USC star Drake London, one of the top wide receivers in college football, will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his right ankle in the second quarter of Saturday’s 41-34 win over Arizona, Trojans interim coach Donte Williams revealed on Sunday. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound junior was visibly emotional as he was tended to by trainers and carted off the field.
The injury occurred with 4:15 left in the first half when Trojans quarterback Jaxson Dart found London over the middle on a drag route. Though the catch went for a touchdowns, London was tackled awkwardly and he immediately reached for his right leg before an air cast was applied as several Trojan players gathered around their star wideout. He was later carted back on the field in street clothes in the third quarter.
London entered Week 9 with 79 catches for 1,003 yards and five touchdowns through seven games. He had nine catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats at the time of his injury.
The second-team All-Pac-12 receiver from 2020 caught 33 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns last season, and he was named to CBS Sports’ 2021 MIdseason All-America team. With his size, speed and ability to make contested catches, London was projected to be the No. 20 overall pick to the New Orleans Saints in the latest mock draft from CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards.
With London sidelined, the task gets ever harder for a 4-4 USC team set to face three of the best remaining opponents on the schedule. Added pressure now lands on Memphis transfer Tahj Washington, who ranked second on the team with 396 receiving yards. Gary Bryant Jr. led the Trojans with 89 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Kyle Ford, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore, is listed as London’s backup on the depth chart at X receiver.
USC travels to Arizona State at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday before playing at Cal and at home against UCLA and No. 17 BYU.
