Junior from Moorpark High leads the nation in receiving and is on pace for the second-best season by a USC receiver
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — In the first half of USC’s loss to Oregon State, Trojan receiver Drake London was hit along the USC sideline. In an effort to bring down the 6-foot-5, 210-pound London, the Oregon State defender yanked at London’s face mask and ripped his helmet clean off.
When London hopped up off the field, his eyes went wide as he stuck his tongue out and shook his head back and forth in one of the most meme-able moments of the college football season.
“To be honest, I couldn’t even tell you what I was doing at that point,” London said. “Whatever comes on in my head at that time comes on in my head and I just kind of go with it. That was what I was feeling at the time and I feel like I needed to let him know who the boss was, and I did that.”
London has left little doubt about his own status this season. Through four games, the junior receiver is leading the nation in receptions (39) and receiving yards (540). He is tops with nine contested tackles, second with 11 forced missed tackles and has given USC a first down 22 times.
His performance thus far could lead to him joining Marqise Lee as the only USC players to win the Fred Biletnikoff Award, presented annually since 1994 to the most outstanding receiver in college football.
“He’s a beast,” USC interim head coach Donte Williams said. “From Day 1 before the season even started, I said, ‘That’s the Biletnikoff winner.’”
And London could make his case for one of the best seasons in USC history, too. He’s currently on pace to finish second in program history in receptions and receiving yards for a single season. Lee set both records with 118 receptions and 1,721 yards in 2012.
“I think that’s the standard when you come here, especially as a wide receiver,” London said of joining the list of elite USC receivers. “It’s definitely been thought about and I think it’s definitely in the works.”
With London’s increased success has come increased attention from defenses. He tried to absorb early in his career how Michael Pittman Jr. dealt with double teams, and London has gotten some late hits and contact after the whistle as defenses try to take him off his game.
But London is taking that in stride, too, with his increased confidence.
“I wouldn’t say necessarily punishment to me — I think it’s punishment to them,” London said. “I feel like when somebody tries to hit me I want to make them feel me and next time think about if they want to hit me or not. That’s my whole mentality.”
BRIEFLY
USC cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart (lower leg) is expected to play against Colorado on Saturday despite not practicing Tuesday or Wednesday, Williams said in his Thursday press conference.
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Seems everyone is playing for themselves now that the football program will go thru a drastic change after the season is finished. What was acceptable yesterday will no longer be good enough when the new HC cleans house. What must the coaching staff be contemplating knowing most or all will be gone in two more months. The inevitable of all this has to have an effect where what there is on this team that still works is all there will be. Helton had to be pushed out the door and the team must hold on until the end of the… Read more »
Dont know what happened to Harrells air raid.
It started off with a bang.
Then the second year not so good.
And this year they have more than figured it out.
What happened?
“Timing. Timing is a thing it’s true…” as the song goes, and the timing between the quarterbacks and wideouts cannot develop properly because the offensive line cannot buy sufficient time for Slovis.
CU is averaging only 13.8 points per game, which is tied for 127th in the nation.
The Buffaloes enter the game a 7 1/2-point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. They’re 0-7 at home against the Trojans, including a 2019 game in which QB Kedon Slovis helped the Trojans rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 35-31 win. Slovis had 406 yds and four TDs on that chilly night.
London presents an unusual problem for USC. He’s the best overall USC player in my opinion so I like to see him with the ball in his hands as much as possible. But too much concentration on London sets him up for greater risk of injury, and reduces everyone else’s touches. I’d defend London by doubling him on every play and daring USC to run or throw the ball to another receiver. And the other receivers are all just average in USC’s Air Raid experiment, which unfortunately just didn’t work out by a mile. Maybe that would even help USC,… Read more »
I would imagine that some films on how other teams played Lee and how the USC team responded would be helpful in getting the ball to London this season even in double coverage. If Slovis doesn’t throw to London he risks the chance of dropped passes. The advantage London has is that he is such a huge target I am sure the qb’s cannot resist throwing to him.
Well said Allen. It’s the soft D that concerns me the most. I knew we were in for lean times when Hugs hired a guy who had been fired from Texas. Heck, der Fueher Folt was let go by UNC. It just make me SMH that Caruso and the BOT would not have made a better choice for President.
Do we really know this is all Folt’s fault? It seems like Teflon Caruso is the guy who really calls the shots. And assuming Folt said no to Urban Meyer (unless that is all just speculation), why should she be blamed for the demise of USC football just because she roadblocked one guy? The truth is, it seems to me, that A LOT of USC people over several years are to blame for where the Trojans sit now in the CFB universe. In fact, Reggie Bush was the guy who started this all in the first place. He was the… Read more »
London has left little doubt about his own status this season. Through four games, the junior receiver is leading the nation in receptions (39) and receiving yards (540). He is tops with nine contested tackles, second with 11 forced missed tackles and has given USC a first down 22 times.
Seems everyone is playing for themselves now that the football program will go thru a drastic change after the season is finished. What was acceptable yesterday will no longer be good enough when the new HC cleans house. What must the coaching staff be contemplating knowing most or all will be gone in two more months. The inevitable of all this has to have an effect where what there is on this team that still works is all there will be. Helton had to be pushed out the door and the team must hold on until the end of the… Read more »
This concentrating on one player plays into the hands of opponents, and also makes for boring football. Spread the pigskin around.
Dont know what happened to Harrells air raid.
It started off with a bang.
Then the second year not so good.
And this year they have more than figured it out.
What happened?
“Timing. Timing is a thing it’s true…” as the song goes, and the timing between the quarterbacks and wideouts cannot develop properly because the offensive line cannot buy sufficient time for Slovis.
It has never changed. You know exactly what is going to happen based on where the running back is.
CU is averaging only 13.8 points per game, which is tied for 127th in the nation.
The Buffaloes enter the game a 7 1/2-point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. They’re 0-7 at home against the Trojans, including a 2019 game in which QB Kedon Slovis helped the Trojans rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 35-31 win. Slovis had 406 yds and four TDs on that chilly night.
Yahoo.com
He needs longer arms to catch the balls thrown behind him.
London presents an unusual problem for USC. He’s the best overall USC player in my opinion so I like to see him with the ball in his hands as much as possible. But too much concentration on London sets him up for greater risk of injury, and reduces everyone else’s touches. I’d defend London by doubling him on every play and daring USC to run or throw the ball to another receiver. And the other receivers are all just average in USC’s Air Raid experiment, which unfortunately just didn’t work out by a mile. Maybe that would even help USC,… Read more »
I would imagine that some films on how other teams played Lee and how the USC team responded would be helpful in getting the ball to London this season even in double coverage. If Slovis doesn’t throw to London he risks the chance of dropped passes. The advantage London has is that he is such a huge target I am sure the qb’s cannot resist throwing to him.
Well said Allen. It’s the soft D that concerns me the most. I knew we were in for lean times when Hugs hired a guy who had been fired from Texas. Heck, der Fueher Folt was let go by UNC. It just make me SMH that Caruso and the BOT would not have made a better choice for President.
Wonder if they got her at a cheap price? That has always been USC’S method of hiring football HC’s, being cheap.
Do we really know this is all Folt’s fault? It seems like Teflon Caruso is the guy who really calls the shots. And assuming Folt said no to Urban Meyer (unless that is all just speculation), why should she be blamed for the demise of USC football just because she roadblocked one guy? The truth is, it seems to me, that A LOT of USC people over several years are to blame for where the Trojans sit now in the CFB universe. In fact, Reggie Bush was the guy who started this all in the first place. He was the… Read more »
The point I was trying to make is that USC has a habit of picking up “also rans”, not only in sports but also the Administration.