Explosive USC freshman RB Quinten Joyner has quietly dominated his touches
Joyner, always a multi-sport athlete in Texas, has capitalized on surprising opportunity through the Trojans’ first three games
RB Quinten Joyner catches pass and runs it in for a score against NEV in the second half at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Before his first appearance in front of the dreaded USC practice field media backdrop, freshman running back Quinten Joyner waited off to the side, quietly consulting Braylan Shelby for advice.
Shelby, himself, was a freshman and had spoken to the media all of one time in his USC career. But he was there waiting after Wednesday’s practice to take questions, too, and so he suddenly became a 6-foot-5, 245-pound confidant. Did they tell you what to say? Shelby asked a visibly nervous Joyner.
“Just talk about the team,” Shelby told him, offering some words of encouragement.
About a half hour later, when told via phone call of the observed exchange, Joyner’s father Quincy cackled.
“That sounds just like him,” Quincy said, in between bouts of laughter. “That’s what he does. He’s a smart kid, but it just seems like he doesn’t want to mess up or anything.”
And indeed, in Joyner’s first availability, the young running back approached questions as if they were trying to tackle him. Pausing, scrunching his face, setting sentences down and picking them back up. Gulping a couple of times.
“I don’t know,” Joyner (21) told reporters when asked what made him hard to bring down. “The defensive players take me down all the time in practice. Y’all will have to tell me.”
This, forever, has been the first thing to know about Joyner, father Quincy said: the kid is shy. Nonchalant. Been that way since Little League and youth Friday Night Lights down in Manor, Texas, where folks always laughed at his lack of reaction after touchdowns. Been that way through USC, where Quincy said his biggest challenge is simply opening up to coaches in a new environment.
In junior high, Joyner’s team wanted him to play quarterback, Quincy said. Didn’t happen. Couldn’t happen: you need to be vocal to be a quarterback. Younger brother Quintaelyn Joyner took that mantle, and Joyner shifted to running back.
It was a pretty good decision for his future at USC, where off-the-field shyness has proved no match for Joyner’s physicality and quickness. He’s racked up the second-most rushing yards on the team (113) through three games of garbage time, scoring his first touchdown against Nevada with a next-level burst.
“Quinten’s gonna be really good,” receiver Mario Williams said after the Nevada game. “He’s very physical. Explosive.”
That physicality – a wiry 205 pounds, with strong thighs and hamstrings – came from ruthless training with Quincy ever since Joyner was little. At 4 years old, his father had him doing drills pulling a 30-pound sled 100 yards. At 5 years old, he was jumping for 100 yards with a medicine ball.
Why, pray tell, did Quincy push him that hard?
“’Cause he was 1 year old, and he always had a ball in his hand,” Quincy said.
And indeed, Joyner grew up playing football – and also baseball and basketball and running track (to make no mention of fishing, where Quincy said he caught a 42-inch shark while deep-sea fishing at 10 years old). When Joyner hit high school, his dad realized he’d messed up. The kid didn’t want to give anything up.
So for two years at Manor, it was football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball and track in the spring.
“He was interested,” Quincy remembered of his young son, “in every ball he got.”
After choosing football led to USC, adjusting to a complex Lincoln Riley offense he called “trouble at first,” Joyner has gotten the ball an unexpected number of times. Backing up transfer MarShawn Lloyd and returner Austin Jones, there was never a plan for Joyner to redshirt, Quincy said, but both father and son were surprised by this.
“They told me everything that I could be,” Joyner said Wednesday of his running back room, “and I just trusted in them.”
ocregister.com
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USC suspends reporter for violating policies after he wrote about an alleged player conversation at a USC practice USC suspended Orange County Register reporter Luca Evans for two weeks after Lincoln Riley claims he violated USC’s media guidelines Ryan Young (Yahoo Sports) — Orange County Register and SCNG reporter Luca Evans had his access to the team suspended after head coach Lincoln Riley apparently took issue with a story Evans published last week (which was republished here on the TDB on Sept. 16 under the title Big Things Expected of Shy Quinten Joyner) about freshman running back Quinten Joyner. USC… Read more »
Rule got broken, young reporter has to suffer consequences. I am sure he knew the rules before he ran the story. If Riley lets it slide then all the reporters will do the same thing. Thats the way it goes. Lesson learned.
Get used to the new sheriff. Former one would have offered milk and cookies and asked him not to do it again, please.
College football rates players by games. Why not rate them by minutes played? Caleb is killing it compared to other QB’s if they look at his playing time.
Great news, Mich St is looking for a new coach. Imagine having a 95 million dollar contract. All he had to do was coach football. Why would someone lose all that over phone sex.
I don’t know who Tuckers agent is, but I’m sure he is thoroughly pissed at Tucker.
He’s on the phone to Tuscaloosa whoever he is!
Neil Cornrich (NC SPORTS, LLC), a huge heavy hitter, is Mel Tucker’s agent. Cornrich is also an entrepreneur who has a net worth of at least $50 million. Cornrich was born in Beachwood, Ohio. He graduated from The University of Michigan and earned his law degree from Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University. Cornrich also represents coaches and management in college football and the NFL including Bill Belichick, Bob Stoops, Bill O’Brien, Mike Vrabel, and Kirk Ferentz, to name a few. He’s also represented at one time or another Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul. He also lectures… Read more »
this guy is brilliant getting these outrageous contracts for Tucker and Ferentz, even lazy Stoops.
I took a look at the national college football stats. What gets me is Caleb in right up there with everyone else, but he has only played the equivalent of two games, where everyone else is at 3, and Hartman is at 4. I hope Riley starts leaving him in longer to get his stats up to where even the haters cannot vote against him for the 2nd Heisman.
In read ttat Penix also has sat out quite a bit.
Is Prime Going To Take This Personal Too?
At ORE’s 2023 media day, Duck HC Dan Lanning was asked about the CU Buffalo move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 and his reaction when he found out about it.
“Not a big reaction, I’m trying to remember what they won to affect this conference when they were part of it,” Lanning said. “I don’t remember.”
There’s only ONE Coach O
https://twitter.com/i/status/1703873328706945479
😂
Fantastic. Gotta love coach O.
Coke and psycho doesn’t work long at your age O … he is making Suckisian look sober
Lighten up, Frances.
Don’t get me started on Pete’s F ed up old assistants … O had his place at SC. But now lol just a 60+ year old coke head
I don’t know what they sell, but I am looking to buy it. Love Coach O!
Excerpt from a well-circulated article by J. Brady McCollough (LAT) on Lane Kiffin’s infamous LAX Tarmac firing nearly 10 years ago LAT — Early on the morning of Sept. 29, 2013, USC was where Lane Kiffin thought he was headed when the Trojans landed at LAX after a tough loss at Arizona State — back to campus with his team. But assistant athletic director J.K. McKay asked Kiffin to get off the idling bus. “I kind of pride myself on not being naive,” Kiffin says, “but even when J.K. said ‘We need you to come off the bus,’ I still… Read more »
Should had never hired the toxic piece of crap … or fired him after he quit on his team in the Sun Bowl. Lol on tough loss to ASU, Goatboy got rocked and only saving face at the end vs ASU scrubs kept it within 50.
Boy you are a real hater of 7 Win Sark and Kiffy. You got to admit they sure resurrected their careers big time. They don’t do that on good looks alone.
Those homily creeps lol … better thank Saban for letting them mooch off his talented teams and that kick back bribing agent Jimmy Sexton for pulling them out of the gutter again. Both will get fired,that’s what they do best.
I would argue that in hindsight, Kiffy and Sark were much better for SC than the hopeless pit of despair that Clueless Clay drove our Trojan chariot into at breakneck speed.
Clay is completely where he belongs at GA SO, and his team’s error-filled meltdown vs WIS was a predictable example of his tortured tenure at USC. No attention to detail. I’m sure hoping Kiffin and Jaxson Dart find a way to take down Saban and ALA this weekend in Tuscaloosa. While the Tide’s almost a TD fave, without a decent QB, they are so ripe. #5 ranked USC’s influence and footprints seem to run everywhere as always. Sark now coaches the #3 team in the country and many project him to play either #1 GA, #2 MICH, or #5 USC… Read more »
Suck is one stumble or snort from getting tossed out of Texas … Saban loses to Goatboy and Suck in same year lol, sure sign it’s time to quit
What very few teams were able to do to Saban and Bama (knock them off their perch), it seems like the transfer portal and NIL are doing. Our very own Bear story shows that these blue chippers who don’t take to life in Tuscaloosa or Athens won’t hesitate to seek greener pastures. Without an eligibility penalty, and with potential coin to be made, it’s not too hard of a decision to make.
Just posted by “bets” for the week. I like it that CO State lost to CO, because the Rams played very physical but also I thought dirty physical ball; it is one thing to be in a brawl; it is another thing to be in a bar fight with a dirty fighter. I think, however, the Rams exposed the Buffs, much like Utah exposed SC in SLC last year. The SC/Utah game last year with a true brawl (very physical but clean) and the SC D never recovered. Prior to Utah, the SC D played opportunistic and decent D, after… Read more »
Kickoff times & TV selections for week 5
Wow! Utah gets UCLA (very tough team) followed by a short week to play the Beavers in Corvallis. Brutal schedule. They will need Rising to beat the Beavs. They can beat the Bruins in SLC without him; but no way they beat the Beavs in Corvallis without him. If Rising is not 100%, I would not play him against a very tough UCLA D.
Just read Fox Big Noon Kickoff will be back in Boulder for the USC-Colorado game. SC had to agree to the early start to get on Big Noon. Breakfast burrito and mimosas for this one.
9:00am! That smells like a trap.
I love it! What a way to start the day. USC’s first good opponent with Big Noon Kickoff handling all the pregame.
Both the Trojans and the Buffs will be higher than kites above Boulder, even if the Buffs lose to ORE. I would give them a lot better chance if they had elite WR/CB Travis Hunter on the field.
While bye-rested #5 USC is stuck with playing lame-duck disaster ASU (just shut out by FRESNO ST at home for the first time since 1988) in Tempe at 7:30 pm PT (Fox) this week, there are several other terrific matchups between ranked teams (including six from the Pac-12) on the slate for Saturday.
1 #9 ND at #6 OHIO ST
2 #15 OLE MISS at #13 ALA
3 #19 CU at #10 ORE
4 #4 FSU at #23 CLEM
5 #22 UCLA at #11 UTAH
6 #24 IOWA at #7 PSU
7 #14 ORE ST at #21 WSU
Yes, a very good menu of games, especially 1-5.
WR Puka Nacua (already has a record-tying 19 receptions in his first two NFL games) is having a great game for the Rams who are tied with the Niners 17-17 in the 3rd Q.
Nacua went to HS in Utah and was at one time committed to USC before eventually heading to UW, then transferring to BYU after a foot injury. He’s a very tricky WR who I felt had some of the best HS WR tape I had ever seen when he was a prep. Great to see him land with the Rams and doing so well.
You were always a big Puka fan! Turns out you were correct.
You have a very good memory RJJ … Never easy to slip anything by you!
At least for the present! I love an statement attributed to Arnold Beckman (the engineer and scientist who founded Beckman Instruments). He lived to be 104. He told a friend after he turned 100, that he had lost his short term memory but his long term memory was fine. So, they could visit but he would not remember if for a couple of days!
Coaches Poll Top 25 rankings First-place votes in parentheses
Not sure why the Overated State University is ahead of us but these polls usually don’t mean much.
The AP voters will always go with what is trendy. 3 of the 4 teams ahead of USC all struggled. Had USC played and had another great game the top 4 would be different. Except for the east coast bias of course.
Did they see the Fla St vs BC game ??????????
Maybe they can’t get out of their mind how USC’s D looked in the opener against SJS, our so-called “practice game”.
Think about it though. It’s totally crazy how the Pac-12 is doing in this year of final dissolution… and that USC plays #8, 9, 10, 11,19, 21, and 22.
I’ve never seen a schedule as remotely difficult as USC’s. And I’m trying not to exaggerate.
SC still hasn’t played anybody yet and they don’t play 21. 19 and 22 will out of the top 25 and 9 will be knocked down some in a week.
Still 8,9,10,11 is quite a gauntlet of games.
I’d say the exact same thing even though USC doesn’t play WSU.
what …. have you seen Georgia’s schedule 🤣
Surprised Colorado held their place, guess a win is a win. Colorado and SUCLA will gone in a week. The Pac2 Championship game, next Saturday! Now I may be wrong but didn’t #25 beat #23 less than 24 hours ago?
I’m not surprised about CU at all.
Prime’s miracle comeback (against a hated rival no less, with two weeks to prepare) was just another example of his magic this year.
I realize Prime rubs some people the wrong way.
But watching his team come back and amazingly drive the entire length of the field with only one minute left, score the two-pointer to push to overtime, and then win it, was a clutch performance I will never forget.
He doesn’t rub me the wrong way he’s a great motivator, make the most of the spotlight when it shines on you. Sucked me in to betting on him last night! The glitz will be off The Buffs after Oregon and USC get done with them.
I disagree. Prime doesn’t have to beat either ORE in Eugene, or USC at home to prove that he’s done a better job at CU during this time than any other coach in the country could have in his position. I’ve always expected him to lose to ORE and USC. And now he’s lost superstar game changer Travis Hunter. But I never expected him to be ranked #19 in both polls in week 4, and I don’t know anyone else who did either. So I don’t see CU’s glitz disappearing as you do, especially since he’s lining himself up for… Read more »
I would say LR did better in his first year, week 3 last year USC was ranked #7 in the AP and #8 in Coaches Polls. Prime will not have a NC contender next year like Riley has now. You could say LR had an advantage at USC v Colorado but I would still take him over DS.
I never said I would take Primetime over LR, and I’m sorry if I suggested that. I like LR at USC. Always have. Hope he retires here. He’s been a true godsend.
But Primetime took over a total dogshit, irrelevant program that nobody cared about anymore, if ever.
LR took over an all-time Elite 5 program, the big-time darling of Western U.S. football all my life. Most of us projected an immediate 9 reg season wins minimum.
The situations weren’t even remotely comparable IMO. At least that’s how I see it.
UPDATED – 9/17/23 – FINAL RESULTS OF WEEK 3 WAGERS
Chris 24000Golden Trojan 23000Illinois Trojan 22000Rock2112 21000Troy5543 21000M/M Steveg 20500Satyrdancer 20500TrojanRJJ 19500DubPar22 19000BUS83 10000Rialto Trojan 7000Click this link to see the final individual accounting: WEEK 3 RESULTS
Hindsight is a bitch. Never trust Helton even when starts out well. I’m not sad to loose the Colorado game though.
How much should USC move up in the polls? Everyone looks vulnerable, so maybe the top five won’t change.
One thing for sure, The Trojans next 2 opponents look vulnerable.
I think ASU fans detest Herm Edwards now more than USC people disliked The Cat.
Edwards sure did a number on the Sun Devils, putting them on a self-imposed bowl ban and whatever else the NCAA decides to do to them, along with a huge nothing burger as far as players go.
It’s looking like we can roll ASU, but I hope Riley doesn’t take his foot of the gas for the rest of the season. I love garbage time and seeing players get in a game, but I also love rubbing the PAC’s nose in it.
STAN lost to SAC ST in Palo Alto 30-23. Ouch. The hits keep coming.
those snobs don’t care…. Suck it, Indians!
Unbelievable clutch plays by CSU. Bye bye CU. Humble Pie City.
Primetime might wish he had some downtime after this (miracle comeback)!
These 2 teams REALLY do not like each other much do they ?
Is that an UH-OH Turnover by Colorado St. there ? ( And can the Buffs take advantage of it ?).
CO St linemen, RB and TE are built more like buffalos than the Buffs are.
Lets see if Prime can make some half time adjustments. Right now his team is all HAT/SUNGLASSES and no cattle! I expected a lot more from the Buffs, guess I got sucked in by the hype. Liking SC chances in 2 weeks.
Has anyone ever thought CU was going to beat USC and its amazing offense in Boulder? I don’t think so. The Buffs D looks like USC’s did last year so far.
Hope Travis Hunter isn’t seriously injured. Looked bad. He’s at a hospital.
Final TEXAS 31 – WYO 10
If Okie doesn’t beat Suck … that pile of garbage might win out, a lot of home games Of course he is Suckisian, so he could just as easily lose 4 games too
OU could put a giant crimp in Sark’s career on Oct. 7 in the Cotton Bowl. But the rest of TEXAS’ reg season opponents don’t look tough enough to harm a fly.
KU is tied with NEV 10-10 midway through the 3rd.
All sizzle no steak. Colorado is a.500 team.
Buffs coming back down to earth this evening. I don’t see this team giving SC much trouble.
In Texas it is All hat, no cattle.
Wyoming won’t win but they sure made Texas look bad. That is one very well coached team.
ASU looks pathetic against Fresno. Don’t expect much next week for an exciting game. Fresno QB looks like he really knows how to play. Excellent passing game. Probably the 2nd best QB I have seen this season. CW #1
I’ll have to watch the replay of that one.
Jeff Tedford can coach some huh
Colorado State came to play. Not to shabby of a start.
Great game so far. Couldn’t ask for a more exciting start.
Yes, looks like it’s going to be a fun one.
Buffs don’t look very physical to me.
Colorado is a 23 point favorite? Not looking like it yet.
And TX up only 10-7 in 3rd. Hmm. Some big dogs struggling this week.
1st and G Cowboys … maybe they fire Suckisian this week lol
IMO, Just from the ol eye test, we are by far the best offense in the country and it’s not close. I have yet to watch Washington play, but all others in top 10 do not compare.
Huskies toss it around … but run game is weak
Bama 17-3. Those guys don’t have a qb like they’ve had for what seems like forever.
‘Bama hasn’t looked like this since I can remember. Nick Saban’s hair post-game is looking like he’s trying to pull it out or something. Must be insanely frustrated.
I think Lane Kiffin’s gonna take Saban down next Saturday. If not now, when?
Saban loses time Suck and Goatboy in same year …. it’s time to retire
imagine that
And he rehabbed them both. No good deed goes unpunished.
hahaha …thank you agent Jimmy Sexton those two creepy frauds owe Pete Carroll every dollar those pigs steal
Don’t look now, but unranked SO CAR leads #1 GA 14-3 with one minute left in the 1st half.
If So. Car could catch a football they might have done something.
Primetime: $1M in Sunglasses Sold
Deion Sanders claims to be cashing in big on Jay Norvell’s totally obtuse statement about how Prime was raised.
That this game has gotten “personal” for the Buffs is the understatement of the year.
I cannot wait to see the ‘handshake’ at the end of the game.
On Big Noon Kickoff, Prime stared straight into the camera without sunglasses or his big white cowboy hat to show the look Jay Norvell would be receiving.
It reminded me of a determined Ben Stiller in his Blue Steel face. Very funny.
Prime is going to get a big taste of reality at Oregon and vs USC w/ 30k SC fans in the stands …
I don’t expect Prime to beat either highly-ranked ORE in Eugene or USC at home.
It would be almost ludicrous for that to instantly happen with 70 new players and a crap tradition team that’s been seriously bad for nearly 25 years.
But what he’s done in his first two games and the pure passion he’s managed to build at a life support school still stands as an unbelievable accomplishment and I predict he’ll do a lot more damage before this season is over and probably make a bowl game, maybe even a good one.
Sunglasses anyone?
On a bye week USC moves up in AP POLL .
Gotta happen.
BC …..18 freakin penalties ….. In one game ! …..SMH !
THANK YOU CLAY HELTON! Up 14-7 over the Badgers, gives up 28 unanswered points to lose 35-14 and Wisconsin covers! 6 turnovers for the Eagles. Classic Clay Helton, has to call a time out on offense coming out of the quarter break, at the start of the 4th.
For a second, Clay was a contender.
Just like the BC coach Jeff Hafley, who also couldn’t stand success today.
Allen, I did not see any change in Clay’s team. It is talented but lacks discipline. Have no idea how GA Southern will do in the Sun Belt League.
They were terrific in the 1st half, then went up 14-7, and WIS looked like pure crap. Too good to be true.
If FL ST was a true #3 they would have beaten BC by 30 points at least.
GT, The talent difference between GA St and WI did not appear to me to be that great. WI had a superior OL and RBs, GA St. has superior WRs and QB. Typical Clay coached team – lacked discipline and attention to details. Gave up 6 turn overs and made critical mistakes. WI covered.
If Wisconsin is typical of the Big 10, USC will be one of the top 3 teams each season, with LR.
No question. There will be four teams in the B1G, USC, tOHS, MI, and Penn St. Then there is everyone else. ucla will feel right at home with Northwestern.
UCLA will score more than qb less Big 10 teams and win some games
The Cat’s trademark: Sloppy football at its finest. Remember those days?!
This game brought back those bad memories. I could watch GSU just to thank God he’s not our coach!
Someone, please come up with an utterly stupid-looking Clay staring out to midfield with an Eagles cap on.
He had that look all day!😂
Did you watch the whole game? How are you now, you okay?
I DVR’d it and skipped to the highlights, it was ugly at first. Just watching CH on the sidelines got me squeamish, popped some TUMS, I’m OK now. 🙂
In a year or two Gomer will have that team looking like a bunch of dbs like he did at USC
I had thought about watching Georgia Southern but decided I didn’t want to get depressed with Helton again.
It was stomach turning watching him on the sideline.
I’m sure Clay will tell everyone how proud he was that they battled.
OMG. So true. The “warrior” routine. May it rest in peace for us Trojans..
No matter what Fla St was AT LEAST a 25 point Favorite in this game …..They GOTTA drop in the AP Poll.
BC can easily win this game. Whether they will? You know how so many of these big fave games end up with just a skin-of-your teeth win.
Fla state just gave up a bad ….bad play on 3rd down .
Disgusting and pitiful coverage by BC.
4:43 left ………. BC getting ball back down 2 points .
If the mobility of the BC QB gives Fla St headaches Imagine what Caleb would do ?
FSU only leads going nowhere BC 31-29 with 5 mins to go and the ‘Noles have the ball on their own 20 with 4:37 to go. Come on BC. Kick a FG, and hold ’em. Shock the world.
Florida St doesn’t look like a #3 team today.
31-29 game Florida State still winning 5:19 left in game .
7 minutes left BC has a chance to make it a 2 point game vs Florida State.
Florida State looks beatable .
Per Fan Duel (right now at least) Fla St QB is ranked #3 in Heisman Race .
Florida State QB is Down .
Oh well …..BC trying to set a record this season ? ….. Most Penalties in one season ?
3rd and 15 on their own 5 yard line ….. BC QB SCRAMBLES for 45 yards !!!!!
Something strange has overcome me.
I find myself actually rooting for Clay Helton and GA SO to beat WIS.
Frankly, the Badgers look very pedestrian. Maybe they made the wrong hire in Luke Fickell, who seemed like a real possibility as the next Trojan coach for a while.
It’s 7-7 with about 9 mins to go in the 1st half. The lesser-talented Eagles look better than I thought a Helton-coached team would, despite their QB throwing two picks.
Allen, I suggest you seek medical attention quickly.
Do you know of any good football doctors out there?
It doesn’t take an expert to be alarmed by any good will towards the Cat who fleeced the Swannie. Dumpty Clay took ten years of success away from the Trojans. No Allen. If Helton was on fire I don’t think I would pee on him to extinguish the flames.
I think WI was built to be a 3 yards and a cloud of dust team and it will take a while to turn that talent around to what Fickell wants to do. You have more courage than I do to watch a Helton team.
10-10 Game BC / Fla St . ….I’ll hand it to Fla St Fans ….. They travel well …..A fair amount of Fla St. Fans in attendance in Boston (And on a Crappy weather day).