In a dominant ground-game effort, four different USC running backs scored touchdowns, and the Trojans as a whole averaged 7.8 yards per rush in their season opener against Missouri State. Both redshirt junior quarterback Jayden Maiava and freshman quarterback Husan Longstreet added rushing touchdowns of their own to boot.

Among a competitive group that includes stars like junior starting running back Waymond Jordan and redshirt senior back Eli Sanders, it is difficult to stand out, let alone for a freshman walk-on in pursuit of a scholarship. However, it’s pretty hard to ignore a 75-yard rushing touchdown that included eluding multiple tackles and an impressive display of speed. 

“It was definitely one to remember,” said redshirt freshman walk-on running back King Miller, looking back on his first collegiate touchdown after practice on Tuesday. “It’s always going to be implanted in my mind.”

While the explosive run may have put Miller on the map for many Trojan fans, the consensus among his coaches and fellow players tells the opposite story: He was already here.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Maiava said of Miller’s touchdown after practice Tuesday. “He does it in practice every single day. He stands out in practice. Just seeing him out there on Saturdays against another team is super exciting.”

Against Missouri State University, Miller also became the first walk-on to score a touchdown for USC since Jess Holguin in 1994, not counting those who earned scholarships prior to scoring. According to an Orange County Register article about Holguin’s score, the identity of the walk-on before Holguin to score a touchdown “was unavailable in school records.” Miller’s score was also the longest rushing touchdown since Oct. 12, 2024.

Due to joining the Trojans later than a typical walk-on, Miller called his arrival last season “odd.” Miller said he began to feel more comfortable in Head Coach Lincoln Riley’s system in the spring and was not specifically thinking about earning a scholarship, instead focusing on earning each rep in game.

“Now it’s just been forward progress, been out there just trying to earn as much as I can,” Miller said. “Every opportunity I got in practice, no matter what it is, I just showed up. When my number was called, I just took care of that moment.”

Miller said playing with USC’s other top four backs — Sanders, Jordan and sophomore running back Bryan Jackson — has allowed him to learn a lot. When asked, Miller said he has learned a lot from all three and said each has their “special talent” — speed for Sanders, technique for Jordan and physicality for Jackson.

His teammates said they weren’t surprised by his performance on Saturday. Miller called USC’s running back room “special” and said he wasn’t surprised all four of them found the end zone against Missouri State.

Sanders lit up when asked about Miller after Tuesday’s practice, calling him one of the hardest workers on the team.

“I’m super proud that he got to showcase his talents,” Sanders said. “You’ll see a lot more of him.”

Riley, who has been very complimentary of his entire running back group in media availability after Saturday’s win, said Miller breaks out for a long run in practice “every day” on Trojans Live on Monday.

In another layer of historical impact, Miller’s brother, offensive lineman Kaylon Miller, also a redshirt freshman walk-on, made one of the marquee blocks in King Miller’s 75-yard run.

“As my bigger, little brother, he tried to take a lot of credit [for the touchdown],” King Miller joked. 

Despite the quip, Miller recalled celebrating with his brother after scoring, fondly calling it a “core memory.”

Miller and the Trojans will face off against Georgia Southern on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.