ASU Football: USC players to watch

The Arizona State Sun Devils will look to bounce back after two straight losses when they took on the USC Trojans in Los Angeles on Saturday. The Trojans have been filled with injuries, but there’s still plenty of players to watch for.

Running backs redshirt sophomore Vavae Malepeai, senior Aca’ Cedric Ware and sophomore Stephen Carr — Ware and Carr have combined for 131 carries and 677 yards this season. They are used more between 20s, while Malepeai is used at the goal-line. Ware and Carr have four touchdowns, while Malepeai has seven touchdowns on just 41 carries.

Junior wide receiver Michael Pittman — Pittman is third on the team in receptions with 20 behind both Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tyler Vaughns. However, Pittman’s receptions have a bigger impact, he leads the team in yards and averages 23 yards per catch. Pittman also has four touchdowns this season with three of them coming in the past two games. Pittman is 6-foot-4, he’ll be a test for cornerback Chase Lucas, who has struggled against larger wide receivers the past two games.

Senior linebacker Cameron Smith — Smith has battled a hamstring injury the past few weeks, and is questionable for Saturday’s game. Despite missing the past two games against Colorado and Utah, Smith still leads the Trojans in tackles. Getting Smith back would help a Trojans defense out, that lost their sack-leader Porter Gustin, to a season-ending ankle injury.