Sports
Toy Story super fan Jo’Quavious 'Woody' Marks finds perfect fit at USC
Tameka Marks just wanted to buy her youngest son a Halloween costume. She had no idea, at the time, what she was committing to.
All she knew was that Jo’Quavious, who was in preschool, loved Toy Story. Especially Woody, the toy cowboy leading man. So she bought him a Woody costume — with a signature hat, cowhide vest and boots — and nearly two decades later, as Jo’Quavious settles in as the new leading man in USC’s backfield, it’s still a part of him.
That’s because as soon as young Jo’Quavious put on that costume, he never wanted to take it off. All these years later, they still call him “Woody” because of it.
“He wanted to wear it every day to school,” Tameka said. “Every. Day.”
It wasn’t just the costume. Tameka bought him Toy Story-themed clothes. The Toy Story movies were played on repeat in the Marks household, to the point that multiple DVDs broke and were replaced.
Even as Jo’Quavious went to kindergarten and stopped demanding to wear the costume to school, the movies were still a fixture.
“I watched it all day, every day on the weekends,” Jo’Quavious said. His mom, as one might imagine, “got very sick of it.”
Eventually, the obsession waned. But the nickname stuck. By high school, it was how most people knew him.
Others tended to mispronounce his actual first name. At one high school football game, Tameka marched up to the press box when she heard it mispronounced over the loudspeaker. She told the announcer to just call him “Woody” from then on.
He’d hear his name called plenty during four years at Mississippi State, emerging as the go-to back early on in Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, even if Leach also struggled to pronounce his first name. Marks led Mississippi State in rushing during three of his four years in Starkville, while also catching 214 passes, a career total that far exceeds any receiver currently on USC’s roster.
It was the sort of his resume he once hoped would result in him being drafted this April. But a hamstring injury he suffered in October lingered through the end of the season, sapping him of his effectiveness. He forced himself to return for the final two games, but he wasn’t the same.
“After the season was over with, it was nothing but the NFL,” Tameka Marks said. “But he was still nursing his hamstring, and the closer it got, it just wasn’t there, where he wanted it to be. He didn’t want to go out there and run a 4.5 or a 4.6. He didn’t want to reinjure it, and he didn’t want his draft stock to go down. He had the extra year, though, so it was like, let’s just go with that extra year, nurse that hamstring and make that last year your best year.”
USC wasn’t initially on the family’s radar. But Lincoln Riley made a point to reach out early on, and his history in the Leach coaching tree intrigued Tameka. So she and her oldest son, Dontavious, did a deep dive into Riley’s offense. They particularly liked that it was a more balanced version of the Air Raid, one that would allow Marks to show more of his chops as a runner.
“We thought when you turned the tape on, that he was the best [running back in the portal,]” Riley said. “We thought he was incredibly productive, he caught the ball well, he was a really physically tough runner, which we wanted to get a little bit bigger and a little bit more physical in the backfield and Woody showed that on tape. The other thing is his career, you look at his numbers, it doesn’t quite tell the whole story because he’s battled a lot of injuries. He hasn’t really been able to stay healthy and you kind of look like, ‘Man, if this guy can improve and can stay healthy, what can he really be?’”
When Marks and his family sat down with Riley for his official visit, the coach pitched him on a role in USC’s offense similar to what he’d cooked up for Joe Mixon at Oklahoma. It was a compelling case for the Marks family, who proceeded to devour Mixon tape from his time under Riley’s tutelage.
There was also still the matter of his injured hamstring. At the time, he was still doing rehabilitation work in Atlanta, near his family’s home. But USC sold the family on its strength and conditioning program under Bennie Wylie.
It was enough to ease any concerns — and convince Marks to commit.
“I couldn’t move the way I wanted to when I got there,” Marks said. “I wasn’t feeling like who I was. But I think Coach Wylie has put me in a great spot.”
Now, as his first spring practices at USC wind down, Marks is feeling like himself again. Assuming that continues, the expectation is he’ll become the third consecutive transfer to enter the fall as USC’s lead back, while sophomores Quinten Joyner and A’Marion Peterson factor in as change-of-pace options.
Until then, he plans to take advantage of all that his new home has to offer. Jet skiing in the ocean. Laying by the beach. This weekend, he’s even considering a visit to Disneyland, where his namesake awaits on the Midway.
Just don’t get Marks started on the next Toy Story movie, which is slated to be released in 2026.
“I heard Wody wasn’t going to be in it,” he said. “So I’m not sure I’m gonna be a fan.”
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The Las Vegas Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens made a blockbuster trade ahead of the start of NFL free agency.
Las Vegas is trading five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens, per multiple reports.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium on Aug. 23, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
The Raiders will receive two first-round picks from the Ravens, including the No. 14 overall pick in next month’s NFL draft, one report said.
The 28-year-old Crosby had 10 sacks last season and has reached double digits four times in his seven seasons.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) celebrate during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 21, 2025. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
The Raiders last appeared in the playoffs back in 2021 but have gone 7-27 over the past two seasons. They have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, which is expected to land them Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The Ravens, meanwhile, are entering a new era, after firing longtime head coach John Harbaugh and replacing him with former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders sniffs smelling salts during an NFL game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on November 20, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Two top City Section baseball teams, El Camino Real and San Fernando, faced off Friday in a pitcher’s duel that went eight innings.
Senior Ray Pelayo of San Fernando kept throwing strikes, keeping El Camino Real off balance for 7⅔ scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. But then came a balk that scored the winning run in El Camino Real’s 1-0 victory.
Hudson December threw six scoreless innings for El Camino Real and Andrew Katzman struck out three in two scoreless innings.
South Torrance 4, El Segundo 3: In a battle of unbeaten Pioneer League teams, South Torrance (6-0) received a walk-off single from Owen Rhodes in the bottom of the seventh. El Segundo tied it 3-3 in the top of the seventh on a two-out, three-run home run by Chase Mattoon. Issac Orozco struck out nine in five innings and also homered for the Spartans.
Crespi 3, Saugus 2: Justin Kim had two RBIs for the Celts.
Sylmar 7, Legacy 1: Rickee Luevano threw a two-hitter with nine strikeouts.
Sierra Canyon 12, West Ranch 1: Isaias Tirado hit a three-run home run and four pitchers combined to give up five hits.
Mater Dei 15, Rockwall-Heath (Texas) 1: Ezekiel Lara had three hits and five RBIs in Texas. Earlier, the Monarchs gave up seven runs in the third inning of an 8-1 loss to Rockwall-Heath.
St. John Bosco 1, Gahr 0: Star closer Jack Champlin got a strikeout to end the game, finishing two shutout innings of relief. Champlin drove in the game’s only run with an RBI double in the sixth inning. Julian Garcia struck out six with no walks in five innings for St. John Bosco.
San Juan Hills 11, Cypress 0: Garrett Gandolfo threw five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and Clay Riggs contributed three RBIs for San Juan Hills.
Santa Margarita 1, Damien 0: Warren Gravely IV had the only RBI in the Eagles’ win. Tyler Unter struck out six in five shutout innings.
Garfield 9, Cleveland 7: Omar Martinez had three hits and Victor Alvarez drove in three runs for Garfield. Joshua Pearlstein finished with three hits for Cleveland.
Palos Verdes 8, West Torrance 0: Kai Van Scoyoc struck out nine in five innings and Asher Friedman had a home run and a double for Palos Verdes.
Valencia 12, Chatsworth 0: An eight-run second inning helped lead the Vikings to a five-inning win.
Bishop Amat 13, Gardena Serra 2: Joaquin Ortiz finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Corona Centennial 19, Eastvale Roosevelt 3: Devin Bishop and Emiliano Castaneda each hit home runs for Centennial.
Servite 6, Anaheim Canyon 1: Mickey Cabral went three for four and Cole Grothues struck out three in 2⅓ innings of scoreless relief.
Corona Santiago 5, Crean Lutheran 4: Jonathan Thorton delivered three hits and two RBIs for the Sharks.
Fullerton 1, Chaparral 0: Garrett Wrightman threw four innings of scoreless relief and Caleb Brown had an RBI double in the third inning for Fullerton.
Edison 11, Tesoro 7: Ben Wilson hit a grand slam and finished with five RBIs for Edison.
El Dorado 10, Granada Hills 4: Lorenzo Favela hit a three-run home run to lead El Dorado.
Ayala 7, San Dimas 1: Caleb Trugman struck out nine with zero walks in a complete game.
Loyola 14, Venice 1: Wyatt Clougherty had three hits and Luca Marucci contributed three RBIs for Loyola.
Softball
Norco 5, Torrance 0: Coral Williams struck out 10 in six innings. Leighton Gray and Rae Logue hit home runs.
Garden Grove Pacifica 4, Anaheim Canyon 2: Natalia Amezquita had a two-run single for Pacifica.
Orange Lutheran 7, Perry 1: Mia Scott had four RBIs for the Lancers.
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 15, Culver City 0: Ellayne Tellez-Perez had three hits and five RBIs.
Sports
Chargers’ Justin Herbert gushes over Madison Beer in heartfelt birthday tribute: ‘Changed my life forever’
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert gushed over 27-year-old singer Madison Beer in a heartfelt birthday tribute on social media, offering fans a rare glimpse into the couple’s relationship.
The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who normally shies away from the public eye, posted a series of photos to his Instagram Stories on Thursday.
Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up prior to a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 8, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
“Happy birthday to my favorite person of all time,” Herbert wrote in a post that showed the couple on the sidelines of one of his NFL games. “I love you so much. You’ve changed my life forever.”
In another photo appearing to show the couple out to dinner, Herbert wrote, “I am the luckiest guy alive…”
Herbert, who turns 28 later this month, shared another photo of the “Make You Mine” artist petting goats and captioned the photo, “My goats.”
The couple was first linked together in August when they were spotted together on the set of one of Beer’s music videos in Los Angeles. Herbert and Beer were photographed in October on the sidelines of a Chargers game at SoFi Stadium, seemingly confirming the dating rumors.
Quarterback Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and singer Madison Beer attend an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 24, 2025. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The same month, Herbert went viral after blocking a rogue basketball from hitting Beer when the two sat courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.
Herbert signed a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Chargers in July 2023. Despite proving himself to be one of the elite young quarterbacks in the NFL, Los Angeles’ offensive struggles have seen the team fall short in back-to-back playoff appearances.
Quarterback Justin Herbert (10) of the Los Angeles Chargers blocks a basketball from hitting Madison Beer as they attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 24, 2025. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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The team’s offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, was fired in January and replaced with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in football.
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