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Pac-12 football 2018 season preview: Breakout stars, biggest games, predictions

By Charles Rahrig V

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 15: USC (7) Stephen Carr (RB) looks on before a USC Trojans football practice at Brian Kennedy/ Howard Jones Field on August 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 15: USC (7) Stephen Carr (RB) looks on before a USC Trojans football practice at Brian Kennedy/ Howard Jones Field on August 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Breakout star to watch: Stephen Carr, RB – USC

It’s the era of the running back in college football and while Bryce Love is the man to watch at Stanford, another is on the rise in the conference. With Ronald Jones II off to the NFL, Stephen Carr is now the man in Los Angeles.

The sophomore running back saw 65 carries as a freshman and turned in a huge performance against Stanford early in the season with over 100 yards on the ground. Now he’ll get to show off what he can do with even more carries.

With a new quarterback that should likely be freshman JT Daniels, the Trojans should pound the football plenty and that is going to give Carr a tremendous opportunity to create some highlights on the ground.

USC has always had a strong history with running backs and if they’re going to win the Pac-12 South and compete for a conference championship, Carr is going to have to take a big step forward this season.

He’s the perfect breakout candidate in the conference. Another great option is Oregon wide receiver, Dillon Mitchell. The junior led the team in receiving as a sophomore and will have a healthy Justin Herbert throwing to him.