No. 2: RB Joe McKnight

Vitals: 6-0, 180, sophomore, John Curtis High (River Ridge, La.)

The skinny: Another one from the obvious file (the next three won’t be, I promise), but there are reasons he’s here. The main one is game-breaking ability. McKnight might not finish 2008 with the most carries (probably Stafon Johnson) or receptions (probably Patrick Turner) on the team, but the super soph so often compared with Reggie Bush should lead USC in YouTube-worthy, highlight-reel plays. More than anyone else on the offense, McKnight has the speed to instill fear in opposing defenses. Like Bush, McKnight has the ability to stretch the field horizontally and vertically and turn a short pass into a long gain (which only can help Mark Sanchez). McKnight showed what he’s capable of in the Rose Bowl, gaining 208 all-purpose yards — 125 rushing, 45 receiving and 36 returning — and scoring two touchdowns, including a 65-yarder.

As my colleague Adam Maya noted and the chart below illustrates, McKnight posted some Bush-like final totals as a freshman. But asking McKnight to be Bush is asking a lot. Although he hasn’t been as effective in the NFL, Bush was All-Universe at USC, winning the 2005 Heisman Trophy and setting the school record for career all-purpose yards. McKnight doesn’t have to be Bush for the 2008 Trojans to excel. But McKnight at least needs to be Bush Light.

Joe McKnight, 2008:

94-540-5.7-3 rushing, 23-203-8-1 receiving, 19-160-8.4-0 returning punts

Reggie Bush, 2003:

90-564-5.8-3 rushing, 15-314-20.9-4 receiving, 18-492-27.3-1 returning kickoffs

Coming up: Part 3.

See also: Part 1 (Mark Sanchez).

Posted in: Football |

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