Walk-ons runnin’ down a dream with the Trojans

Miller brothers get their chance as they breathe some life into USC's ground game.

- By Ryan Kartje

USC running back King Miller will face a daunting Notre Dame defense that has been tough against the run.

(CARLIN STIEHL Los Angeles Times)

The call that King and Kaylon Miller waited their whole lives to receive came on their drive back from practice, late in their senior year at Calabasas High.

But Kaylon didn’t pick up. His phone marked the call as spam.

Fortunately for the twin brothers, their dream came with a followup text. When they called back, former USC offensive line coach Josh Henson delivered the good news. USC wanted both Kaylon, an offensive lineman, and King, a runningback, tojointheteamas preferred walk-ons.

“We had to stop thecaron the side of the road,” King said. “We were going crazy.”

“I turned to King, like, ‘What is life right now?’” Kaylon added. “There's no way this opportunity is com-ingup.”

For most walk-ons, that might have been the end of the story, a momentous mile marker on the way to four seasons spent on scout team. But less than two years later, King Miller is slated to lead the way as a walk-on for No. 20 USC's banged-up backfield against No. 13 Notre Dame ina high-stakes rivalry matchup that could define the Trojans’ season.

It’s the sort ofstage that iconic Notre Dame underdog Rudy Ruettiger could have only dreamed of.

For King Miller, though, this moment had always been in the back of his mind. As a kid, King dreamed of becoming a USC running back. And there was no sense in suggesting anything else, either.

“That was his mission, to get to USC,” said his father, Mark Miller. “King has always had a mind of his own and does what he wants to do.”