Countdown to kickoff is back! USC will kick off its 2026 football season on August 29 when the Trojans host San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we will be counting down the days until the season opener by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number.
Today, we look at USC Heisman Trophy running back Charles White.
Position: Running back
Years played at USC: 1976-1979
Career highlights: Out of all of the great running backs that have come through USC, none have rushed for more yards than White. He finished his four-year career in Cardinal and Gold with 6,245 yards, with the next closest, Marcus Allen, sitting more than 1,400 yards behind.
In both 1978 and 1979, White earned Unanimous All-American honors. In 1978, he led the Trojans
to the national championship, and in 1979, he became USC's third Heisman Trophy winner. White is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
After USC: The Cleveland Browns selected White with the 27th overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft. He went on to play eight seasons in the league—four with Cleveland and four with the Los Angeles Rams. His best season in the league came in 1987 with Los Angeles, when he rushed for 1,374 yards and 11 touchdowns. That season, he was named to the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro.
From 1993-1997, White served as the running backs coach at USC. In his later years, he struggled with dementia, likely caused by CTE from his playing days and years of struggling with drug use.
White passed away in 2023 at the age of 64. The Trojans honored him during the 2023 season.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans running back Charles White
