Austin Jones could be USC’s number two option at running back yet again

2022: Travis Dye. 2023: MarShawn Lloyd. Austin Jones was second to Dye last year. He could be the No. 2 guy in the RB room this year.

Austin Jones isn’t getting most of the publicity in USC preseason camp. More attention is being given to South Carolina transfer MarShawn Lloyd, who has been getting snaps with the first-team offense in camp. That’s perfectly fine. Jones was ready to produce last year when Travis Dye got hurt. Jones will be part of a deeper, more balanced running back rotation in 2023. The main thing is to be ready when called upon.

(h/t Zachary Neel of Ducks Wire)

Why You Should Know Him: It was Austin Jones and Travis Dye splitting the workload a year ago. Now with Dye gone, Jones takes over as the veteran RB in Los Angeles. He will have to split carries with Marshawn Lloyd, but I think Jones could be a crucial part of the Trojans’ offense this year.”

USC has a real chance to give multiple running backs a lot of work and keep them all fresh heading into the teeth of the schedule in mid-October. No running back should be overworked in late August and early September.

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