Markese Stepp's best game at USC was probably against Notre Dame in 2019, when he had 82 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Nebraska added a transfer Tuesday in former USC running back Markese Stepp. Three takes on the decision of the 6-foot, 235-pounder.
1. A downhill bruiser with the frame of Dedrick Mills. Stepp, who has three seasons left of eligibility, only had 505 career rushing yards in three years with the Trojans, but that’s because of several reasons. He was banged up at times, USC had a lot of good backs and the hiring of offensive coordinator Graham Harrell brought an Air Raid offense that diminished the role of running backs. At Nebraska, Stepp will be in an offense that promotes a downhill run game (when Scott Frost commits to it) and can use him out of the backfield. The best snapshot of what Stepp can do is found in a YouTube film series on Stepp’s play at Notre Dame in 2019, when he rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. USC’s offense somewhat resembles Nebraska’s at times, and fans will see Stepp is a straightforward bowling ball who does very little dancing. In other words, he looks a lot like Mills, with perhaps a little less speed and a little more nimbleness. Stepp also knows how to run in an offense like this. Understands the tracks of a zone play, knows how to run out of the shotgun, all that. He won’t need a nine-month learning curve.
2. So what about Mills? He’s moving on to the NFL. Nebraska wishes him well, and may have wished for him to return, but it was unlikely all along. Stepp’s eligibility is important with Mills leaving, because the Huskers don’t have a ton of experienced options. The bottom line: Nebraska needs more out of its running backs.
3. The production can’t end with Stepp. Nope. Especially when he had a season-ending ankle injury in 2019. NU needs two backs, preferably three, and it’s needed pronto. Mills was banged up for roughly half of NU’s games this season — missing two entirely — and the Huskers’ answer to his absence was often Wan’Dale Robinson, whom they no longer have. Whether it’s Marvin Scott, Ronald Thompkins, Rahmir Johnson, Sevion Morrison or the incoming Gabe Ervin, NU has to find another reliable, consistent, healthy back.
Our best Husker football photos of 2020
An employee releases red balloons among the fan cutouts after Nebraska scored its first touchdown against Penn State.
Memorial Stadium was mostly empty for every Nebraska home game this season. Attendance was restricted to select family and friends of players, coaches and staff.
Luke McCaffrey throws a complete pass while getting hit by Penn State's Fred Hansard. McCaffrey is naturally right-handed.
Luke McCaffrey and Scott Frost celebrate their win over Penn State.
The ball floats between Myles Farmer and Penn State receiver Parker Washington, though Farmer was called for pass interference on this play.
A red balloon floats by Connor Culp as he waits to kick off after a touchdown against Illinois.
Cam Taylor-Britt saves a touchdown by hitting Illinois' Chase Brown just short of the end zone.
Dicaprio Bootle slides into the wall after Illinois' Josh Imatorbhebhe beat him for a touchdown catch.
Wyatt Liewer and Dedrick Mills celebrate Liewer's touchdown against Purdue. It was the walk-on receiver's first career touchdown.
Adrian Martinez completed 23 of 30 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown against Purdue. That was the second game he started after losing the job to Luke McCaffrey for two games.
Cam Taylor-Britt breaks up a pass intended for Purdue's David Bell. This acrobatic play helped seal the Husker win.
Adrian Martinez runs with Minnesota's Tyler Nubin hanging on behind. Martinez ran for a team-high 96 yards in that game, but the Huskers lost, 24-17.
Luke McCaffrey looks to throw a pass against Illinois. That was one of two games the redshirt freshman quarterback started.
Nebraska fans attempt to distract Iowa kicker Keith Duncan into missing a field goal. It didn't work, though. Duncan made four of five field goals in a 26-20 Hawkeye victory.
Austin Allen needed every inch of his 6-foot-8 frame to pull in this pass against Iowa. The junior tight end enjoyed a career-best season with 18 catches for 236 yards and a touchdown.
Nebraska safety Deontai Williams trips up Iowa receiver Tyler Goodson.
Wan'Dale Robinson scrambles for a loose ball against Minnesota's Jordan Howden and Justus Harris. The Huskers fumbled three times in that game and lost one.
There was more snow in the stands than people for Nebraska's game against Minnesota on Dec. 12.
Dedrick Mills stretches out for a touchdown against Northwestern. The senior running back finished the season with 396 rushing yards and three touchdowns but missed two full games, and most of a third, due to injury.
Luke McCaffrey is shoved out of bounds by Northwestern's Adetomiwa Adebawore. McCaffrey and Adrian Martinez shared time at quarterback in that game, then McCaffrey started the next two.
Luke McCaffrey is twisted up with Northwestern's Blake Gallagher.
Scott Frost, wearing a mask, walks on to the field with his team before the Northwestern game.
Luke McCaffrey stretches out for a snap against Penn State. Erratic snaps from center Cam Jurgens were a big problem at times during the season, though Jurgens got better later in the year.
Cam Taylor-Britt and Penn State's Jahan Dotson both go up for the ball in the end zone. The pass was incomplete.
Sam McKewon
Reporter - Nebraska athletics
Sam covers Nebraska football, recruiting, women's basketball and more for The World-Herald. Follow him on Twitter @swmckewonOWH. Email: SMcKewon@owh.com
