3 players that Notre Dame football should be most worried about during their battle against rival USC this weekend
Let’s get the obvious out of the way, the USC Trojans are still a very talented squad. Notre Dame football has a lot on the line on Saturday, including a berth in the College Football Playoffs and a home playoff game in the first round. You can bet they will be taking this USC team […]
Let’s get the obvious out of the way, the USC Trojans are still a very talented squad. Notre Dame football has a lot on the line on Saturday, including a berth in the College Football Playoffs and a home playoff game in the first round. You can bet they will be taking this USC team very seriously because of it.
There are several players who have the potential to make some plays for USC on Saturday, including new starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, wide receiver Makai Lemmon, linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, and running back Quentin Joyner. With those players in mind, however, there are three players who worry most coming into this matchup. They could give the Trojans the best chance at pulling off an upset.
RB Jo’quavious “Woody” Marks
After going under the radar at Mississippi State, people have gotten to know Marks well in his lone year at USC. In 11 games, he has rushed for 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Marks is also a tremendous receiver out of the backfield, hauling in a team-leading 47 receptions. He’s a three-down player who can make plays all over the field.
The Trojan star is a densely-built runner at 5-9.5 and 205 pounds, possessing good contact balance and toughness as a ball carrier. While Marks doesn’t have much long speed, his acceleration is very nice. He is also a very creative runner, making a ton of defenders miss in space.
WR Zachariah Branch
It has been a season to forget for Branch, who is one of the more dynamic playmakers in all of college football. He hasn’t quite taken the leap most expected this season, having just 43 receptions for 458 yards and a touchdown. Branch has largely been ineffective as a punt returner, averaging just 5.7 yards per return.
This is the type of player, however, who can still make a big play at any time. When the Notre Dame defense has had some troubles this season, which is rare, it’s when there is some miscommunication. When that happens, the Irish can be vulnerable to big plays. Branch is the player most likely to break one in those situations.
S Kamari Ramsey
Another transfer this past offseason, Ramsey followed defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn from UCLA. Ramsey has been tremendous for the Trojans so far, already voted as a team captain. He is fifth on the team in tackles with 45 despite missing two games. Ramsey has made his opportunities impactful ones, sitting second on the team with six tackles for loss and two sacks, and first with five pass breakups.
At 6-0 and 204 pounds, Ramsey is the perfect blend of size, movement skills, and physicality. If there is a big play that happens defensively for USC on Saturday, there is a good chance that Ramsey will be involved. He might be the best overall player on the team.
