RoJo could be USC’s next great tailback


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For the first time in almost 10 years, I had a “wow” moment while watching USC football. What constitutes a “wow” moment, you might ask?

First, we need to look at other examples of past “wow” moments. Reggie Bush’s explosive run against Fresno State, Kobe Bryant dropping 81 on the Raptors, Madison Bumgarner winning the World Series on two days’ rest: all key examples of ”wow” moments.

To put it simply, it’s that moment when you jump out of your seat, look at the person next to you and go, “Wow, that was crazy.” Or, in other cases, it’s that’s play that you will tell your kids about in 20 years.

Those type of moments were all too familiar during the Pete Carroll era. Whether it was Reggie Bush pulling off an incredible run, Matt Leinart placing a beautiful pass or Ray Maualuga knocking the living crap out of UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan, the Trojans were all about the highlight plays.

I’m not saying that the Trojans lacked star players after Carroll’s departure, but there was no Reggie, Leinart or Clay Matthews from 2010-2015.

The Trojans certainly had their fair share of quality players. Matt Barkley had a stellar 2011 season, Marqise Lee exploded onto the scene and won the Biletnikoff award and Buck Allen had a career year last season with 1,489 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

For as great as those players were — they’re all in the NFL now — none of them had the same lasting effect of the previous Carroll era standouts.

Thankfully for the Trojans, and us fans too, this season has provided us with a litany of potential stars. JuJu Smith-Schuster has cemented himself as a top receiver, Su’a Cravens has become the emotional leader of the defense a la Clay Matthews and Adoree’ Jackson has become one of the most explosive two-way players in the game.

Though JuJu, Su’a and Adoree’ have all been great, the player that made me jump out of my seat, turn to the guy next to me and go “wow” was Ronald Jones II.

Ever since Reggie Bush left the school after his junior year, the Trojans have been searching for that next great running back to take the reigns. Despite the recent success of quarterbacks like Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez, USC has always been a running back school.

Don’t believe me? Just look at the numbers sitting atop the Coliseum stairs. Of USC’s seven Heisman winners, five have been running backs: Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen, Charles White and Reggie Bush. That doesn’t factor in other greats such as Anthony Davis, LenDale White and Frank Gifford.

Ronald Jones can be the next great Trojans running back.

Entering the season, Jones figured to be the third back behind returners Tre Madden and Justin Davis. Jones quickly took full advantage of the opportunity handed to him, accumulating 169 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans’ first two games.

Jones struggled through the next three games, partially due to the fact that he got only eight touches per game. However, after former head coach Steve Sarkisian’s firing, Jones jumped back into the spotlight, highlighted by his breakout performance against Arizona.

Jones rushed for 177 yards, a new freshman record and two touchdowns, one of them being off a 5-yard Kessler pass. It was Jones’ 74 yard run that had me on the edge of my seat. His combination of speed, elusiveness and strength made me go, “Wow. This kid is a freshman. Unreal.”

As it stands, Jones is just 158 yards shy of breaking Charles White’s freshman rushing record. If Jones continues at his current pace, which he should since he just had 177 freaking yards, he’ll not only top that but join elite company as a true freshman 1,000 yard rusher.

Nick Barbarino is a senior majoring in business administration. His column, “Beyond the Arc,” runs Thursdays.