As we rapidly approach this weekend’s 2024 LSU football vs. USC matchup, here are three players on the Trojan offense that Tiger fans should know heading into Sunday.
LSU football vs. USC: Three players to know on the Trojan offense
1. QB Miller Moss
As we officially make our way into the 2024 college football season, there are countless new starting quarterbacks, but only two are set to take over for a former Heisman Trophy winner.
Those two quarterbacks? Well, that would be Garrett Nussmeier and Miller Moss, and they just so happen to be facing off against each other in week one this coming Sunday. While there’s plenty of similarities between the two, possibly the most notable would be the fact that they each have just one career start under their belts and have been waiting since the 2021 season to finally see their opportunity arrive.
In today’s transfer portal era, this is all the more impressive, and just goes to show that we could be witnessing some of the most experienced signal callers in college football this coming weekend when LSU and USC faceoff in Las Vegas.
A former four-star recruit out of Mission Hills, CA, Moss has appeared in just 12 games for the Trojans, but has largely made the most of his opportunities. Toting a career stat line that includes 92 total pass attempts for 914 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception, he’s about as consistent as one could expect from a college backup at the Power Four level.
Even more impressive, though, is the fact that he’s coming off his best performance yet, having completed 69.7 percent of his 33 passes for 372 yards and a whopping six touchdowns vs. Louisville in the 2023 Holiday Bowl this past December.
While he’s still a fairly unknown commodity for this USC roster, he’s at the very least a natural leader for them and can be dangerous when given the opportunity, especially when considering that Lincoln Riley is his head coach. The LSU football passing defense will need to be ready for several deep shots, as the Trojans are more than likely to test out the young and inexperienced Tiger secondary on Sunday.
2. WR Zachariah Branch
As far as pure playmakers go, the number one player to know is sophomore wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who has the potential to become one of the most dangerous players in all of college football during the 2024 season.
Having spent the majority of his time on special teams as a freshman, the former five-star out of Las Vegas, NV, is still largely inexperienced at the college level, but also has the kind of speed that can break open a defense in a matter of seconds.
In his first season with USC, Branch managed to leave an impact in several aspects of the game, recording nine carries, 31 receptions, 24 attempted kick returns and 16 attempted punt returns for a total of 1,164 yards and five touchdowns from scrimmage.
With some of the best speed in the entire country, he’s the kind of player that the 2024 LSU defense (and special teams) will need to keep an eye on at all times. If they happen to lose him at any point at all, it very well could end up meaning six points for the Trojans.
3. RB Woody Marks
For any Tiger fans who have watched SEC football over the last few seasons, Woody Marks is more than likely a familiar name. Having transferred to USC from Mississippi State over the offseason, Marks is now set to face off against LSU for the fifth time of his career, and he’s certainly no stranger to giving the purple and gold faithful headaches.
In his four matchups against LSU, Marks has logged at least one carry in each one, recording a total of 186 yards and one touchdown vs. the Bayou Bengals. While his four game total in itself doesn’t look all that intimidating, he’s the kind of back that can simply wear down a defense with his bruising style, ultimately clearing lanes for speedier members of his offense such as that of wide receiver Zachariah Branch.
Additionally, with sneaky elusiveness and impressive hands, he supplies quarterback Miller Moss with yet another excellent pass catching option out of the backfield, as well as yet another player for the Tiger secondary to keep watch of.
While the offense isn’t expected to run through Marks, he’ll at the very least provide the LSU defensive line with a challenge ahead of the start of SEC play just two weeks from now.
The 2024 LSU football season is officially set to get started this Sunday, September 1, against the USC Trojans in Las Vegas, NV, which will be available to watch live on ABC at 6:30 p.m. CST.
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