As USC football prepares for Oregon this week, the top playmakers on the offense are emerging. There are some new faces in the mix, but it is still clear that King Miller and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt are the Trojans' best weapons. Waymond Jordan, on the other hand, could be fighting to keep his role.
Here is my breakdown for the USC Trojans
whose stock is going up and whose stock is going down after Week 3:Stock up:
King Miller, running back
King Miller has taken his game to the next level this season. He has a perfect combination of physicality and explosion. Making him a nightmare for opposing defenses. It is now 2 straight 100-yard rushing games for Miller, and he is trending in the right direction heading into Big Ten play.
Riley Wormley, running back
Riley Wormley was a big breakout star against Rutgers.
He made the most of his touches, running for 52 yards on just 3 carries. Lincoln Riley loves explosive guys, and that is exactly what Wormley is. It is too early for him to just replace Waymond Jordan, but he definitely deserves a consistent workload each game moving forward.
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has emerged as the Trojans' best target, and he has consistently been Jayden Maiava's most trustworthy weapon after Trent Mosley got hurt. He is no longer one of the best freshmen in the country; he is slowly becoming one of the best receivers in the Big Ten.
Corey Simms, wide receiver
Corey Simms, with limited targets, still shows week in and week out that he can make plays. This past week, he posted 4 catches for 7 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown was one of the biggest plays of the game. USC will need more of that, too, moving forward, especially in a week with Trent Mosley out. In these big games coming up, he deserves to get more targets and be looked at more.
Stock down:
Jayden Maiava, quarterback
Jayden Maiava started off the season playing perfect football. Having more touchdowns than incompletions. He isn't playing bad; his play, however, has noticeably dropped off. Against Rutgers, he did not dominate them, and instead there were a lot of times when he was struggling. His shoulder injury, of course, is a factor in his drop-off, but this is the wrong time for him to be off his game.
Waymond Jordan, running back
In each game, Waymond Jordan's role feels like it is getting reduced. This past week, Riley Wormley showed he can be another effective back behind King Miller. Jordan was only able to get 8 carries for 26 yards. He still brings a lot to the table, but it is getting harder and harder for him to be able to make an impact when King Miller's stardom is rising.
Run defense
The Trojans' inconsistent run defense has been a big reason why this unit has struggled. If you can't stop the run, things get a lot tougher. Antwan Raymond ran wild on Saturday and was extremely effective. The Trojans have looked great against the run at times to start the season; however, they have not been consistent enough to get labeled a great defense. Jide Abasiri getting hurt against Rutgers did play a factor, but the defense as a whole needs to step up at every level. Freshman Luke Wafle can't be the best player against the run. Linebackers need to be better, and the defensive tackles need to level up their game too. If USC cannot stop the run moving forward, they will not be able to beat any of the top Big Ten teams coming up on their schedule.
Secondary as a whole
The Trojans' secondary has struggled mightily at times, and against Rutgers, they put up their worst game. Jontez Williams has looked like the best player in the unit, but he has not been able to do it all by himself. Louisiana and Rutgers were both able to drive down the field. Obviously, KJ Duff is one of the best receivers in the country; USC, however, made him look even better. This secondary is not heading into a game against Oregon with any confidence.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football stock up and stock down report after Rutgers game
