Latest news with #CardinalandGold
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff—Charles White in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 12 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days 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: 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 and, the next closest, Marcus Allen, sits 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 namedto 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.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff—Caleb Williams in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 13 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we look at former USC Heisman Trophy quarterback Caleb Williams. Position: Quarterback Years played at USC: 2022-2023 Career highlights: Williams started his college career at Oklahoma, before transferring to USC alongside head coach Lincoln Riley following the 2021 season. In his first year with the Trojans, Williams took the College Football world by storm, recording 4,537 passing yards and 42 touchdowns, to go along with ten more scores on the ground. That fall, Williams became USC's eighth Heisman Trophy winner, while leading the Trojans to 11 victories after they won just four games the year prior. The following season, Williams's numbers regressed slightly, but were still impressive. However, the Trojans struggled on the field in 2023, finishing the regular season just 7-5. Williams's final game in Cardinal and Gold was a 38-20 home blowout loss to rival UCLA, as he elected to sit out of USC's Holiday Bowl victory over Louisville. After USC: Williams declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, where the Chicago Bears selected him with the first overall pick. Williams's rookie season was an up-and-down one, as he finished it throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions while leading Chicago to a 5-12 record. With new head coach Ben Johnson at the helm, Williams will look to take a step forward in year two this fall.
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff—Anthony Sarao in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 56 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we look at former USC linebacker Anthony Sarao. Position: After redshirting as a true freshman in 2011, Sarao served as a key backup linebacker during his redshirt freshman season in 2012. Sarao moved into the starting lineup midway through the 2013 season, and remained there for the rest of his time at. As a redshirt senior in 2015, Sarao was named a team captain. Sarao finished his career in Cardinal and Gold with 216 total tackles, seven sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one touchdown. Years played at USC: 2011-2015 Career highlights: Text After USC: Sarao was not selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent, but was released prior to the start of the regular season. He did, however, have a brief career in the Canadian Football League in 2017 and 2018. Sarao currently works on the strength and conditioning staff at TCU.
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Melvin Jackson in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 65 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. There are not a whole lot of recent options for the number 65, so today, we take it all the way back to the 1970s and look at former USC offensive lineman Melvin Jackson. Position: Offensive line Years played at USC: 1972-1975 Career highlights: A 2019 story from Reign of Troy detailed Jackson's legacy in Cardinal and Gold. "Jackson was listed as a linebacker on the roster in 1973, then wearing the No. 54, but he swapped it for the No. 65 in 1974 taking up a place on the offensive line," writer Alicia de Artola wrote. "Originally training as an offensive guard, he stepped in at offensive tackle briefly during the 1974 season because of injury. His involvement wasn't great, but he was around to earn a national title ring with the Trojans. "The next season Jackson moved into the starting lineup permanently opposite All-American Marvin Powell. Despite the clear talent on the other side, USC's coaches voted Jackson the winner of the John Dye Memorial Award as the team's lineman of the year. "He certainly played a key role in the Trojans victory over Notre Dame in 1975. With the Irish leading 17-14, running back Ricky Bell had powered his offense to one-yard line. However, on a goal line carry, the ball popped out of his hands and into the air. "'When I fumbled, I told myself that I threw the ball game away,' Bell said in the Gannet News Service. "The game wasn't lost because Jackson was there to recover the ball on the two-yard line. That set up quarterback Vince Evan's game winning score." After USC: The Green Bay Packers selected Jackson in the 12th round of the 1976 NFL Draft. He would go on to play five seasons with the team. Jackson is the grandfather of former USC and current Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Austin Jackson.
