Waymond Jordan has made his return, and King Miller has bulked up. This raises the question: could they be the most formidable 1-2 running back duo that Lincoln Riley has had at USC?
“It’s tough to argue against the potential these two have in terms of production and their familiarity with our offense. If they don’t deliver, we’d be quite let down,” Riley commented.
He noted that their dynamic is similar to the successful partnership of Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine during Riley’s time at Oklahoma, which saw them help the Sooners reach the College Football Playoff in 2015.
USC has a storied legacy of developing Heisman Trophy-winning running backs like Mike Garrett and Reggie Bush, so it could be that the program is on track to reclaim its status as “running back U.”
If Jordan can maintain his performance throughout the entire season, after a challenging 2025 cut short by injury, the Trojans might find themselves in contention for dual Heisman recognition, with quarterback Jaden Maiava also in the running.
Before his injury, Jordan showcased his talent and was being recognized as one of the top ball carriers in the Big Ten, averaging an impressive 6.55 yards per carry with over 150 rushing yards in multiple games.
More notably, he proved difficult to take down, managing an average of 5.15 yards after being hit.
While Jordan was sidelined, Miller, a redshirt freshman walk-on, stepped up and earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, despite starting his season late. By the end, he had achieved an average of 6.2 yards per carry, totaling 972 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Now, having trimmed down by 15 pounds, Miller has what Riley describes as a “high school body.”
Miller stands at 6 feet and weighs 225 pounds, and he insists that gaining weight hasn’t compromised his speed. “I think he’s more explosive coming off breaks and cuts, so I believe he’s at the right weight,” Miller said. “I’m definitely coming off the break better and bouncing off tackles a lot easier, which is great for me.”
His emergence as a standout player led to the Trojans awarding him a scholarship, while also empowering him to take ownership of his training and weight management.
“I’m not the kind of leader who constantly speaks up, but when it’s necessary, I make sure my teammates are on the same page,” Miller explained. This includes his two brothers on the team, offensive lineman Keylon and walk-on safety Cain.
Both Miller and Jordan will be running behind a restructured offensive line following the season-ending injury of center Killian O’Connor in training camp. However, with Tobias Raymond stepping in and projected to perform at an NFL level, the Trojans might not experience much of a decline.
A recent scrimmage at the Coliseum didn’t yield many concrete results, Riley mentioned, as their focus was more about providing opportunities for the younger running backs.
Riley stated, “It’s about giving players a chance to show what they can do and how they’ve progressed,” acknowledging there were some solid moments at the line, but also some missed opportunities due to a strong defensive performance.
Despite a few hiccups during a two-point shootout drill, Riley was satisfied with the running backs’ effort against a tough defense.
“Our front seven presents a significant challenge during practice, which has been beneficial for both sides given the talent depth across our running back, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, and linebacker groups,” he noted. “Every day felt like a competition.”
Ultimately, preventing over-reliance on a single ball carrier will be crucial for the Trojans to effectively utilize this 1-2 punch.
“Managing to keep different players healthy throughout the season will be vital, especially in a league as competitive as this,” Riley concluded. “Teams that depend solely on one returning player have to be exceptionally lucky to get through the whole year intact.”
