Silas Redd could factor in USC backfield immediately
It's official, former Penn State running back Silas Redd is heading to USC.
As reported in Chip Patterson's blog on CBSSports.com, both Dave Ruden of the Stamford Advocate and Desmond Conner of the Hartford Courant confirmed the news within minutes of each other on Tuesday afternoon. Redd reportedly made his decision official via a text message statement. Redd is a Norwalk, Conn., native and was rated by Rivals.com as the top player in the state in 2009.
So what does this mean for USC's stable of backs? Where does Redd fit in the picture?
Senior Curtis McNeal is No. 1 on the depth chart and rushed for 1,005 yards last season, but he's been limited by injuries. Redshirt sophomore D.J. Morgan carried only 42 times in 2011. As a result, Kiffin said freshman Nelson Agholor, who was recruited to play wide receiver, will begin training camp as the team's top running back.
"Our No. 1 concern is the running back position," Kiffin said. "We're very concerned about our depth there. We'd rather have Nelson be a receiver, which is what we primarily recruited him as, but we moved him because of the situation we're in."
Michael Lev, who covers USC for the Orange County Register, believes Redd will jump to No. 2 on the depth chart, sharing carries with McNeal and cutting into Morgan's load.
Maybe that's why one of Redd's final texts read something like this.
"I continue to have aspirations for my life, and as my family and I considered the bigger picture — both on and off the field — it became clearer to me that USC will be the best fit for my academic, athletic and personal needs over the next two years," Redd wrote.
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