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USC Running Back King Miller Named Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week
October 14, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC running back King Miller earned Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week honors for his performance in USC's decisive 31-13 victory over No. 15 Michigan in front of a sold out crowd in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday (Oct. 11).Â
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The Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football.
This is the fourth honor this week for Miller, who also earned Big Ten Freshman Football Player of the Week, Paul Hornung National Player of the Week and the Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week.
Miller impacted Saturday's game in a variety of ways. He touched the ball 22 times rushing, receiving and returning kicks and scored once. Miller carried the ball 18 times for a career-high 158 yards, scored on a 15-yard run in the third quarter that put the game out of reach and accounted for 8 first downs from scrimmage, including 6 on scoring drives. He caught 2 passes for 14 yards and returned 2 kickoffs for 45 yards.
He finished with 217 all-purpose yards, proving to be a true difference maker for USC and one of the nation's top-performing freshmen this week.
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His 158 rushing yards were more than any team has rushed against Michigan all year. Additionally, his 158 rushing yards are believed to be the most rushing yards by a Trojan walk-on since at least the 1970s.
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His 158 rushing yards were the most rushing yards by a USC running back versus a ranked opponent since 2017 (Ronald Jones II, 194 versus No. 23 Arizona).
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In Week 7, Miller led the Big Ten in yards per attempt (8.8) and yards after contact (98).Â
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Miller, who was given his name "King" because he was born on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is the first USC walk-on to score a TD since TB Jess Holguin scored on a 7-yard run versus California in 1994 (61-0 win).Â
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He has scored a rushing TD in 3 of the 5 games he has played this season, and his 49-yard third quarter run was a career-long and his third career run of 40-plus yards.
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The Trojans travel to South Bend, Ind. this weekend to challenge Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m. PT.
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The Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football.
This is the fourth honor this week for Miller, who also earned Big Ten Freshman Football Player of the Week, Paul Hornung National Player of the Week and the Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week.
Miller impacted Saturday's game in a variety of ways. He touched the ball 22 times rushing, receiving and returning kicks and scored once. Miller carried the ball 18 times for a career-high 158 yards, scored on a 15-yard run in the third quarter that put the game out of reach and accounted for 8 first downs from scrimmage, including 6 on scoring drives. He caught 2 passes for 14 yards and returned 2 kickoffs for 45 yards.
He finished with 217 all-purpose yards, proving to be a true difference maker for USC and one of the nation's top-performing freshmen this week.
Â
His 158 rushing yards were more than any team has rushed against Michigan all year. Additionally, his 158 rushing yards are believed to be the most rushing yards by a Trojan walk-on since at least the 1970s.
Â
His 158 rushing yards were the most rushing yards by a USC running back versus a ranked opponent since 2017 (Ronald Jones II, 194 versus No. 23 Arizona).
Â
In Week 7, Miller led the Big Ten in yards per attempt (8.8) and yards after contact (98).Â
Â
Miller, who was given his name "King" because he was born on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is the first USC walk-on to score a TD since TB Jess Holguin scored on a 7-yard run versus California in 1994 (61-0 win).Â
Â
He has scored a rushing TD in 3 of the 5 games he has played this season, and his 49-yard third quarter run was a career-long and his third career run of 40-plus yards.
Â
The Trojans travel to South Bend, Ind. this weekend to challenge Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m. PT.
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