It did not take lengthy a yr in the past to understand USC’s floor recreation was targeted round one identify. Heading into Saturday’s season opener in opposition to San Jose State, it is constructed round two.
Fifth-year senior Waymond Jordan will take the sector for the primary time because the Michigan recreation final season, when a big ankle damage ended his yr prematurely. Right subsequent to him at RB1 is third-year sophomore King Miller, who went from a reputation barely talked about amongst 5 operating backs in fall camp a yr in the past to the Trojans’ main rusher by the point the 2025 season wrapped up. Together, they type what head coach Lincoln Riley has known as among the best operating again duos of his teaching profession.
“In terms of production, in terms of experience level in our offense, it’d be tough to argue that these two don’t have a chance to be our best,” Riley mentioned earlier this month. “We’d be disappointed if it’s not. It makes a huge difference.”
One half of that duo has spent the offseason bodily reworking himself. Miller stepped into the beginning position final season after Jordan’s damage and ran for 972 yards and eight touchdowns on 156 carries throughout 13 video games. Of these yards, 63 % got here after contact. He broke off 5 runs of 40-plus yards, tied for probably the most amongst Big Ten operating backs.
But in an try to bolster his toolbox, Miller spent the offseason bulking up. He has added roughly 15 kilos, now sitting at 225 kilos on a 6-foot body. The added measurement, he mentioned, has solely made him more practical between the tackles.
“I think it’s good weight. It’s not bad weight,” Miller mentioned. “I’m definitely able to get out of my breaks even better. I’m bouncing off tackles a lot easier.”
Miller acknowledged the transition wasn’t simple, significantly the dietary adjustments required so as to add mass with out shedding his burst.
“Going up in weight was a tough pill to swallow at first,” Miller mentioned this week. “I just knew that journey would be a little difficult, especially eating habits and all that. … Going from three meals to sneaking that little fourth meal in was a little challenging.”
The payoff, he mentioned, has proven up most in short-yardage conditions.
“I feel it most when I’m especially in those little short yards distance,” Miller mentioned. “Those times, I can really just break through little arm tackles. It’s very easy for me to maintain balance and get off those type of runs, and everything is a lot easier for me.”
Teammates have seen the distinction, too. Quarterback Jayden Maiava mentioned Miller’s recreation has stayed constant even with the added weight.
“He’s same old King, making those big plays, making explosive plays,” Maiava mentioned. “Catching the ball, running the ball, blocking his butt off, and he’s been doing such a great job.”
Tobias Raymond, USC’s beginning middle, has had a front-row view of Miller’s improvement.
“King’s one of those guys that just stands out, and he does a really good job in the run game,” Raymond mentioned. “He’s patient when he needs to be, and then he hits it when he needs to.”
Jordan, in the meantime, has been working his method again from the damage that lower quick what had been a breakout season. He rushed for 576 yards and 5 touchdowns on 88 carries by six video games earlier than happening early within the Michigan recreation He averaged 6.5 yards per carry. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound again confirmed a bodily operating model USC believes can translate into one of many extra productive seasons for a Trojans’ again in years.
Jordan has proven confidence about his return, significantly about sharing the backfield with Miller.
“We just feed off each other and we balance each other out,” Jordan mentioned at USC’s media day earlier this month. “We also keep each other hungry and just humble. That’s how the whole room is built. We all keep each other accountable.”
Jordan and Miller are the clear high two choices within the room. It would not be a shock to see two operating backs on the sector collectively sooner or later Saturday, one thing USC did almost eight snaps per recreation the primary 5 video games final yr earlier than Jordan and Eli Sanders had been each injured in opposition to the Wolverines.
The extra open competitors is for the No. 3 position. Deshonne Redeaux brings a unique ability set than Jordan or Miller, with the kind of explosiveness that may flip any contact into an extended achieve. He’s somebody gifted sufficient to work his method into the rotation because the season progresses. For the opener, although, Riley Wormley is listed as the following man up within the backfield, based on the official depth chart launched by USC Wednesday night time.
Offensive lineman Elijah Paige, who shall be tasked with opening operating lanes for the group all season, mentioned the room’s depth has him excited for what the offense can do.
“Waymo, King, we’ve got other backs too that do a great job, and I’m really excited to see what those guys can do,” Paige mentioned. “I’m really excited to block for those guys and make them look good.”
Miller mentioned the room is solely making an attempt to institute an id heading into kickoff.
“We’re establishing it,” Miller mentioned of the run recreation’s physicality. “We’ve been trusting our offensive linemen. We’re just making sure we do our job right.”
USC opens its season Saturday in opposition to San Jose State with the Trojans’ revamped, deeper backfield set to make its first assertion of the 2026 marketing campaign.