The USC Trojans finished their season with a 49-35 loss against Notre Dame to finish with a 6-6 record, concluding a lackluster performance from head coach Lincoln Riley and company. In a season that looked promising after a major early win against LSU but then quickly fell apart, Riley made a quarterback change and earned continued outrage from fans. There were few major bright spots, but those bright spots should not be overlooked. Start with running back Woody Marks.
In his lone season as a Trojan, after spending four years at Mississippi State, Marks set career highs across the board. He finished the season with 198 carries for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns while also hauling in 47 receptions for 321 yards.
Marks became the first Trojans running back to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards since 2017 when Ronald Jones II went for 1,550. He also became the Trojans’ first running back to have more than 40 receptions since Javorious Allen in 2014.
His early exit in Saturday’s game, due to a head injury, snapped his 56-game reception streak, which was the longest in the nation.
In a season with many ups and downs, Woody Marks was a constant workhorse for the Trojans and in one season put his name in the school’s history.
One can only imagine how high he could have climbed if he played for the Trojans his entire career. One also has to note that Lincoln Riley did not build the offense around Marks to the extent he should have. That will be a lingering point of regret and frustration for USC fans.
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