- Marcus Allen rushed 403 times in 1981.
- Reggie Bush recently had his Heisman Trophy reinstated.
- Caleb Williams holds USC single-season records in passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offence, and touchdowns responsible for.
If college football betting was legal in the mid-2000s, the USC Trojans would’ve owned the stage, as they won national championships in 2003 and 2004. Beyond that, they won nine more from 1928 to 1978.
Since 2004, they’ve yet to make it back to the big one, but over the last two seasons, the Trojans heated up with Caleb Williams under center. He’s now in the NFL with the Chicago Bears after going No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
With so much history in this program that’s littered with Hall of Fame running backs, I’ve gone through and made a top 11 all-time list.
Let’s check it out.
11 Best USC Trojans Football Players
| Rank | Player | Position | USC Years |
| 1 | Marcus Allen | RB | 1978-1981 |
| 2 | Matt Leinart | QB | 2002-2005 |
| 3 | Reggie Bush | RB | 2003-2005 |
| 4 | Charles White | RB | 1976-1979 |
| 5 | O.J. Simpson | RB | 1967-1968 |
| 6 | Mike Garrett | RB | 1963-1965 |
| 7 | Anthony Davis | RB | 1972-1974 |
| 8 | Ricky Bell | RB | 1974-1977 |
| 9 | Caleb Williams | QB | 2022-2023 |
| 10 | Lynn Swann | WR | 1971-1973 |
| 11 | Robert Woods | WR | 2010-2012 |
1. Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen ranks second in rushing yards (4,810) and third in rushing touchdowns (45) in USC history, so why is he at No. 1?
To understand this, you have to look at his career. He started at USC in 1978 and was behind Charles White for two seasons.
Once White left, Allen had 36 total rushing touchdowns. In 1981, the year he won the Heisman Trophy, he rushed 403 times for 2,342 yards and 22 touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 217 yards and a score.
He won a national title in 1978, and in 1981, he also won the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, SN Player of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year, and more.
His No. 33 was retired by the team.
2. Matt Leinart
The first quarterback on my list isn’t Matt Barkley or Carson Palmer, but rather Matt Leinart.
Leinart ranks third in passing yards (10,693), second in passing touchdowns (99), third in total offence (10,623), and second in touchdowns responsible for (108).
1️⃣1️⃣ DAYS UNTIL USC FOOTBALL IS BACK…
Matt Leinart’s 1️⃣1️⃣ hangs in the peristyle end of the Coliseum as 1 of 8 USC Heisman Trophy winners, the most of any school
Leinart’s best game came in the 2004 National Championship game vs Oklahoma. 55-19. #FightOn ✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/ndygW2yTG8
— Arrogant Nation✌🏻 (@FightOnRusty) August 15, 2023
He won two national championships, and over his college career, he won the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Manning Award, two Archie Griffin Awards, two Quarterback of the Year awards, and more.
Leinart’s No. 11 is retired at the school.
3. Reggie Bush
Bush faced some penalties due to off-the-field activities, including his Heisman Trophy getting vacated, but that has since been reinstated.
Bush was sensational during his three seasons at USC.
He rushed 433 times for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns. He got to be the full-time starter in 2005, where he had 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also added 37 receptions for 478 yards, two touchdowns, 493 kick return yards, 179 punt return yards, and a punt return touchdown.
In his time at USC, he won two national championships. In addition to his Heisman in 2005, he won the Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award, and was named the AP College Football Player of the Year, among other nods.
He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
4. Charles White
White is the all-time leading rusher in USC history with 6,245 yards. Additionally, he’s second in rushing touchdowns (49) and 10th in total offence (6,240).
He won a national championship in 1978. In 1979, he won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Chic Harley Award, Walter Camp Award, was the UPI Player of the Year, a two-time unanimous All-American, and more.
His No. 12 was retired by USC.
5. O.J. Simpson
Recently passing away, Simpson had a tumultuous life after leaving USC, but while there for just two seasons, Simpson rushed for 3,423 yards (sixth) and had 36 rushing touchdowns (sixth).
He won a national championship in 1967, the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award the following year. He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
6. Mike Garrett
The winner of the 1965 Heisman Trophy, Garrett’s No. 20 is retired by USC, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
He ranks seventh all-time in rushing yards (3,221) and eighth in rushing touchdowns (25).
7. Anthony Davis
Winning two national championships, Davis was also a unanimous All-Americcan and second-team All-American.
He ranks third all-time in rushing yards (3,742), fourth in rushing touchdowns (44), and second in touchdowns responsible for in a single game with six in 1972 against Notre Dame.
8. Ricky Bell
Bell passed away in 1984 at just 29 years old after discovering he had a heart condition, but before that and going No. 1 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bell had an excellent college career.
He ranks fourth all-time in rushing yards (3,689) and seventh in rushing touchdowns (28).
Bell won a national championship in 1974, was the Pac-8 Player of the Year in 1976, and was a two-time unanimous All-American.
9. Caleb Williams
Going No.1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams played two seasons for USC. While the team itself didn’t manage to win any notable championships, Williams was electric.
In 2022, he won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award and was named the College Football Player of the Year by the AP and SN. That year, he threw for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns, and five interceptions and rushed 113 times for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He holds single-season records for USC in passing yards, passing touchdowns, total offence yards, and touchdowns responsible for.
10. Lynn Swann
A consensus All-American and national championship winner, Swann finished his career at USC with 1,407 yards on 85 catches and had 10 touchdowns. He also added 198 rushing yards.
These stats are single-season marks nowadays; Swann was unlike anything defenders had seen at the wide receiver position at that time.
Head coach John McKay once said that Swann had “speed, soft hands, and grace.”
He went on to become a sensational NFL player with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974 to 1982 and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
11. Robert Woods
Woods leads USC history in receptions (252), ranks eighth in receiving yards (2,930), and second in receiving touchdowns (32).
He was a consensus All-American, two-time first-team All-Pac-10/Pac-12 and second-team All-Pac-12.
In 2010, he was named the Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
During the 2011 season, he caught 111 passes for 1,292 yards and 15 touchdowns.