Curtis McNeal spent a good portion of summer camp at or near the lead to become USC’s starting running back. While the diminutive junior didn’t land the starting job, he could be in that position this weekend against Notre Dame.
The Trojans’ leading rusher, Marc Tyler, suffered a dislocated shoulder in the win over Cal last Thursday. The senior observed practice Sunday in a sling, and it appears he will be doubtful in the week leading up to the annual game with the Irish.
“We’ll see,” head coach Lane Kiffin said when asked about Tyler’s availability. “We’ll take it one day at a time. I’m not a doctor.”
Tyler currently leads the Trojans with 368 yards rushing. McNeal is the team’s No. 2 rusher, but averages over 2.5 yards a carry more than Tyler. After Tyler suffered the injury, McNeal rushed for 86 yards and appears ready to shoulder the load, so to speak, if Tyler is unavailable.
McNeal’s coach, however, is uncertain the back can be that workhorse,
“He’s trying to, but he hasn’t,” Kiffin said, referring to the 5-7, 180-pound McNeal proving he’s able to handle a significant number of carries. “Every time he has in a scrimmage or something like that, he’s gotten banged up. He’s proven to me that he’s trying, but his body hasn’t allowed him to at full speed yet.”