Miller Moss says USC running back Austin Jones has the 'heart of a freaking warrior'

The USC Trojans are at fall camp preparing for the upcoming 2023 season. That is where the team at WeAreSC got a chance to sit down with some of the players like former top-100 four-star quarterback Miller Moss.

With the 2023 season being his third year at USC and his second under head coach Lincoln Riley, he has developed several relationships throughout the team. One individual Moss is particularly fond of is running back Austin Jones. During his sit-down interview, the Trojans quarterback couldn’t help but praise Jones, one of his favorite individuals on the team.

“I think Austin is someone that’s not talking about a lot but deserves to be. I think him coming back was a good decision because if you talk to him last year, I didn’t really think he was coming back,” said Moss. “He was a huge leader last year. I think he was somewhat overshadowed because Travis got so much play before him.

“Playing that running back position, those dudes take punishment; like on every play. And that dude’s got the heart of a freaking warrior. I think everyone on that team would run through a wall for that dude. He has every single guy in that locker room respect. He certainly has my respect. I love that dude.”

Like many individuals on the USC roster, Jones transferred in over the last offseason, arriving with the new coaching regime under Riley. He spent the first three years of his collegiate career at another California-based Pac-12 program, Stanford.

More on Jones and the Trojans

Last season with the Trojans, Jones was the team’s second-leading rusher behind Travis Dye, with 135 carries for 705 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He also played the key role, catching out of the backfield. Jones had 25 catches for 267 yards and one touchdown as Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams‘ favorite running back option in the passing game.

Instead of heading to the NFL draft after the 2022 season, Jones decided to stay one more year at USC in hopes of helping to lead the Trojans to a Pac-12 title and possibly a national championship this season. With the level of love and respect the Trojans players have for one another, made evident by Moss’ comments on Jones, USC just might have the chemistry to complement their talent and capture both titles at the end of the 2023 season.