USC RB Stepp needs ankle surgery, out up to 5 weeks
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California running back Markese Stepp needs surgery and could miss up to five weeks due to an ankle injury su ered 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 o ense over the past three games before he was hurt in the third quarter of USC’s 4114 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 Bu aloes. 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 o ense after playing cornerback, were the two other scholarship running backs who practiced Monday.