Tag: Bryan Jackson

USC freshmen running backs answer the call in Las Vegas Bowl

USC got something out of its younger running backs, who made the most of their opportunity in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Heading into USC football’s Las Vegas Bowl matchup with Texas A&M Friday night, we knew the Trojans’ running back room would be significantly depleted.

Top running back Woody Marks, who is headed to the NFL, opted out of the game. No. 2 back Quinten Joyner also entered the transfer portal, leaving the Trojans with just two scholarship backs—both freshmen—left on the roster.

Those two running backs were true freshman Bryan Jackson and redshirt freshman A’Marion Peterson. Both young players stepped up when their name was called, combining for 28 carries, 109 yards, and a touchdown.

It was exactly the type of performance that USC needed from the two players. Given that they trailed for nearly the entire game, the Trojans were forced to throw the ball more than they ran it. But they were able to get enough production in the ground out of their two young backs to make A&M’s defense respect their run game, in turn opening things up for quarterback Jayden Maiava and the passing game.

With Eli Sanders transferring in from New Mexico, the Trojans will get a big boost in their running back room heading into to next season. After their impressive performance Friday night, however, Jackson and Peterson put themselves in prime position to compete for significant playing time in 2025.

USC running backs prepare for big test against Michigan

The USC running game will get a stiff and extensive test against Michigan in the biggest Big Ten game of the week on Sept. 21 in Ann Arbor.

The USC Trojans enter Week 4 coming off a 248-yard rushing performance against Utah State. The Aggies dropped their safeties to keep the Trojan receivers in front of them and challenged the USC to run. Naturally, the physical challenge for the Trojans will be considerable when they head to Ann Arobor. Michigan has an elite cornerback in Will Johnson and a defensive line stuffed with future NFL players. The Wolverines did lose a lot of key players from last season’s national championship roster, but most of those key losses were on the offensive side of the ball. The USC offense and, more specifically, the USC running backs should expect a tough and rugged test from the Michigan defense, especially the Wolverines’ defensive line.

Michigan will offer a true measurement of where USC’s offense and the Trojans’ running game stand in the early portion of the season. If the Trojans can ace this test in the Big House, they will know they are in position to do something special in 2024. Here’s a look at some of the photos I have taken of the USC running backs and the Trojan teammates who block for them:

USC running backs share the wealth, a great sign early in 2024 season

The great thing about the use of the USC running backs early in the 2024 season is that Lincoln Riley wants to rotate guys and keep them fresh. That’s smart.

The USC Trojans made a commitment to getting bigger in 2024. One of the reasons for this was to run the ball with consistency. The running backs stood to benefit from this change in philosophy, and we saw evidence of this in the physical performance against Utah State. USC’s 249 yards versus the Aggies represented the most on the ground by the Trojans since November of 2018 against the Oregon State Beavers. Woody Marks of Atlanta transferred to USC in the offseason from Mississippi State, where he was the leading receiver in Bulldog history. Marks is joined by three other running backs who all touched the rock against Utah State. Quinten Joyner got several carries against Utah State and looked like a very good RB2 behind Marks. Bryan Jackson got a little bit of work in mop-up time versus Utah State. A’Marion Peterson got some carries and was able to score a great second-effort touchdown, which excited all his USC teammates.

There’s a lot to like about these USC running backs. I caught them in action during Utah State. Get a look at these guys — they’re good, and if the wealth continues to be spread around, these running backs will be fresh for the heart of the Big Ten season in mid-October and into November:

Will USC have a 1,000-yard running back in 2024?

USC’s use of its running backs is a key plot point in 2024.

There are few, if any, college programs that can challenge the level of greatness the USC Trojans have produced at the running back position.  USC boasts countless 1,000 yard rushers, Consensus All-Americans, five Heismans and 2 NFL Hall of Fame running backs.

However, USC has not had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2017, when Ronald “Rojo” Jones II rushed for 1550 yards. This stat does come with an asterisk. Both Keontay Ingram and Travis Dye would most likely have eclipsed the milestone if not for season-ending injuries. Last year Marshawn Lloyd would also have rushed for a thousand yards if he didn’t miss a game against Washington and opt out of the Holiday Bowl against Louisville in preparation for the NFL draft.

Can a Trojan running back rush for 1,000 yards in the Big Ten, where defenses are built to stop the run and elite rush defenses such as Michigan and Penn State loom on the other side of the line of scrimmage?

USC enters the 2024 season with yet another veteran, Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks, transferring from Mississippi State. USC’s last three leading rushers have been transfers (Ingram – Texas, Dye – Oregon, and Lloyd – South Carolina).  Marks, best known for his receiving (all-time leader in receptions at Mississippi State), can still bring it as a ballcarrier. At 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds, he can run between the tackles.

The other four scholarship running backs come from the state of Texas. Most people remember redshirt freshman Quinten Joyner for his 47-yard touchdown run against Nevada. Joyner’s burst and speed make him a home-run threat every time he touches the ball.  His 2022 classmate, A’Marion Peterson, is another athletic back who won’t go down on first contact. The third Texas back is true freshman Bryan Jackson.  While all three of these backs are physical, Jackson is the true thumper of the group at six feet and 230 pounds of “smash you in the mouth” running that will be useful in the Big Ten in short yardage and goal line situations.

While Lloyd came close last year when splitting carries with Austin Jones, it will be interesting to see how these 2024 USC running backs will be used, and if any of them will get enough carries to go over the 1,000-yard mark.

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Know your 2024 USC football roster: Running Backs

USC football is Running Back U, and when Lincoln Riley’s offense is hitting on all cylinders it incorporates an consistent run game into the flow of play. Riley’s teams in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 at Oklahoma averaged more than 200 yards per …

USC football is Running Back U, and when Lincoln Riley’s offense is hitting on all cylinders it incorporates an consistent run game into the flow of play. Riley’s teams in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 at Oklahoma averaged more than 200 yards per game with guys like Kennedy Brooks, Rodney Anderson, Joe Mixon, and Samaje Perine.

This year’s running back room is full of talent and each back brings something special to the team, but it is an inexperienced group with only one back having more than 20 rushing attempts in a career. Anthony Jones Jr. is the new Trojan running backs coach. He is known for developing NFL talent in the backfield, so it will be interesting to see who will make their mark and emerge from this group in the fall.

Here is a brief look at each of the 2024 Trojan scholarship running backs with the projected pre-spring camp depth chart at the end.

Auburn offers four-star 2024 running back

The Texas prospect is the No. 46 player in the state.

The Tigers are still looking ahead to 2024 despite recent criticisms within the program.

Auburn offered 2024 running back Bryan Jackson on Tuesday. Jackson, a four-star recruit out of Texas, is the current No. 46 recruit in the state according to 247Sports. The Tigers are the 30th offer that Jackson has gotten at this stage of his recruitment.

So far, Jackson has only taken unofficial visits to three teams — Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. He’s been involved with Texas A&M in other ways, though, as he also attended Texas A&M’s Junior Day in January of this year. Like most recruits from hotbed states, it may be very difficult for coach [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] and his staff to lure Jackson away from the legacy schools in his area come time for his decision.

Last year at McKinney High School, Jackson rushed for 973 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was a Texas 5-6A first-team selection as a sophomore and also got snaps on the varsity team when he was a freshman at McKinney.

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Wisconsin makes the top 10 for 2024 four-star RB Bryan Jackson

Wisconsin makes the cut for a talented four-star RB in the 2024 recruiting class:

Earlier this week, 2024 four-star running back Bryan Jackson out of McKinney, Texas, announced his top 10 schools he’ll consider moving forward, a list that included the University of Wisconsin.

Per the 247sports Composite, Jackson is the No. 287 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, the No. 38 ATH in the country, and the No. 42 player in Texas.

Wisconsin is up against some heavy hitters for the four-star RB, who also listed Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Baylor, Texas A&M, and Arkansas.

As a sophomore, the 6-foot, 225-pound RB ran for 973 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 12 catches for 100 yards receiving.

You can watch his highlights here.

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Alabama listed as a finalist for 2024 RB Bryan Jackson

Alabama was listed in 2024 RB Bryan Jackson’s top ten on Thursday.

Alabama has a history of producing some of the nation’s best running backs. Players like Shaun Alexander, Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry are just a few of the all-time greats that once played in Tuscaloosa. The running back position seems to always have depth, and that is likely what the Alabama coaching staff is looking for in the 2024 recruiting class.

One of the running backs that the Crimson Tide are targeting is Bryan Jackson. On Thursday, he released his top-ten schools and Alabama was one of the schools that were listed. The offense is likely going to lose Jahmyr Gibbs to the NFL draft and there is also the possibility for Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams and Trey Sanders to enter the draft as well.

Nonetheless, the coaching staff will likely push to sign one to two running backs. In recent recruiting cycles, the Crimson Tide landed running backs Emmanuel Henderson and Jamarion Miller.

Jackson has a good frame for a junior and is already beginning to rise on different recruiting rankings. He has been on Alabama’s radar since receiving an offer in April.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Jackson’s recruitment as well as other Alabama football recruiting news.

Texas makes top 10 schools for 2024 four-star RB Bryan Jackson

2024 running back Bryan Jackson released his top 10 schools on Thursday afternoon.

Four-star running back Bryan Jackson released his top 10 schools on Thursday afternoon. Texas made the cut for the talented McKinney product.

247Sports composite rankings list Jackson as the No. 42 player in the state of Texas and a top 300 prospect nationally for the 2024 class. He has picked up 30 offers for top programs across the country and taken summer unofficial visits to Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

Jackson earned first-team all-district honors as a sophomore for McKinney High School. He proved himself as a workhorse back, running for 973 yards and 13 scores on 203 carries.

Texas received good news on the recruiting front at the running back position earlier this week as 2023 four-star Cedric Baxter announced his commitment to the Longhorns on Wednesday.

Jackson is one of Steve Sarkisian and Tashard Choice’s top targets in the 2024 cycle. Texas currently has two players committed in its 2024 recruiting class.

Here is a look at all 10 teams Jackson is focusing on in his recruitment.

Relive Oklahoma’s 13-8 win over Texas A&M in the Men’s College World Series

Take a look back at the Oklahoma Sooners’ 13-8 win over Texas A&M through some of the best photos from game one of the Men’s College World Series.

The Oklahoma Sooners got off to a great start in their 13-8 win over Texas A&M in the Men’s College World Series.

They struck first with a run in the top of the first inning and then exploded for seven runs in the second. Oklahoma manufactured runs with great baserunning, patience at the plate, and using the long ball to put away their former Big 12 and future SEC foe.

In order to win the College World Series, you almost have to win the first game in the series. It isn’t often that a team comes out of the loser’s bracket to win the whole thing.

Oklahoma will now face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish after they defeated the Texas Longhorns 7-3 in the second game on Friday. But before we begin looking at the Irish, let’s take a look at some of the best photos from Oklahoma’s 13-8 win over the Texas A&M Aggies.