Lincoln Riley on USC running back room: 'We're gonna be just fine'

USC wrapped up its spring schedule this past weekend during the Trojans’ annual spring game, but some were left with questions regarding the group’s final offensive numbers.

In the backfield, the showcase saw the Trojans’ rushing room finish with 27 rushes for 110 yards and two touchdowns, good for 4.0 yards per attempt. Head coach Lincoln Riley brushed off the fact that his offense lost the game 43-28 to the defensive unit, stating that it’s simply a testament to how USC has improved defensively this offseason while defending his group of running backs.

“We’re going to be just fine there, that’s going to be a good room,” Riley said after the spring game. “Excited, I think Woody [Marks’] come in and been a good leader and a great example for the room. We didn’t play him a ton today, but he’s played a lot of ball, but he’s been really good for us this spring. I’ve talked previous about Quinten [Joyner], I think Quinten’s going to be a really big part of what we do. I really do. I think he had one carry today and he pops it. I tell you, he pops one every day.

“So he’s going to be a really good player and the two young guys, Bryan [Jackson], he’s certainly come along, you saw a couple of touchdowns out of him today, [A’Marion Peterson] ran the ball well, that’s a nice room right there. We feel like we can play with all four guys, which I don’t know if we felt like that at this point, this early, we’ve got some more size in that room as a whole, which has been a big emphasis point and as you saw today, all four certainly capable of producing.”

Jackson was handed the heaviest load with 10 rushes, which went for 23 yards and a touchdown. Peterson was the day’s leading rusher with nine carries for 41 yards while accounting for the only other touchdown USC posted over the weekend.

Elsewhere in the rushing room, Joyner was given one carry, but managed to make the most of the play by rushing for 16 yards. Marks capped off the rushing performance with four carries for 29 yards, including a game-high 19-yard rush.

The next time fans will get to see USC is when they’ll be in action on Sunday, Sept. 1 when they meet LSU in the season opener inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.