USC Football

HEIGHT: 5'9⅛"

WEIGHT: 217

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POSITIVES

— Great acceleration and burst. Flies to and through the second level.

— Home run long speed. Threat to take one all the way at any time.

— Good stop/start explosiveness. Ability to make people miss in space.

— Untapped potential as a pass-catcher. Showed quality hands and ability to win in space in limited reps.

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NEGATIVES

— High, upright rushing style saps him of balance and power.

— Below-average vision and conviction as a runner. Needs to press upfield and take what is there more often.

— Unproven pass protector.

— Ball-security issues. Low, loose carriage invites the ball being punched out.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 11 G, 116 ATT, 820 YDS (7.1 AVG), 9 TD; 13 REC, 232 YDS (17.8 AVG), 0 TD

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NOTES

— Born Jan. 25, 2001

— 4-star recruit in South Carolina's 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Transferred from South Carolina to USC in 2023

— 19 career starts

— Tore his ACL as a freshman at South Carolina in 2020

— Missed some time in 2023 with a minor undisclosed injury

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OVERALL

Marshawn Lloyd is a bundle of explosive traits who has not yet channeled that into a complete running back profile.

Lloyd plays with serious burst. To and through the line of scrimmage, Lloyd kicks into top gear instantly. He has the speed to break away and finish those runs in the end zone as well. Lloyd not only ripped off a handful of long runs at USC, but he managed to do the same on a few screens in limited opportunities.

Lloyd also has burst and wiggle at the second level. He isn't as smooth or creative as other backs, but he boasts a raw explosiveness that helps him force missed tackles.

However, Lloyd struggles at the line of scrimmage. He often hesitates when color flashes in a gap, and he does not read the leverage of blocks very well. As a result, Lloyd often takes a beat too long to get upfield or runs himself into his own blockers.

Additionally, it's rare to see Lloyd plunge forward through contact for a safe, efficient gain rather than hunt for the big play on the perimeter. Lloyd's upright rushing style makes it difficult to do that anyway, which may be why he avoids it.

On passing downs, Lloyd is kind of a mystery box. He showed unbelievable explosive potential on screens and flashed solid pass-catching traits otherwise, but he was rarely thrown the ball at USC. He feels like someone with untapped potential in the passing game. Lloyd was also rarely used in pass protection, so he will have a lot to learn there.

Lloyd is a gamble on explosive ability. His adequate size, blazing speed and nimble feet are a combination of traits worth swinging on. At the same time, Lloyd may need time to adjust to pro running schemes and develop his vision as a runner, as well as his third-down skills.

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GRADE: 6.3 (High-Level Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 134

POSITION RANK: RB8

PRO COMPARISON: Ty Johnson

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

After taking a step back in 2023 and losing star quarterback Caleb Williams to the NFL, head coach Lincoln Riley has a lot of work to do this offseason to get USC back into the national title picture.

The Achilles heel for the Trojans during Riley's tenure has been on defense. They've finished 94th and 121st in FBS in points allowed per game in the past two seasons. The 2023 team allowed 28 points in 11 of 13 games, including 10 straight to end the year.

Riley's first attempt to solve the problem was to hire D'Anton Lynn as the new defensive coordinator in December.

Improving the defensive talent on the roster is the next step in the process. But the Trojans also have to worry about replacing arguably the most-talented quarterback in college football.

While most recruiting for 2024 is done thanks to the early national signing period, there are still some things left to be sorted out that could benefit USC with the start of signing day on Wednesday.

USC's 2024 Recruiting Class (Enrolled/Signed Letter of Intent)

4-star offensive lineman Jason Zandamela (Clearwater, FL)

4-star EDGE Kameryn Fountain (Atlanta, GA)

4-star wide receiver Xavier Jordan (Chatsworth, CA)

4-star cornerback Marcelles Williams (Bellflower, CA)

4-star defensive lineman Carlon Jones (Bay City, TX)

4-star linebacker Elijah Newby (Cheshire, CT)

4-star tight end Walter Matthews (Hiram, GA)

4-star safety Marquis Gallegos (Chatsworth, GA)

3-star athlete Desman Stephens (Clarkston, MI)

3-star offensive lineman Makai Saina (Arlington, TX)

3-star offensive lineman Justin Tauanuu (Huntington Beach, CA)

3-star tight end Joey Olsen (Lake Oswego, OR)

3-star safety Jarvis Boatwright (Clearwater, FL)

3-star defensive lineman Jide Abasiri (Prior Lake, MN)

3-star offensive tackle Kalolo Ta'aga (San Francisco, CA)

3-star cornerback Braylon Conley (Humble, TX)

3-star running back Bryan Jackson (McKinney, TX)

3-star offensive tackle Hayden Treter (Englewood, CO)

3-star EDGE Lorenzo Cowan (Savannah, GA)

A complete list of USCs 2024 class can be found at 247Sports.

National Signing Day Predictions

It's notable there's not a quarterback among USC's incoming recruits, but the team did land an intriguing prospect in the transfer portal.

Jayden Maivia is transferring to USC after spending his freshman year at UNLV. He's rated a 4-star transfer prospect after throwing for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns in 14 games last season.

Maivia's arrival came after Malachi Nelson, a 5-star recruit in the 2023 class, transferred to Boise State. Miller Moss is also returning for his fourth season. He threw for a career-high 681 yards and seven touchdowns in five games during the 2023 campaign.

Per 247Sports, Trever Jackson is the only 2024 recruit among the top-50 quarterback prospects who hasn't committed. Florida State is viewed as the favorite to land him, and USC hasn't even offered him a scholarship.

Among potential late additions to Riley's recruiting class, all eyes are going to be on Terry Bussey. The 5-star athlete gave a verbal commitment to Texas A&M in September, but he has not yet signed a letter of intent.

Bussey said at the Under Armour All-America Game in December that USC and Georgia made a move in his recruitment. The Trojans still feel like a long shot, with Sam Spiegelman of On3.com reporting on Jan. 31 that Texas A&M and LSU are the favorites.

Barring some late surprises, USC is looking at a solid-not-great incoming class. Its ranked No. 17 by 247Sports' composite rankings with 20 total commitments, including 13 4-star players.

Among Big Ten programs, the Trojans are behind Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Michigan.

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire former Arizona Cardinals head coach and current USC senior offensive analyst Kliff Kingsbury to be their next offensive coordinator, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network added that the Raiders were "locked in" on the 44-year-old. He also noted that no deal is in place yet but that "it's expected to get done."

UCLA head coach (and ex-Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers head coach) Chip Kelly was reportedly in the running for the job, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who added that he "appeared open to a return to the NFL."

However, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce decided on Kingsbury for the position.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported earlier Thursday that Kingsbury was the "frontrunner" for the job.

The Silver and Black ripped the interim tag off Pierce's title and made him the team's full-time leader on Jan. 19. He took over for fired head coach Josh McDaniels after eight games. The team also notably parted ways with OC Mick Lombardi and general manager Dave Ziegler.

Rapoport reported on Jan. 19 that interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree and most of the offensive staff would not be retained.

Las Vegas struggled scoring at times last season, finishing 23rd in points per game. The Raiders did drop 63 once against the Los Angeles Chargers, but they also finished the year scoring 20 or more points on offense in just four of 17 games.

Kingsbury starred as Texas Tech's quarterback at the turn of the century, notably throwing for 45 touchdowns and 5,017 yards during his senior year in 2002.

He bounced around the NFL, NFL Europe and CFL from 2003-2007 before beginning his coaching career as the University of Houston's offensive quality control coach in 2008. Two years later, he earned co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach titles for the Cougars.

In 2012, Kingsbury left Houston for Texas A&M, serving as the Aggies' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He matched up with breakout superstar Johnny Manziel that season, and Johnny Football notably won the Heisman Trophy en route to leading the Aggies to 11 wins and 44.5 points per game.

Kingsbury parlayed that effort into a head coaching gig with his alma mater in 2013. He coached the Red Raiders from 2013-2018 before being fired after the end of his sixth season with a 35-40 record.

Texas Tech never had much trouble scoring under Kingsbury, notably finishing second in Division I FBS in 2015 and fifth in 2016. It helped to have eventual two-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes behind center for both those years, of course.

Kingsbury landed with USC as its offensive coordinator but resigned that position to pursue NFL coaching opportunities. The Cardinals hired him as their head coach in 2019 and soon matched him with franchise quarterback Kyler Murray, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft.

Arizona went 28-37-1 under Kingsbury, with an 11-6 mark in 2021 being the team's apex. That team made the playoffs but fell 34-11 to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round. In Kingsbury's four seasons, Arizona finished 16th, 13th, 11th and 21st in scoring.

He then went back to USC to join head coach Lincoln Riley's staff, but he could very well be heading back to the NFL once again.

As far as the other side of the ball goes, it appears that Patrick Graham, who is under contract with the Raiders, will return as defensive coordinator.

All NFL head coaching vacancies have now been filled, and the Raiders can block any interview requests for Graham at DC. Las Vegas notably did so on Jan. 10 for an unnamed team, per Rapoport.

The Raiders are trying to build upon a strong ending to the season in which the team went 5-4 under Pierce following the firing of McDaniels, who went just 9-21 in a season-and-a-half in Vegas.

Julian Lewis, the top quarterback prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, is going to college one year earlier than expected.

Speaking to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.com, Lewis intends to reclassify for 2025 and will open up his recruiting to consider offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Texas.

Lewis has been committed to USC since August. The Carrollton High School (Georgia) standout is a 5-star prospect and No. 8 overall player in the 2025 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Jeremy Johnson of On3.com noted Lewis' first visit after reclassifying will be with Kirby Smart and the University of Georgia.

Wiltfong noted Lewis' reclassification had been anticipated "for a while," and the 16-year-old said the two teams that have been pursuing him the most are Georgia and Alabama.

"Georgia and Alabama have been recruiting me the hardest and have never stopped," Lewis said. "I know what the opportunity is at Georgia. The opportunity to win championships, be coached and developed for the next level and represent my home state."

It will be interesting to see what kind of impact, if any, Nick Saban's retirement has on Alabama's recruiting. Kalen DeBoer is taking over the program after a very successful two-year stint at Washington, but recruiting in the SEC could present unique challenges for him and his staff.

When he originally committed to USC, Lewis told Wiltfong that head coach Lincoln Riley's success developing quarterbacks played a significant role in his decision.

"Coach Riley being the quarterback coach and OC makes USC different than a lot of programs," Lewis said. "He's proven, all he does is turn his quarterbacks into the best players in college football."

Lewis has been named the MaxPreps National Freshman and Sophomore of the Year in each of the past two seasons. He threw for 3,094 yards and 48 touchdowns with a 66.4 completion percentage in 13 starts to help Carrollton reach the Georgia Class 7A quarterfinals.

In an expected development, USC quarterback Caleb Williams declared for the 2024 NFL draft on Monday.

Since I was 10, all I ever wanted to do was to play football. The journey would be empty without the people who have supported and loved me. I will Fight On forever and rep Hornsdown4Life. I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I am officially declaring for the NFL Draft.

✌🏽🤘🏽👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/6Ko9cbZ7S5

— Caleb Williams (@CALEBcsw) January 15, 2024

ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the news.

Given that Williams is the clear front-runner to be the top overall pick in this year's draft—and given his decision to sit out the Holiday Bowl—Monday's news has long felt like a foregone conclusion.

The Chicago Bears own the No. 1 overall pick in April, as they received the pick from the Carolina Panthers in a trade last year.

On Saturday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that insiders believe they will likely draft Williams with the No. 1 pick and trade quarterback Justin Fields.

Per the B/R NFL Scouting Department, Williams has "great arm talent" and "great accuracy." Not only that, but he is also viewed as an "above-average athlete" with the "rare ability to throw off-platform."

The 22-year-old threw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, completing 68.6 percent of his passes. A porous offensive line and pushover defense kept USC out of the College Football Playoff conversation and in turn ended his chances of repeating as a Heisman Trophy winner, but he was nonetheless a bright spot.

The quarterback phenom was college football's brightest star in 2022, throwing for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and five picks while completing 66.6 percent of his passes. That earned him the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

"What really makes Williams' arm special is the elasticity in his throwing motion," B/R's Derrik Klassen wrote. "Williams' upper half is incredibly flexible, and he generates a ton of torque seemingly out of nowhere. Whether the pocket is cluttered or Williams is on the move, he's always able to get the ball out cleanly with the same kind of velocity and control he would get under normal circumstances."

About the only knock on Williams is his height, with his 6'1" frame being shorter than NFL evaluators have traditionally liked at the quarterback position. But the modern game has embraced smaller quarterbacks more and more in recent years, and players like Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Jalen Hurts have all thrived in the league.

Williams has that level of upside. It's why turning pro now always made sense for him.

Jayden Maiava's Georgia career was short-lived.

On Monday, the father of the former UNLV quarterback said Maiava was on his way to the Bulldogs. By Wednesday, William Maiava-Pratt told ESPN's Tom VanHaaren his son has now settled on USC.

VanHaaren reported the change came after Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley "made a final pitch."

If anything, the bigger surprise might be Maiava picking Georgia in the first place. Carson Beck, the Bulldogs' leading passer in 2023, confirmed he's returning for his senior year, and he'll have the inside track on the starting job for 2024.

USC's quarterback room, on the other hand, is wide open. Caleb Williams is almost universally considered at top-five pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and Malachi Nelson is transferring to Boise State.

Miller Moss went 23-of-33 for 372 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in a 42-28 win over Louisville in the Holiday Bowl, but the pursuit of Maiava signaled how the coaching staff wasn't letting one game alter its offseason plans.

The Trojans had been linked with former Kansas State QB Will Howard, who ultimately picked Ohio State. In Maiava, Riley may have found a better alternative.

Whereas Howard is a graduate transfer, Maiava has as many as three years of eligibility remaining. He should be a great fit in Riley's offense as well. He threw for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with the Rebels in 2023. He also ran for 277 yards and three touchdowns.

Unlike some of Riley's recent success stories, Maiava wasn't a blue-chip recruit coming out of high school. He was a 3-star talent and the No. 53 quarterback in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2022.

The Nevada native nonetheless turned some heads at UNLV, and Trojans fans will be eagerly anticipating what he can do in Southern California.

Caleb Williams who?

That was the sentiment following USC's 42-28 win over Louisville on Wednesday night in the Holiday Bowl thanks to a brilliant performance by quarterback Miller Moss, who hadn't started a game since November 2019 when he was a junior in high school.

Moss started the win after Williams, who is expected to be a top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, opted not to play in order to avoid injury and preserve himself for the next step in his career.

Moss completed 23 of 33 passes for 372 yards and six touchdowns against one interception, in addition to rushing for 13 yards on two carries. His six touchdown passes are a Holiday Bowl record.

Moss ➡️ Lemon @uscfb is moving down the field ⛓️ pic.twitter.com/2tSb2SoAWW

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2023

Another one for @uscfb! ✌️

Moss finds Tahj Washington once again for the TD 👏 pic.twitter.com/D5XyfZhiRr

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2023

Moss throwing dimes 🎯🎯@uscfb extends the lead! pic.twitter.com/ivuZUrDcEt

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2023

Remember the name 😤

Miller Moss gets his 4th TD of the first half for @uscfb! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/cRtdJOXiXI

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2023

MILLER. MOSS. FIVE. TOUCHDOWNS. @uscfb gets another! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/CHOw0dp6Qp

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2023

THERE GOES THAT MAN... for the sixth time tonight! 🗣️

Miller Moss is going WILD tonight for @uscfb! 😤 pic.twitter.com/LGRHtXJO90

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2023

The former four-star prospect's top targets were Tahj Washington and Ja'Kobi Lane. Washington finished with seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns, while Lane finished with three catches for 60 yards and two scores.

Duce Robinson and Kyron Hudson also recorded touchdowns in the win.

After the game, college football fans were quick to deem Moss the next big thing at quarterback for USC:

USC fans watching Miller Moss ball out: pic.twitter.com/xF101eDgfu

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 28, 2023

Miller Moss looks amazing for USC. Already forgot about Caleb Williams.

— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) December 28, 2023

MILLER MOSS!!!

— DJ Uiagalelei (@DJUiagalelei) December 28, 2023

Miller Moss dealing tonight. Poised. Accurate. Sees the field. Really impressed. Throwing dimes to true freshman.

— Colin Cowherd (@colincowherd) December 28, 2023

What would USC’s record be if Miller Moss started all 12 games?

— Jack Mac (@JackMacCFB) December 28, 2023

Miller Moss is Him?

— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) December 28, 2023

2024 All-Big Ten QB Miller Moss?

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 28, 2023

Miller Moss you have my attention

— Derek Mountain (@DerekMountain) December 28, 2023

Miller Moss looks better than Caleb Williams, which is insane. It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the draft. Caleb was consensus #1 pick coming into the year, and I still think he’s a great prospect, but surely he hurt his case with everything that happened this year

— Justin Macmahan (@JustinMacmahan) December 28, 2023

Hmm...

Now I understand why Malachi Nelson might have transferred.

Miller Moss putting on a show. #FightOn✌️

— Mike Zimmelman (@MZimmel) December 28, 2023

5 TDs so far. Miller Moss for Heisman?

— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) December 28, 2023

Miller Moss after finding out Caleb Williams wasn’t playing USC’s bowl game https://t.co/UKULltINto

— Dylan Holt (@DylanHolt_) December 28, 2023

This is Miller Moss’ team.

He ain’t giving it back.

— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) December 28, 2023

Are we sure USC started the right QB all season???

— Chad Withrow (@TheChadWithrow) December 28, 2023

IVE SEEN ENOUGH. MILLER MOSS FOR HEISMAN (or whatever this AI version of the Heisman is) ✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/CDZrPbji9y

— Arrogant Nation✌🏻 (@FightOnRusty) December 28, 2023

Miller Moss tonight: pic.twitter.com/zb80rjOMNt

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) December 28, 2023

Live look at Miller Moss's most current X-ray 😅@DIRECTV_HB pic.twitter.com/bUbLwH4IC3

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2023

Miller Moss might send Caleb Williams to the second round

— Peter Appel (@peterappel23) December 28, 2023

Given Moss' performance on Wednesday against Louisville, USC may not have to look for a signal-caller in the transfer portal after all as the Trojans appear to be in good hands at quarterback entering the 2024 campaign.

With the Trojans entering the Big Ten next season, it's probably a relief for Lincoln Riley to know that his offense should still continue to compete with some of college football's best teams.

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 188

HAND: 9"

ARM: 32½"

WINGSPAN: 78⅛"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.48

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL:

BROAD:

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POSITIVES

— High-hipped athlete with excellent length. Uses his length best in coverage, such as in press or catch coverage to control receivers or when breaking up passes.

— Good physicality when tackling. Fronts up ball-carriers and delivers strong blows. Does a very good job of tracking with proper angles and closes ground quickly.

— Triggers quickly to the run. Comes downhill and quickly closes ground.

— Very good speed in the open field that builds whenever he is able to pen his strides.

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NEGATIVES

— Plays with high pad level at times, which can cause him to round or raise up out of his breaks.

— Lacks ideal strength for size and frame. Above-average functional strength that needs improvement. Can get knocked around by bigger blockers and leak extra yards on tackles.

— Aggressive tackler who flies in looking for bigger hits and doesn't always wrap up. Has shown to throw shoulders at ball-carriers and melt off tackles at times.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 12 G, 63 TOT, 0 TFL, 0 SK, 2 INT, 1 TD, 7 PD

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NOTES

— Born April 30, 2023

— Played 39 games (33 starts) at USC

— 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2023: First-team All-Pac 12 (AP)

— 2022: First-team All-American (PFF), first-team All-Pac 12 (AP)

— 2021: Freshman All-American Team (PFWA), first-team True Freshman All-American (PFF)

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OVERALL

USC safety Calen Bullock has excellent size and a sturdy frame. The 4-star prospect started six games his freshman year and has been an every-game starter since. A versatile defender, Bullock flashes in both the run and pass game.

Bullock does a great job of first identifying the run and then triggering downhill to make the play. A high-IQ player, he rarely gets confused by the eye candy of motions or pulls. When he identifies the ball-carrier, he quickly closes ground with great leverage while fighting through blockers and other traffic.

When he gets to the ball-carrier, Bullock is typically at full speed and comes with ill intent. He often delivers big hits to unsuspecting ball-carriers, but he does occasionally miss open-field tackles when he stops his feet and dives at legs.

Bullock's lack of strength shows up at times when he takes on blockers. He often uses his quickness to beat blockers in the open field, but he has been pushed around at times when taking on bigger blockers. There are also times where ball-carriers can fight him off for extra yards.

In pass coverage, Bullock excels as a deep high defender and in man coverage. He has the burst and speed to cover a lot of ground, making it difficult for quarterbacks to fit passes in on the sideline. He has the ball skills to track and high-point passes.

When in man coverage, Bullock has the footwork to pedal and keep his cushion and the burst out of breaks to drive on routes and contest passes. There are times where his high pad level can cause him to round his breaks or be slower transitioning. As routes progress down the field, he often looks to catch receivers, using his length to slow them down and control them to get into their hip pockets. As the pass arrives, he does a very good job of swiping through the catch point with the proper timing.

Bullock is one of the top safeties in this year's class based on his size and athletic ability alone. He adds value with his consistency over multiple seasons and the versatility he brings. He will need to continue to fill out his frame and increase his strength, but he has the skills to potentially be an impact player in the NFL. If he can continue to use his instincts as well as improve his footwork, Bullock can eventually be an All-Pro player.

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GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 38

POSITION RANK: S4

PRO COMPARISON: Grant Delpit

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

USC defensive end Korey Foreman, who was the No. 2 overall recruit on the 247Sports composite list for class of 2021 college football recruits, has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Antonio Morales of The Athletic (and others) reported the news on Foreman, who is among numerous 4- or 5-star recruits leaving the program:

Roll call on who USC has lost to the portal so far:
• Five-star DE Korey Foreman
• Five-star QB Malachi Nelson
• Five-star CB Domani Jackson
• Four-star LB Tackett Curtis
• Four-star RB Raleek Brown

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) December 19, 2023

USC head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters in October that it was possible Foreman, who played sparingly in three games (just one tackle) in 2023, could redshirt this season.

Lincoln Riley when asked if former five-star DE Korey Foreman could redshirt this season as a junior — he has only played in 3 games.

“It’s something we’re exploring right now.”

See video clip below and full interview/transcript in the link ⬇️https://t.co/R9Q0MDk6kZ pic.twitter.com/hOQffxpUaB

— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) October 4, 2023

"It's something we're exploring right now. It's, this early in the season, I don't want to say anything for sure because a lot of things can transpire, but both us as a staff and the players that have that available – it's something you have to be aware of. And it's something we're open with guys.

"We have conversations with all of our guys that have redshirt years available, and so occasionally, if a guy maybe is not going to have a huge role in a game, you might hold him back right now and then if an opportunity presents itself to have a bigger role, you can obviously revisit that down the line. But I would put Korey in that category."

Foreman didn't play the rest of the way, and now his time at USC has come to an end.

In 23 games over three years, Foreman made 25 tackles (2.5 sacks) and one huge interception—a game-sealing pick to end a 48-45 win over UCLA in 2022.

Korey Foreman called GAME. 😤

Did his interception to seal @uscfb’s win over rival UCLA earn the @76 Fan Fueled Moment? Tweet #FanFueled3 to vote! pic.twitter.com/srWHsSk8q7

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 23, 2022

Foreman played high school ball at Centennial High School in Corona, California before heading to USC.

Foreman entered college with rave reviews. Greg Biggins, 247Sports' national recruiting analyst, compared Foreman to New Orleans Saints star defensive end Cameron Jordan in a Jan. 4, 2021 write-up.

However, he noted that Foreman missed half of his 2019 season (junior year of high school) due to injury and then all of 2020 when the campaign was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So Foreman entered USC without playing much ball at all over the past two years.

That certainly didn't help him heading into USC in 2021, and he never carved out a full-time role. Injuries notably played a factor, as Ryan Young of TrojanSports noted.

"Ultimately, he was mostly used as a situational pass rusher, playing a career-high 231 defensive snaps in 2022 but never earning a full-time or steady role. He battled persistent injury setbacks that disrupted his practice availability and opportunity to compete for more playing time."

However, Foreman's potential can't be ignored. A fresh start may be what's best for him to realize that as he looks to reboot his collegiate career.

USC quarterback Malachi Nelson is expected to enter the transfer portal as the freshman looks for a change of scenery, according to Pete Nakos of On3.com.

The former 5-star recruit was originally expected to battle for the starting job leading the Trojans' offense should Caleb Williams leave for the NFL draft, although the recent campus visit of former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard may indicate that the coaching staff is interested in going a different direction (via Matt Zemek of Yahoo Sports).

Nelson was considered the No. 5 quarterback recruit in the 2023 class, per 247Sports. In his junior year at Los Alamitos High School, the 6'3" passer averaged 244.5 yards per game through the air while tossing 39 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Nelson received offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State among several other schools before choosing USC.

He briefly appeared in a single game for the Trojans to preserve his redshirt season, completing one of his three pass attempts during the team's Week 1 victory over San Jose State.

Backup quarterback Miller Moss is also expected to get a shot at the starting job in 2024, as he's currently slated to start USC's matchup against No. 15 Louisville in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27. In four games of limited action this season, Moss has completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 309 yards and a touchdown.

However, head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters on Dec. 5 that he would leave the door open for a transfer portal quarterback addition (via Antonio Morales of The Athletic).

"I like the guys we have in the room, but you also have a responsibility to the team to continue to look at potential people who can come in, make our room better and make our team better, so not ready to say we'd for sure do anything," he said.

Nelson will presumably look for a team that has a clearer path for him to earn a starting role in 2024.