Strother Struts His Way Into USC Limelight : College football: The glory days of Trojan tailbacks may be gone, but the sophomore is making his presence known.

Remember when USC tailbacks started for more than one season and were annual Heisman Trophy candidates? Current starter Deon Strother does.

He recalls when Trojan tailbacks were household names--Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell, Charles White and Marcus Allen.

Those days are long gone, though, and USC has had 10 years of tailback by committee. Strother is simply the latest to be considered the Trojans’ starter.

“Not having a consistent starter here is something that’s been on my mind,” Strother said. “Every year, it seems like it has been like that. I know that I am (the starter) now, but how long will I be here?

“It’s human nature to want to be the man, but I have to try to take it one game at a time.”

Since 1981, only Ryan Knight has led USC in rushing for consecutive seasons, with a modest combined total of 1,268 yards in 1984-85. For an assortment of reasons, USC simply has not had one dominant tailback in the last decade.

Before this season, Mazio Royster appeared ready to take over after bursting upon the scene as a sophomore starter with 1,168 yards in nine games last year.

But injuries and Strother have made Royster a backup.

And Strother, a 6-foot, 200-pound sophomore from Oakland Skyline High, has made the most of his playing time.

He leads the Trojans in rushing with 594 yards and seven touchdowns in 120 carries. Against California, he had a career-high 153 yards and two touchdowns, one on a 92-yard run.

“I didn’t see me (starting) like this so soon,” Strother said. “Because they had so many good guys here, I only wanted to prepare myself to be ready for my opportunity because anything could happen.”

After rushing for only 111 yards last year, Strother got his chance when Royster was hurt in USC’s opener against Memphis State. Strother started the next game against Penn State and has contributed heavily to USC’s rushing attack since.

He had his first 100-yard rushing game against Washington State when he replaced Royster, who was injured in the first half. Strother gained 122 yards and scored a touchdown in 22 carries, while also passing for 28 yards and a touchdown to Larry Wallace.

With the ability to get tough yards inside and enough speed to make big runs, Strother has impressed the USC coaching staff.

“I moved into the position because of injuries and since then it has been week to week,” said Strother, who has started four games. “Now since I have done well, the coaches have decided to keep me in there.”

Although Strother is starting, Royster and Estrus Crayton still get their playing time and the trio has combined for 1,230 yards with 14 touchdowns in 252 carries.

“There are three of us who all do a great job,” Strother said. “We know that whoever is in will get the job done.”

One drawback for Strother has been playing on a losing team. With a 3-6 record, the Trojans are guaranteed a sub-.500 season and that does not sit well with Strother.

In high school, he never played on a losing team and winning was taken for granted.

“Basically it feels like we haven’t been getting a return for our investment,” he said. “We have been fighting hard, but we’ve been coming up short.”

Strother realizes that the offense has been criticized for not scoring enough. That deficiency was evident in the 14-3 loss to Washington last week. USC was only out-gained in total yards, 356-305, but the Trojans did not score a touchdown despite penetrating the Huskies’ 30-yard line four times.

“We’ve been matching up with teams from the neck down, but the mental part has been hurting us,” Strother said. “That is the little difference we’ve been lacking.”