USC has featured some of the best running backs in NCAA history, earning its nickname "Tailback U."  From Mike Garrett to Reggie Bush, Trojan running backs have dominated on the gridiron and have the Heisman trophies to prove it.  The heir apparent is senior Stafon Johnson.

Originally from Compton, Johnson was the second-ranked running back coming out of high school according to Scouts.com.  Florida, Miami (FL), UCLA, Georgia and Washington actively recruited him before he decided to join two-time national championship coach Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans.

"I made the right decision to come to USC and play for Coach," Johnson said.
    
Despite lofty expectations, Johnson failed to make the initial impact that many predicted for 2006.  Playing behind veteran backs Chauncey Washington and Emmanuel Moody, Johnson had only three carries on the season and was inactive for most games.  

For the first time in his career, Johnson was relegated to the bench.  Other players may have transferred to a school that would give them playing time, but Johnson decided to remain at USC.

"It was tough to be on the bench, it was the first time in my life that I wasn't playing," Johnson said. "But I knew that if I worked hard and kept at it, good things would happen.  I never got down and although it was tough, it made me a better player and person."

Johnson picked it up in his sophomore campaign.  He was USC's second-leading rusher in 2007 with 673 yards on only 98 carries.  He also had 5 touchdowns on the season.  Johnson said that the defining moment that season was his breakout game against Nebraska when he had nine carries for 144 yards and a touchdown.

"Man, that was sweet," he said.  "It's like, after all the spring and summer practices, it felt like all the hard work paid off that night.  Not only did I run well, we whooped them pretty good."

Johnson's improvement continued through his junior season.   Johnson was USC's leading rusher in 2008 with 705 yards and 9 touchdowns. Johnson said that his personal accomplishments could not change that the season was a major disappointment because of USC's stunning loss to Oregon State.

"We didn't expect that to happen," Johnson said.   He continued by saying USC has "the talent and playmakers to make a strong run and play at the Rose Bowl again this year - this time for the championship."

Heading into his senior season, Johnson expects to be one of the leaders in an experienced backfield.  Along with fellow tailbacks C.J. Gable and Joe McKnight, Johnson is confident that the trio will be the catalysts that get the offense going this upcoming season.

"With a group as talented as we are, it's going to be awful hard to stop us," Johnson said.  "As great as Rojo [wide receiver Ronald Johnson] and Damian are, we, and of course the big guys up front, set the tone for the rest of the offense."

Although he is competing against two of his closest friends on the team in Gable and McKnight, Johnson is confident that he will be able to emerge as the starter.

"You know, it doesn't matter whether me, CJ or Joe is the starter," Johnson said.  "But I want to be the man. I've always been in multi-player backfields, so I'm used to it. But I feel like this is my time to shine."

Johnson says his favorite NFL running back is Washington Redskins star Clinton Portis due to his smooth, yet aggressive running style.  Johnson admires this because "it makes the defender not know what's coming at them and is very deceiving."  

However, longtime friend Jonathan Dotson says that Johnson's style is more reminiscent of a different group of ballcarriers.

"He reminds me more like a Walter Payton or Ricky Williams at Texas," Dotson said as Johnson stood behind him, grinning.  "He has the vision, speed and power to take over a game at any point."

"I like to set the pace like anyone of those guys," Johnson quickly chimed in.  "Everybody else comes off me, I'm the type of person that likes to set the tone.

As competitive as Johnson is on the field, it's his easy-going nature that endears him to teammates and friends off the field.

"Stafon is just a chill guy, always has been." Dotson said.  "Even when he was a kid, Stafon was very competitive with sports but at the same time was humble and treated the game with respect."

Once Dotson, who says Johnson is like his "little brother," moves the conversation to video games - NCAA Football '09 - the conversation gets a bit dicier.

"Stafon says that I'm cheating when I use USC against him, but it doesn't matter. He whoops me anyway," Dotson said.  Not one to take a critique to his gaming skills lightly, Johnson said jokingly that "you can't use the video game me to beat the real me, that's just not cool."

Johnson pointed out that he prefers to play with the University of Missouri's future NFL first-round pick Jeremy Maclin, saying "He's just so damn fast, so it's fun to use him in the game."

Dotson says that even with a small example like video games, "Stafon is humble and grounded that he would never be the type of person would use himself, he's just an all-around good guy."

Though extremely competitive on the field, Johnson can be a prankster off-the- field.  According to his cousin and Trojan Wide Receiver Travon Patterson, Johnson can do a spot-on imitatation of anyone he comes across.  

"Stafon does a mean imitation of Jason Pappas, our advisor at SAS (Student Athlete Services)," Patterson said.   "He makes fun of everybody and can do a dead-on imitation of anyone."

When the conversation shifts to his outlook for Johnson's 2009 campaign, Patterson is "hoping that this is a good year for him and he gets 1,000 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns and has a great senior year."

Responding to Patterson's assessment, Johnson said he only has one goal this season: "I want to do whatever it takes to win a national title," Johnson said.  "Last year, that Oregon State game, man, that still stings.   I'm going to do my part to make sure something like that doesn't happen again."

With a new quarterback and overhauled defense, Stafon Johnson knows that now is his time to put the team on his shoulders in order to lead the Trojans back to the BCS Championship.

"I feel good and this is the most mature I've been since I got here at SC, I've been through a lot since I've been here, so I feel like the veteran on the team that knows the ropes and willing to set an example for everyone else."

This article first appeared on The Sports Union.