Breaking Down USC Running Backs for 2015 Without Buck Allen

USC's rushing leader in consecutive years, Javorius "Buck" Allen, is headed to the NFL draft, rendering an already-thin running backs corps even more so as the Trojans embark on 2015.

Allen announced his decision to forgo his final remaining year of eligibility Saturday, via USCTrojans.com's Jordan Moore. 

"This was a tough decision for me. I went home to Florida and talked it over with my family. I am proud to have been the first one in my family to have gone to college, and I've been blessed to say I played football in college," he said.

"We asked a lot of Buck this year and he came through with an All-Pac-12 season," head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "We know he can do more of the same in the NFL."

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Of course, while Allen is doing his thing on Sundays, USC needs someone to pick up the slack on Saturdays (as well as a Thursday and Friday). 

In Allen, USC loses not only its top ball-carrier for the last two seasons—though the 2,263 yards he produced in 2013 and 2014 combined are certainly tough to duplicate. Allen was also a vital contributor in the Trojans' passing attack, posting 458 receiving yards as quarterback Cody Kessler's third-favorite target. 

Moreover, Allen was the type of leader who offered to shoulder the offensive burden in good times and bad. 

With everything he brought to USC, it might take more than just a single player to fill the void. Sarkisian will be working with greater numbers but less experience in 2015.

Just one Trojan on scholarship who saw action in 2014 returns. 

Justin Davis 

Justin Davis rode a wave of ups and downs in his return from an ankle injury that cut short his 2013 season. He ended 2014 on a decided upswing, rushing for 81 yards in the regular-season finale against Notre Dame and another 41 on just four carries in the Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska.

Davis also scored touchdowns in each of the Trojans' final three regular-season games, showing off the full array of his multifaceted skill set with a pair on the ground and one receiving. 

"Throughout all the ups and downs in the season, it's always a nice feeling to finish out on top," Davis told Bleacher Report while also hitting on a key point for continuing his upward trajectory into 2015. 

"After [the Nov. 22 loss at] UCLA, we knew we had to be a lot more physical, because they outworked us," he said.

Davis needs to be more consistent, which means gaining more yards between the tackles—a facet in which Allen excelled.

Tre Madden 

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Tre Madden is the sole running back on USC's 2015 roster with experience as a No. 1 option at the collegiate level.

Before a hamstring injury and Allen's breakout midway through the 2013 campaign, Madden was putting up rushing yards unseen at USC since the days of Reggie Bush and LenDale White.

He rushed for more than 100 yards in four of the Trojans' first five games and gained 93 in the fifth.

Madden's return in 2014 never came to fruition, and he instead redshirted.

The similarities in Madden and Allen's running styles are undeniable. Both are power-backs able to grind out additional yards after contact, but both have deceptive speed for their size.

There's no questioning Madden's potential, but returning after missing over a year of game action is no easy task.

Ronald Jones II

Ronald Jones II excelling at USC seems almost serendipitous. After all, just moments after the 4-star prospect announced his commitment at this month's Under Armour All-American Game, he broke off a 58-yard run for a touchdown.

Such plays were the norm for Jones in his time at McKinney North High School in McKinney, Texas. Last season, he rushed for 2,009 yards and 28 touchdowns, per MaxPreps.com.

Jones has the speed to be an immediate threat. He should develop into a prototypical, every-down back once he adds more muscle to his 6'0" frame—which shouldn't be a problem in strength coach Ivan Lewis' program.

Dominic Davis

At 5'10" and 175 pounds, 3-star commit Dominic Davis is considerably smaller than the other scholarship running backs on USC's 2015 roster.

However, the addition of such a back—one who relies on elusiveness over power—might add just the right extra ingredient to the Trojans' new, uptempo philosophy.

Aca'Cedric Ware

Another incoming freshman, Aca'Cedric Ware is a 3-star prospect from Cedar Hill, Texas. His 247Sports grades are modest: Aside from nine points for his 6'0", 196-pound frame, Ware scores primarily in the five- or six-point range.

However, it is worth noting that coming out of Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida, Allen was a 3-star signee who flew under the radar on his own team.

X-Factor

In last month's Holiday Bowl, freshman utilityman Adoree' Jackson lined up in the backfield on one play. He subsequently took a short pass from Kessler 71 yards for a touchdown.

Sarkisian said he was looking for more ways to incorporate the explosive Jackson into the offense. Don't expect to see it too often, but just know that Sarkisian has that ace up his sleeve if the moment arises.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com. Recruiting rankings and information via 247Sports composite scores.