 players that have posted at least 100 receiving yards on the season, and with that many weapons at Caleb Williams’ disposal, the Trojans are one of the most dangerous offensive units in the country.