USC needs all the help it can get, so the return of running back Silas Redd is certainly welcome news.
Redd missed the Trojans' first five games because of a knee injury he suffered during spring practice. After undergoing two surgeries to repair the injury, Redd has now been cleared to play and expects to make his season debut next Thursday against Arizona.
Redd rushed for a team-high 905 yards and nine touchdowns last season after transferring from Penn State in the wake of NCAA sanctions resulting from the Jerry Sandusky case. Needless to say, the in-season firing of USC head coach Lane Kiffin is just the latest firestorm Redd has witnessed up close and personal.
"In my college career, nothing surprises me anymore at all," Redd told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm just rolling with the punches right now."
With 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior Redd sidelined, converted linebacker Tre Madden (583 rushing yards, six total touchdowns) and true freshman Justin Davis (311 rushing yards, 7.3 yards per carry, five rushing touchdowns) have emerged to become the reliable backbones for an inconsistent USC offense.
However, Davis is dealing with a sprained left ankle and could not complete practice Wednesday. If Davis cannot go, Redd should be able to step in and keep the one-two punch going.
Redd's grinding running style that requires a high volume of carries to produce is essentially identical to that of Madden, whereas Davis has shown a knack for getting to the edge and delivering explosive plays. A Madden-Redd combination might complement the USC defense that had been playing well before giving up 62 points and 612 yards of total offense at Arizona State by controlling the ball, but would make the offense even more methodical and vulnerable to breakdowns in the passing game.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
