Tag: Woody Marks

Woody Marks continues to show that he is USC’s best offensive player

Woody Marks continues to deliver for USC. In a lost season with so many frustrations and failures, Marks has been a clear shining light for the Trojans.

For the past week, the majority of the attention surrounding USC football has been dedicated to the quarterback position. With head coach Lincoln Riley opting to replace Miller Moss with Jayden Maiava prior to Saturday’s game against Nebraska, Maiava’s play was under a microscope the entire afternoon. On Saturday, however, we were treated to a reminder that the Trojans’ best offensive player is neither Moss, nor Maiava, nor any quarterback. Rather, it is star running back Woody Marks.

Against Nebraska, Marks delivered yet another impressive performance, carrying the ball 19 times for 146 yards. In addition, he caught six passes for 36 yards.

Marks has now gone over 100 yards rushing in six of USC’s ten games this season. On Saturday, he became the first Trojan to record 1,000 rushing yards in a season since Ronald Jones in 2017. (We should point out that Travis Dye was well on his way to surpassing the mark in 2022 prior to suffering a season-ending injury against Colorado with multiple games left in the season.)

Marks’s best play of the day came in the biggest moment. With under six minutes remaining in the game and USC leading 21-20, the Trojans faced a 4th and 1 from the Nebraska 47 yard line.

Marks decided to put the team on his back and take matters into his own hands. He cut through the defense and burst down the sideline for a 34-yard gain, giving the Trojans a first down at the Nebraksa 13 yard-line. Four plays later, USC was in the end zone with a much-needed insurance touchdown that ultimately put the game out of reach.

On paper, that drive will go down as having ended with Maiava touchdown run. But don’t get things twisted: By far the most important play on that drive (and arguably of the game) belonged to Marks.

With the game in the balance, Lincoln Riley put the ball in the hands of his best offensive player. And boy, did he deliver.

Obviously, quarterback is the most important position in not just football, but in all of sports. It is pretty much impossible to win in today’s day and age without a good signal-caller.

But even in today’s era of pass-happy attacks and spread offenses, running backs still matter. As we were reminded on Saturday, the Trojans have a pretty darn good one.

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National columnist says Miller Moss is taking the fall for Lincoln Riley at USC

Miller Moss is not the problem with the USC Trojans’ struggles, rather Lincoln Riley is covering up his own failure.

After starting the season 3-1 and moving up to No. 11 in the AP Poll, the USC Trojans plummeted with losses to Minnesota, Penn State, and Maryland. The Trojans are just 1-3 in their last four games, but the weight of the struggle seems to have fallen on the wrong shoulders.

It was announced earlier this week that quarterback Miller Moss lost the starting job to transfer Jayden Maiava, but Moss and the offense are not entirely the problem. The Trojans have scored 21 or more points in eight of their nine games this season while scoring 28 or more in three of their last four.

This season, Moss has a 64.3% completion rate with 18 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Four players — Woody Marks, Makai Lemon, Zachariah Branch, and Ja’Kobi Lane — all have 32 or more receptions, while Lane (5) and Lemon (3) are amongst the teams’ top TD targets.

The Trojans rank fifth in points scored this season in the Big Ten behind Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana.

While the offense surely has room to improve, it is clearly still performing at high levels, which begs the question: Is Lincoln Riley just using Miller Moss as a scapegoat to cover up his atrocity of a season?

College football columnist Patrick Conn of College Sports Wire makes a good point when he notes that the quarterback is far from the only reason USC has struggled in 2024. This is not a one-man problem:

Moss didn’t play particularly well in their last game against the Washington Huskies, turning the ball over with three interceptions. Moss doesn’t have terrible numbers by any stretch but this feels like someone having to take the fall. Maiava could provide a spark for this team but even when the quarterback play has been good, this team has found ways to lose.

USC has lost as a team this year, meaning that in the games USC lost, the blame generally couldn’t be placed on any one player or position group. Some position groups have been more disappointing than others, but a little bit of everything has gone wrong in these games. To an extent, the move to Jayden Maiava might be Lincoln Riley’s way of hoping that the other USC players will step up to help their quarterback.

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Is Woody Marks the best under-the-radar player of 2024?

USC running back Woody Marks is making national headlines this season, and he was superb in the Trojans’ Week 10’s game at Washington.

In his first season with the USC Trojans after coming over from Mississippi State, running back Woody Marks has already blown away many of his previous career highs. He has 155 carries for 878 yards with 9 touchdowns this season with career-highs in carries, yards, yards per carry, and longest rush. With his TD on Saturday night against Washington, he tied his career high mark for touchdowns in a season, set back in 2022.

In last week’s 42-20 win over Rutgers, the fifth-year back exploded for 94 yards and 3 TDs. He has eclipsed 80 yards in seven of the Trojans’ nine games this season, including each of the last five weeks.

On Saturday against Washington, he tore up the defense. This turned out to be his fifth game this season with more than 100 yards rushing.

Marks is finally starting to get the credit he deserves. He was marked as the best under-the-radar running back of 2024 by CBS Sports.

He will continue to be an integral part of the Trojans’ offense moving forward, especially in a big home game later this month against a struggling Nebraska squad that has lost back-to-back games.

In a difficult season for USC, there’s no question Woody Marks has been one of the brightest shining lights for the Trojans.

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Makai Lemon, Woody Marks bust out the big plays for USC

Makai Lemon and Woody Marks helped the USC offense roar to life against Rutgers. Can they sustain this level of play in November?

The USC football team, particularly the offense, was finally able to put the pieces together on Saturday. The Trojans scored 42 points. They won easily. They didn’t allow an opponent to stay close deep into the fourth quarter, or at any point in the fourth quarter. This was more like it. This is how USC is supposed to look. Makai Lemon and Woody Marks had a large hand in making this game go smoothly for the Men of Troy.

Lemon uncorked an 80-yard kick return in which he faked out the Rutgers kick coverage unit. He finished with 256 all-purpose yards, 134 receiving and 122 returning. Marks scored three touchdowns and was an elite weapon as a runner and a receiver. Rutgers had no answer for either player. The Trojans received elite performances from their quarterback, Miller Moss, and from thier WR1 (Lemon) and RB1 (Marks). When the quarterback, top receiver, and top running back are all clicking, that’s a recipe for success.

Now comes the harder part: doing this in November against better opposition and tougher defenses. Let’s see if USC can pull it off and finish the season in style.

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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:

Woody Marks prepares for SEC reunion against LSU

Woody Marks is used to playing SEC teams. Guess what? He’ll play another one Sunday with USC.

Woody Marks played for Mississippi State. Now he plays for USC. In a fascinating twist of fate, Marks’ first game for USC won’t come against a Big Ten team or against a team USC used to face in the Pac-12. Marks’ USC debut will come against another SEC team, the LSU Tigers on Sept. 1. Funny how life works.

The PWC SMU Athletic Forum released its preseason candidates for the 2024 Doak Walker Award. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation’s most outstanding college running back. Jo’Quavious “Woody”  Marks has been added to the Doak Walker Award List, and USC is hoping he will make a big impact starting with this game against an SEC opponent.

In his four-year career at Mississippi State prior to transferring to USC, he had 410 carries for 1,883 yards (4.6 avg.) with a long of 52 yards and 22 TDs. He also tallied 214 receptions for 1,225 yards (4.8 avg.) with a long of 32 and 5 TDs. On special teams, he had 11 kickoff returns for 231 yards. It’s go time for Woody Marks against the one SEC team USC will face in the next three months. If USC does really well, it might face a second SEC team in the College Football Playoff.

https://twitter.com/EricGalko/status/1800522321129570713

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Trojans Wire talks about surprise breakout players for USC in 2024

Who is your USC breakout player in 2024? We gave our answers on our recent call-in show.

On our most recent Friday call-in show at the USC Voice of College Football, one of our most regular and loyal callers, Adam, called in and asked us who we thought would be breakout players the USC Trojans in 2024. Matt called for the rushing game to be opened up for “one of the unheralded running backs” to step up after getting more reps. Woody Marks may get the lion’s share of carries, but we talked about all the younger Texas-based backs such as Quinten Joyner.

We know that the four second-year wide receivers would not be a surprise at this point with all the attention they have received in the Holiday bowl, spring ball, and early in fall practices.

Two potential standouts come from a couple Trojans who have been plagued by injury during their careers. We talked about the defensive line and the transformation that former St. John Bosco standout Kobe Pepe has made inside on the defensive line. The other player discussed was Solomon Tuliaupupu getting praise from the coaching staff.

https://www.youtube.com/live/5fkgMSR9jLo?si=J7-jMzzv5seBJi4h&t=1733

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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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Where EA Sports’ new football video game ranks USC will shock you

EA Sports undersold USC’s offense.

On July 19, 2024, EA Sports will finally unveil College Football 25, the highly anticipated college football video game. While it is not surprising that USC’s potent offense has secured a spot in the Top 25 rankings, their placement at No. 25 raises some eyebrows.

EA SPORTS explained its metrics.

“The Development Team meticulously examined hundreds of thousands of data points to arrive at our team power rankings. With help from our friends at Pro Football Focus (PFF), the team analyzed all 134 rosters, thousands of players, years worth of game film, and mountains of stats, ultimately arriving at our Team Power Rankings.”

Lincoln Riley has never had a offense that ranked below No. 3 in total offense while he has been at USC and he has averaged 41 points in both seasons.  This pattern continues back to his head coaching days at Oklahoma where his teams averaged 43.29 points per game.  In nine years of head coaching, Riley’ teams have never finished worse than eighth in total offense and only scored less that 40 points once (2021 – 39 points per game).

USC does lose its Heisman-winning quarterback, Caleb Williams, who was selected as the No.1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.  However, Miller Moss is coming off his debut in the Holiday Bowl, which displayed his capability of running Riley’s highly successful offense. Moss threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns in a 42-28 victory.  Part of Moss’ success was throwing to an elite freshman class of blue-chip receivers: Zachariah Branch, Jacobi Lane, Duce Robinson and Makai Lemon, who will light up the Big Ten in the fall.

This is also Year 3 of an offensive line overhaul that may produce the most talented and cohesive unit yet at USC under Riley, anchored by Elijah Page and Jonah Monheim.  Running behind that line will be Woody Marks, the all- time leader in receptions at Mississippi State and No. 5 all time in the SEC.  Marks will compete with a young group of highly ranked running backs out of Texas which includes Quinten Joyner, A’Marion Peterson, and Bryan Jackson.

Teams that are ranked ahead of the Trojans are also replacing quarterbacks; more than a couple of them are replacing offensive coordinators.  Unless there is a huge break from an overwhelming trend for Lincoln Riley’s offenses, the staff over at EA Sports really missed the mark with this power ranking.

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