USC RB Stepp needs ankle surgery, out up to 5 weeks

Posted October 21, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Southern California running back Markese Stepp flexes his bicep after scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Southern California running back Markese Stepp needs surgery and could miss up to five weeks due to an ankle injury suffered against Arizona last weekend.

Trojans coach Clay Helton said Monday that Stepp will need surgery to repair a torn ligament and is out at least three weeks.

Stepp, a redshirt freshman from Indianapolis, has rushed for 307 yards and three touchdowns in six games this season.

The 6-foot, 235 pound Stepp had provided a physical presence to complement the spread passing component of the Air Raid offense over the past three games before he was hurt in the third quarter of USC's 41-14 win over the Wildcats on Saturday.

Stepp's injury is the latest blow to USC's depth at running back. Redshirt junior Vavae Malepeai, who leads the team with 406 yards rushing and four touchdowns, remains out after undergoing knee surgery last week. Junior Stephen Carr did not practice Monday after sustaining a hamstring strain against the Wildcats.

Helton did not know if Carr, who has 266 yards rushing and two touchdowns, would be available to play at Colorado on Friday.

"I've never lost three backs in one week in 25 years before, but, you know what, there's a first time for everything," Helton said.

Those injuries leave freshman Kenan Christon in line to start against the Buffaloes. Christian, the 2019 California high school 100-meters champion, had touchdowns runs of 55 and 30 yards against Arizona and finished with 103 yards rushing on eight carries.

Quincy Jountti, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship in August, and Dominic Davis, a redshirt senior who was moved back to offense after playing cornerback, were the two other scholarship running backs who practiced Monday.

USC is tied with No. 12 Utah for the lead in the Pac-12 South with a 3-1 record, but the Trojans hold the potential tiebreaker because of their 30-23 win over the Utes on Sept. 20. USC is 4-3 overall.

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Southern California running back Markese Stepp (30) scores a rushing touchdown against Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press

Southern California running back Markese Stepp (30) runs the ball against Notre Dame in the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) The Associated Press

Southern California running back Markese Stepp (30) is lifted into the end zone by teammate Alijah Vera-Tucker (75) as Notre Dame safety Alohi Gilman defends in the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) The Associated Press

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