MarShawn Lloyd’s transfer to USC adds to a crowded backfield

USC’s backfield was sure to be extra crowded subsequent season earlier than the highest out there rusher within the switch portal introduced Friday that he could be a Trojan.

The arrival of South Carolina working again MarShawn Lloyd, who led the Gamecocks in speeding final season with 573 yards, appeared to counsel USC had discovered its new lead again for 2023. Lower than three hours later, Austin Jones introduced he would return for a second go-round at USC, making certain severe competitors for carries subsequent season.

Jones, additionally a former switch, performed a secondary position to Travis Dye in 2022, tallying 705 yards and 5 touchdowns to go together with 267 yards receiving and one other landing. He took over the reins when Dye suffered a season-ending harm in November and averaged 92.5 yards per sport over the season’s closing month.

Within the run-up to the Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane, Jones stated he wasn’t certain whether or not he’d return to USC for a fifth season.

That call had crystallized by Friday, leaving USC with a litany of backs to select from in what might be a wide-open competitors come spring.

Maybe essentially the most intriguing amongst that group is electrical former five-star recruit Raleek Brown, who confirmed flashes of stardom all through his first season at USC. Brown saved his finest efficiency for final within the bowl sport, as he totaled 61 yards in six carries and added a landing.

It appeared solely a matter of time earlier than Brown took on a extra outstanding offensive position at USC. The addition of Lloyd and the return of Jones might complicate that image.

USC additionally added two four-star working backs out of Texas in its recruiting class, Quinten Joyner and A’Marion Peterson, each of whom are enrolling early. USC additionally has Darwin Barlow, who averaged six yards per carry in restricted motion final season.

USC provides a confirmed commodity between the tackles in Lloyd to pair with Brown, who’s extra of an all-purpose perimeter menace. Lloyd averaged higher than 4 yards per carry after contact final season at South Carolina, a mark that ranked him among the many finest bruising backs within the nation, simply behind Texas’ Bijan Robinson and UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet.

Lloyd was slowed final season by high defenses. He mustered simply 2.4 yards per carry towards Georgia and 1.5 yards per carry towards Clemson.

He’ll get each likelihood to take the reins at USC within the spring in a immediately crowded backfield.