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USC hires Indiana’s Deland McCullough as running back’s coach

Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports: "Kenyan Drake really flashed down the stretch for the team but there’s still a big need at running back going forward for an offense that will be in transition in more ways than one. Jones can run between the tackles well and has the kind of speed that can take it to the house as well. He is not a liability in the passing game like others and the home run threat he brings is too much for the team to ignore."

Bryan Fischer, Athlon Sports: “Kenyan Drake really flashed down the stretch for the team but there’s still a big need at running back going forward for an offense that will be in transition in more ways than one. Jones can run between the tackles well and has the kind of speed that can take it to the house as well. He is not a liability in the passing game like others and the home run threat he brings is too much for the team to ignore.”

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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USC’s stable of running backs has a new coach.

USC has hired Deland McCullough, the running backs coach at Indiana for the last six seasons, as its running backs coach, the team announced Friday.

McCullough led a resurgence at the position at Indiana. He coached Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard, who became back-to-back All-Big Ten first team players and the first Indiana running backs in the last quarter century to be drafted in consecutive years.

In 2015, Indiana was one of just two power-conference teams with two 1,000-yard rushers, Howard and Devine Redding.

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The Trojans have a stable of talent at the position, with Ronald Jones II as the incumbent and young, talented runners including Aca’Cedric Ware and freshman Stephen Carr.

Tommie Robinson coached the position last season before leaving for Louisiana State. Robinson was also one of USC’s most effective recruiters.

McCullough, 44, was a former finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s best running back, at Miami (Ohio) and played for two seasons in the NFL. Before Miami, he was a high school teacher and football coach in Cincinnati.

zach.helfand@latimes.com

Follow Zach Helfand on Twitter @zhelfand

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