After Amir Carlisle's transfer and George Farmer's move back to receiver, the Trojans are left with only three scholarship tailbacks. Two, Curtis McNeal and D.J. Morgan, have college game experience.
 USC running back Curtis McNeal breaks into the Washongton secondary for a big gain during a 148-yard rushing performance. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / 12) |
By Gary Klein
USC was once celebrated as Tailback U.
Now, after recent player movement, it might be more aptly dubbed Tailback Who's Left?
USC's backfield, already thinned by Amir Carlisle's transfer last week, will be even less crowded when the Trojans open spring practice in March.
George Farmer, moved from receiver to running back last season, is returning to receiver, leaving the Trojans with only three scholarship tailbacks.
"We made a decision to move George solely back to receiver," Coach Lane Kiffin said Thursday, "and we are extremely excited about his impact this season at receiver catching the ball from Matt Barkley."
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Farmer was regarded as one of the nation's top receiver prospects when he arrived from Gardena Serra High last summer. But it was freshman Marqise Lee, another Serra alumnus, who emerged to start opposite Robert Woods (a third former Serra star) to form one of college football's top receiving tandems.
Farmer was slowed by injuries in training camp and appeared on track to redshirt until Kiffin moved him to tailback at midseason. He played in four games, carrying five times for 15 yards, but has said that he preferred playing receiver.
Farmer's return to receiver means the Trojans will have only two smallish tailbacks with college game experience.
Senior Curtis McNeal, 5 feet 7 and 180 pounds, started the last four games and finished the season with a team-best 1,005 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
Third-year sophomore D.J. Morgan started the first two games but lost his opportunity after fumbling. The 5-10, 190-pound Morgan finished with 163 yards in 42 carries.
Javorious Allen redshirted last season. At 6-1 and 205 pounds, he fits the big-back profile embodied last season by Marc Tyler but is unproven.
Asked whether he were concerned about depth at the position, Kiffin said, "We look forward to continuing to develop our running back group this spring."
The group would have been larger if Kiffin had not dismissed Dillon Baxter from the team in October and if Carlisle had not left for Notre Dame. Baxter, a junior, is reportedly considering a transfer to San Diego State.
USC's dearth of tailbacks is a stark contrast to 2007, when the Trojans opened training camp with 10 on the roster.
When McNeal arrived as a freshman in 2008, he was one of seven tailbacks. He said this week that the Trojans would have "the best tailback group in the nation" regardless of numbers.
"I guess you could say the more the better," he said, "but when you have more you have more upset people because you have a lot of guys not being used."
Nevertheless, Greg Biggins, assistant recruiting editor and West regional coordinator for ESPN, said Carlisle's transfer put the Trojans in a difficult position. USC, he said, had not made running back a recruiting priority this year. Now, the first day that high school players can sign national letters of intent ?Feb. 1 ? is looming.
The NCAA allows for a maximum of 85 scholarship players, but because of NCAA sanctions USC's roster cannot exceed 75 for the next three years. The Trojans can sign only 15 players each year, 10 fewer than the maximum.
"At this late point," Biggins said of the Trojans' chances of landing a tailback, "there are not a lot of guys out there unless they go after a guy already committed."
Now, after recent player movement, it might be more aptly dubbed Tailback Who's Left?
USC's backfield, already thinned by Amir Carlisle's transfer last week, will be even less crowded when the Trojans open spring practice in March.
George Farmer, moved from receiver to running back last season, is returning to receiver, leaving the Trojans with only three scholarship tailbacks.
"We made a decision to move George solely back to receiver," Coach Lane Kiffin said Thursday, "and we are extremely excited about his impact this season at receiver catching the ball from Matt Barkley."
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Farmer was regarded as one of the nation's top receiver prospects when he arrived from Gardena Serra High last summer. But it was freshman Marqise Lee, another Serra alumnus, who emerged to start opposite Robert Woods (a third former Serra star) to form one of college football's top receiving tandems.
Farmer was slowed by injuries in training camp and appeared on track to redshirt until Kiffin moved him to tailback at midseason. He played in four games, carrying five times for 15 yards, but has said that he preferred playing receiver.
Farmer's return to receiver means the Trojans will have only two smallish tailbacks with college game experience.
Senior Curtis McNeal, 5 feet 7 and 180 pounds, started the last four games and finished the season with a team-best 1,005 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
Third-year sophomore D.J. Morgan started the first two games but lost his opportunity after fumbling. The 5-10, 190-pound Morgan finished with 163 yards in 42 carries.
Javorious Allen redshirted last season. At 6-1 and 205 pounds, he fits the big-back profile embodied last season by Marc Tyler but is unproven.
Asked whether he were concerned about depth at the position, Kiffin said, "We look forward to continuing to develop our running back group this spring."
The group would have been larger if Kiffin had not dismissed Dillon Baxter from the team in October and if Carlisle had not left for Notre Dame. Baxter, a junior, is reportedly considering a transfer to San Diego State.
USC's dearth of tailbacks is a stark contrast to 2007, when the Trojans opened training camp with 10 on the roster.
When McNeal arrived as a freshman in 2008, he was one of seven tailbacks. He said this week that the Trojans would have "the best tailback group in the nation" regardless of numbers.
"I guess you could say the more the better," he said, "but when you have more you have more upset people because you have a lot of guys not being used."
Nevertheless, Greg Biggins, assistant recruiting editor and West regional coordinator for ESPN, said Carlisle's transfer put the Trojans in a difficult position. USC, he said, had not made running back a recruiting priority this year. Now, the first day that high school players can sign national letters of intent ?Feb. 1 ? is looming.
The NCAA allows for a maximum of 85 scholarship players, but because of NCAA sanctions USC's roster cannot exceed 75 for the next three years. The Trojans can sign only 15 players each year, 10 fewer than the maximum.
"At this late point," Biggins said of the Trojans' chances of landing a tailback, "there are not a lot of guys out there unless they go after a guy already committed."
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