USC season preview: Tailbacks

Starter: Fifth-year senior Tre Madden

Backups: Junior Justin Davis, freshmen Dominic Davis, Ronald Jones or Aca’Cedric Ware

Who is gone: Javorius Allen

Who is new: Dominic Davis, Ronald Jones and Aca’Cedric Ware

Outlook: USC must replace Allen, who was the team’s leading rusher last season.

Madden, 6 feet 1 and 225 pounds, looked steady through training camp after he was sidelined last season because of a foot injury.

Madden played in 11 games in 2013 and rushed for 703 yards and three touchdowns in 138 carries. He also caught 15 passes, four for touchdowns.

Justin Davis, 6 feet 1 and 195 pounds, was a backup to Allen last season and appeared ready to take over as starter, but he was sidelined for the majority of training camp because of a hamstring injury and then because of a rib injury.

Justin Davis played in all 13 games last season and rushed for 595 yards and four touchdowns.

USC added three freshmen this fall -- Dominic Davis, Jones and Ware. Each will compete for time in the rotation.

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