X-Factors in the Las Vegas Bowl with opt-outs, transfer

The USC Trojans will face Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday, December 27th at Allegiant Stadium. They will end their season where it started and want to end the year on a positive note.

USC has lost a total of 19 players since the transfer portal opened on Dec. 9 and a number of seniors, including running back Woody Marks, cornerback Jaylin Smith and center Jonah Monheim, will not play in the game as it prepares for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Friday’s contest will provide an opportunity for some players to step up and play a much larger role than they have all season. So which names should you keep an eye on?

“We’re not busy recruiting right now, which is usually the last few weeks or mid-December,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “So it gave us a chance to really be on the field with the guys a lot and work a lot. Build on how we finish the season and really have a chance to develop and take over a lot of these young guys, these developmental players. “Guys, pump a lot of reps into them.”

One of the first logical names is freshman running back Bryan Jackson. The Texas native was the third running back all season behind Marks and redshirt freshman Quinten Joyner, who transferred to Texas Tech.

Jackson carried the ball 20 times for 122 yards this season. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Jackson played a larger role in the Trojans’ regular-season finale against Notre Dame when Marks went down with a concussion on the second possession of the game. He had an outstanding performance as he carried the ball six times for 71 yards, giving a glimpse of his potential going forward. Riley raved about Jackson during bowl practice.

“Brian, I think, earned the trust of us because he knew he could handle all the responsibilities of a running back in this offense and knew what to do, and he’s looking forward to continuing to get more opportunities because I believe he will. “I will be a very good player here,” Riley said.

A year ago, offensive tackle Elijah Paige emerged during bowl practice and was outstanding in the Holiday Bowl, helping to secure a starting spot in 2024. Could we see the same thing from redshirt freshman offensive tackle Tobias Raymond when Mason Murphy transferred to Auburn?

Raymond appeared in all twelve games this season. His most significant playing time came in the Trojans’ Week 4 loss to Michigan, when he was inserted into the lineup in the second half and performed admirably. Riley said in October that Raymond was “one of the more developed players on the squad.”

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Similar to the offensive tackle situation, the Trojans had a couple of freshman receivers in Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon who had a big game in the Holiday Bowl. Lane managed three receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns, while Lemon caught two passes for 75 yards. Both gave an outlook on the coming season.

With three of the Trojans’ top six receivers, Duce Robinson, Zachariah Branch and Kyron Hudson, all gone, could we see rookie Xavier Jordan make his first run at significant playing time? USC has shown a strong rotation at the receiver position throughout the season and will certainly need new strength in the bowl game. Jordan did not appear in any games this season. He performed well in the spring game, catching four passes for 39 yards.

The four-star recruit from Sierra Canyon (CA) was the No. 20 receiver and No. 98 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle according to On3 Industry Rankings. Jordan and the Trojans’ offense could benefit greatly as he has an early connection to Quarterback Jayden Maiava is building.

Sophomore Christian Pierce will serve as the fourth safety with Zion Branch in the portal on Friday. Pierce’s most notable playing time came in the Trojans’ Week 9 win over Rutgers, when they lost four starting defenders. In that game, he recorded a career-best performance of 35 snaps.

Akili Arnold and Bryson Shaw are ineligible, giving the Rancho Cucamonga (CA) product an opportunity to take on a starting role in 2025.