USC football: 5 questions the USC Trojans must answer in 2020

USC football questions: 4. Running back by committee or will a leader emerge?

There is no shortage of mouths to feed when it comes to the USC running back room. In terms of the most experience, the Trojans are bringing back Vavae Malepeai, who led the team with 105 carries, 503 yards and six touchdowns. Also long in the tooth is Stephen Carr, who was just behind him with 72 carries for 396 yards and five touchdowns.

But it isn’t just the two veterans that are in the mix. Youngsters Kenan Christon (68 carries, 373 yards, two scores) and Markese Stepp (48 carries, 307 yards, three touchdowns) saw the field as freshmen and will surely figure into the equation again. Without anyone else joining the conversation, that’s four backs who have a case to receive touches in this offense.

As a result, there’s a good chance that the Trojans are going to utilize a running back by committee. They have the right number of talented bodies to make it work and, in Harrell’s Air Raid offense, it’s pretty common for backs to cycle out a great bit. The only thing that could change that is if someone was able to make a big jump and emerge as the true leader.

Given what we’ve seen from this quartet of ball-carriers to this point, it’s hard to say that anyone would be the favorite to do that, meaning a committee remains the most likely approach. Still, Harrell and fans alike should keep their eyes peeled for one of those four returning backs to make a name for himself early in the year.