He only went to UGA because of $$$ anyways. Was trying to get out of that hellhole almost as soon as he got on campus
He seems stiff and has pretty much no football skill that pops. He wants to play offense but not a natural pass catcher, nor does it seem like he gets in and out of breaks quickly. Feels like the consensus is that EDGE is his best spot but don’t think he wants to put on the type of weight that would be necessary to play the position at that level (due to track) and/or maybe there are some injury concerns from him/his camp about that? It just doesn’t seem like he’s all in on being a football player IMO. Seen much more chatter on his track career, which I get. But just doesn’t seem worth the hype
. Like I said, he was literally trying to get out of that dump the moment he arrived and his mom pushed him to go there because of the bag. He’s winning regardless.
I’m sure he’ll sleep well at night
You saw your team win for the first time since Herschel Walker still had brain cells. Im happy for you. Whether Miami is the defending champs or 0-12 I still wouldn’t want to be a young Black dude in Athens, Georgia. Clearly Tyrique agreedYou know your program is down bad when they can't argue about wins on the field and all they can say is "your favorite program is located in a dump/he**hole".
Remember when Miami could actually talk about wins on the field and not just being located in the nice city?
You might as well become a Pepperdine fan, it's beautiful year-round there unlike those dumps in Athens, Tuscaloosa, Columbus, etc.
. I clearly have struck a nerve here, so feel free to keep going. You’re upset with him for leaving — that don’t have nothing to do with me. Puff your chest out a little harder though. It’s cute.
Lol Pepperdine is a dry campus/religious school. can’t get jiggy with that.You know your program is down bad when they can't argue about wins on the field and all they can say is "your favorite program is located in a dump/he**hole".
Remember when Miami could actually talk about wins on the field and not just being located in the nice city?
You might as well become a Pepperdine fan, it's beautiful year-round there unlike those dumps in Athens, Tuscaloosa, Columbus, etc.
theathletic.com
Off-season just might be spicy in here
That’s the only thing that mattersFor the SC fans
Ten thoughts on USC's 2023 recruiting class and transfers after adding Walker Lyons
After Lyons committed to USC on signing day, how should Lincoln Riley's 2023 recruiting and transfer additions be viewed?
How did USC fare in recruiting, transfer portal? 10 thoughts with Walker Lyons aboard
By Antonio Morales Feb 1, 2023
LOS ANGELES — USC enjoyed a hard-earned win on national signing day when it landed four-star tight end Walker Lyons over Georgia and Utah. The Trojans also suffered a high-profile loss when four-star corner Rodrick Pleasant chose Oregon.
That seemingly puts the finishing touches on USC’s 2023 recruiting class — with the obvious exception of five-star tight end Duce Robinson, whose timeline for a decision is unknown. Aside from the possible addition of Robinson, there won’t be much roster movement until the transfer portal re-opens on May 1. So now is a good time to take stock and share some thoughts on USC’s offseason additions (transfers included).
1. Let’s start with Lyons because, from a USC perspective, that was the most surprising development Wednesday. Lyons visited USC last June but committed to Stanford in August and remained firm with the Cardinal until David Shaw resigned in November.
Utah made a strong push for Lyons and looked like a potential landing spot. Then Georgia established some real momentum in Lyons’ recruitment. Lincoln Riley and tight ends coach Zach Hanson remained aggressive throughout the process and ended up with a high-profile player at a position of need.
Hanson is a Northern California native, and those roots may have helped in the pursuit of Lyons, who plays at Folsom (Calif.) High school.
2. I don’t expect the addition of Lyons to impact the Trojans’ recruitment of Robinson. USC has had intentions of adding both ever since Riley arrived more than a year ago.
Lyons is supposed to take a Mormon mission, though, so he likely won’t play for USC this fall. 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman, who’s been pretty plugged in to Lyons’ recruitment, reported that Lyons will “delay his enrollment until fall of 2024.”
3. How should the loss of Pleasant to Oregon be viewed? In the immediate future, it shouldn’t hurt USC on the field this fall. The Trojans return Jacobe Covington, who solidified a starting spot in the second half of last season; Domani Jackson, who was a five-star prospect in the 2022 cycle but battled injury issues last fall; and Ceyair Wright, who started the first half of the season at corner.
They also added Christian Roland-Wallace from Arizona, who figures to start at one of the corner spots. So there wasn’t necessarily a need for Pleasant to contribute in 2023.
The transfer portal does exist, but a program should aim to stack as much elite talent as possible year after year through the high school ranks too. That’s where losing Pleasant hurts. Signing Jackson in the 2022 cycle is great, but signing Jackson and then following that up with Pleasant and/or Daylen Austin is even better.
It was also another high-profile loss to Oregon, which has beaten USC for Pleasant, four-star DL Matayo Uiagalelei and five-star OL Josh Conerly Jr. over the past year.
Uiagalelei, Austin and Pleasant are all Southern California prospects, too, which makes those losses sting a bit more for the Trojans.
4. USC signed six players who rank among the top 150 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. Only two of those six —DL Braylan Shelby and LB Tackett Curtis — are defensive players.
For the Trojans to achieve what they aspire to accomplish as a program by reaching the CFP and winning national championships, that’ll have to change. USC simply needs to land more elite talent on defense.
It’s already lost out on 2024 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) safety Peyton Woodyard, a top-50 prospect, to Georgia. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and the rest of the defensive staff have to put a better product on the field on Saturdays, but they need to improve on the recruiting trail, too.
5. USC also signed four-star receiver Ja’Kobi Lane on Wednesday. Lane, the No. 392 prospect in the country, committed to the Trojans in August. USC beat out Oregon for Lane then. Over the past few months, there had been some doubts about whether Lane would end up in the class.
Despite being committed to the Trojans, he did not sign during the early signing period in December. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham, who recruited Lane while he was the Ducks’ offensive coordinator, put the Sun Devils in the mix, but USC won out in the end.
Lane is 6 feet 5, 180 pounds. He has to add more weight and mature physically because he’s very thin, but his height adds a trait that isn’t very common in USC’s receiver group.
6. Lane is one of four new receivers the Trojans have brought in this offseason. There’s Arizona transfer Dorian Singer, who was No. 2 in the Pac-12 in receiving yards in 2022, plus Lane and blue-chip signees Zachariah Branch and Makai Lemon.
It’s been quite a makeover for that group, which added those four and lost Kyle Ford (UCLA), Gary Bryant Jr. and CJ Williams (Wisconsin).
7. USC announced the addition of Florida offensive lineman Ethan White on Monday. White is one of three transfer offensive linemen the Trojans have brought in this cycle, along with fellow Gator Michael Tarquin and Washington State tackle Jarrett Kingston.
Those three will likely start for USC this fall and give the Trojans valuable depth. USC signed five offensive linemen in this recruiting class, headlined by Elijah Paige. Adding those transfers is significant for the reasons noted above, and they also allow the Trojans to bring those five freshmen along slowly and let them develop.
8. With the additions of Lyons and Lane, USC’s recruiting class (just high schoolers) ranks 12th nationally, which is up from 15th after the early signing period, and second in the Pac-12 behind Oregon.
Oklahoma’s 2019 recruiting class ranked sixth nationally. Other than that, Riley’s classes with the Sooners fell anywhere between ninth and 13th. Trojans fans expect top-five to top-10 classes, but this is around where Riley’s high school classes have typically ranked in his time as a head coach.
9. The transfer portal has added a different element to roster building, and that has to be factored into what each program has brought in this offseason.
USC’s overall class, which includes transfers with high school signees, ranks eighth nationally and atop the Pac-12, one spot ahead of the Ducks. That difference comes from the Trojans having the No. 2 transfer class in 247Sports’ rankings.
10. With this phase of roster movement done, here are where I think USC’s most pressing needs are …
Defensive line: The Trojans have added three capable bodies this offseason with Anthony Lucas (Texas A&M), Kyon Barrs (Arizona) and Jack Sullivan (Purdue). They could still use someone who could 1) compete for a starting spot or 2) be a piece of the defensive line rotation. Because the Trojans still need some proven, experienced bodies there.
Rush end/linebacker: USC has tried to add several rush end/outside linebacker types this offseason but struck out on most except Georgia State transfer Jamil Muhammad. Maybe Muhammad can do it, but USC needs someone who can rush the passer.
The Trojans have eight inside linebackers, so the numbers are fine there, but if a proven, quality player enters the portal, they probably shouldn’t hesitate to pursue him.
Receiver: USC has a good group but could stand to add more height and size at the position if there’s a player who fits that mold in the transfer portal. Or who knows, maybe Robinson — who could easily play receiver in college — can fill that role.
Still gotta get better on the Defensive line and DB's....
Yea kids could participate in bowl prep and enroll early before there was ever an early signing day
Kind of my thoughts. If a player transfers twice or more and doesn't get much PT then he likely isn't that nice. I know some QBs need more time to develop and could flourish in the right system but it seems most that transfer more than once without an injury really aren't that good.
