USC football insider Connor Morrissette is reporting that wide receiver Prince Strachan and running back Bryan Jackson will miss the Trojans’ Week 2 college football matchup against Georgia Southern.
Strachan, the junior wide receiver transfer from Boise State, has been in the mix for the No. 3 wide receiver position. He injured his leg after making a catch against Missouri State.
The sophomore RB and Las Vegas Bowl hero Jackson is the Trojans No. 3 running back behind JUCO transfer Waymond Jordan and New Mexico transfer Eli Sanders. Jackson profiles as the Trojan’s power back in short-yardage red zone situations.
With Strachan out, wideouts like Tanook Hines and Zaccharyus Williams will have an increased opportunity to stake their claim for the No. 3 wide receiver role.
In addition, Jackson’s absence will likely mean more touches for redshirt freshman running back King Miller, who had a long rushing TD against Missouri State last Saturday.
Three More Players Also Still Out For USC
USC is going to also be missing two key defensive players and a star special teamer for the second consecutive week.
CB Prophet Brown is out for the second consecutive game, which is not a surprise. When Brown’s injury was announced, Head Coach Lincoln Riley was clear that Brown would miss multiple games for the Trojans.
USC will also have to continue to wait to debut star freshman cornerback Alex Graham. According to defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, Graham worked with the first team in practice throughout the offseason.
Both Brown and Graham will be sorely missed. The USC secondary was one of the (admittedly very minor) points of concern for USC after surrendering 13 points to Missouri State, including the only Bears touchdown of the day in a blown coverage on fourth down.
It’s not all bad news for the USC secondary, however. Sophomore UCF transfer cornerback Chasen Johnson is healthy and will make his USC debut against the Eagles.
Said the CB depth chart will shake out dependent on how players perform going forward. DeCarlos Nicholson seems to be only one that has locked up spot.
USC will also be missing UNLV transfer kicker Cade Chittenden for the second consecutive week.
Backup Ryon Sayeri, who handled the majority of kicks against Missouri State, went 1/1 on field goals and 8/8 on extra points. Third stringer William Weisberg also hit both of his extra point attempts.
The Highly Anticipated Debut Of Jahkeem Stewart
The best injury news of the day is that 5-star freshman defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart is healthy and ready to play against Georgia Southern.
You got to love his gratitude for the game ✌️❤️
Stewart missed last week’s game against Missouri State, and will be making his collegiate debut. He’s the Trojans top recruit in the 2025 class and arguably one of the top 10 freshmen in the country.
The 18-year old fittingly known as “Thanos” will look to help a USC Defensive line that, all things considered, had a successful first week against Missouri State. The USC D-linemen collectively sacked Bears quarterback Jacob Clark 5 times.
However, USC also often was a step away from several more sacks, QB hits and general tackles for loss. The addition of a physical marvel like Stewart could help them be even more dominant in Week 2.
Trojan fans, which healthy player are you most excited to see play against Georgia Southern? Which absence do you think will be the most difficult for USC to overcome?
Two USC Football Offensive Players To Officially Miss Georgia Southern Matchup