USC adds Virginia offensive line transfer Bobby Haskins
Haskins was an All-ACC honorable mention selection for Virginia
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — USC added a veteran reinforcement to its offensive line on Sunday with the addition of Virginia offensive line transfer Bobby Haskins.
Haskins, who announced his decision on Twitter, was an All-ACC honorable mention selection starting at left tackle for the Cavaliers in 2021. The 6-foot-7, 295-pound lineman will have one season of eligibility remaining with USC.
His addition is a necessary one for new USC head coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans lost two starters on the offensive line this season with the departures of Liam Jimmons and Jalen McKenzie. Starters Brett Neilon and Andrew Vorhees are coming back, but it was important this off-season to add someone with experience at tackle after relying so heavily on redshirt freshmen Jonah Monheim and Courtland Ford in 2021.
“I am incredibly blessed and excited to put everything I have into my last year of college football, playing for Coach Riley,” Haskins wrote.
ocregister.com
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With all these new assistant coaches being hired, I really want to see the return of the discipline that was always lacking during the Cat epoch. No more pats on the head and a “get ‘em next time tiger” approach. So many penalties came from mental mistakes in the past five years, you had to wonder if fundamental football had been stressed. If a player isn’t afraid to make a mistake, then mistakes will be part of his game. I am taking about a fumble in practice equals a lap type of toughness. No walking on the practice field type… Read more »
Per the Scoop:
USC: Utah running backs coach Kiel McDonald is expected to join the USC staff in the same capacity, per multiple reports.
Great hire, now will he stick?
I like it.
GA opens as a 3-point fave.
I gotta say I am really glad we didn’t take Kyle Wittingham in this coaching cycle, and not just because Utah lost. Wittingham runs a good program and has a lot going for him, but for the life of me I cannot understand why he sat on his three timeouts once Ohio State was in field goal range. That would have driven me NUTS as a Utah fan. It was obvious Ohio State was headed for a score. Why not use the timeouts in the hope you will get another shot with the ball? Maybe only needing a field goal?… Read more »
Lol, Desmond looks bored or disinterested.
Hah. Maybe Desmond was preoccupied with MICH’s impending doom vs GA? Maybe he was wishing that LR was headed to Ann Arbor instead. Only Desmond knows for sure. Maybe slightly stale GameDay needs some new blood. Come to think of it, I’d say they do.
OLB/DE Drake Jackson has finally declared for the Draft, as anticipated, but toyed with lately by some as not a sure thing.
He probably needs another year—where he can learn from a REAL coaching staff. Like so many under the Cat’s regime, Jackson regressed from his freshman year.
Utes played their best game of the year but still a loss is a loss. The PAC12 is 0-6 including a back out of UCLA. The conference is again embarrassing itself compared to their peers. We will not see-hear any outrage from the conference people, just ignorance. But yet, it wants a free ride into the playoff!
We are seeing the remains on the conference level of the Larry Scott decade. The conference is a mess. I think the university Presidents have finally figured it out. The issue is whether it is too late. All I care about is SC has figured it out and has committed itself to a rebuild.
I wish you were right, in that the PAC12 Presidents finally get it, in better supporting their football programs. I don’t see it. I look at the HC’s in this conference and for the most part they would be no better than position coaches at other Power 5 programs. The budgets they have to work with in this conference are probably at the level of most MWC team budgets and play like them if you have noticed when they play eachother. Until I see otherwise, I believe new commissioner George Kiavkoff is continued window dressing in just promoting this conference… Read more »
If Utah had made the field goal instead of coming up 1 yard short on 4th down we would all be watching the 1st overtime period right now.
Darn! Really thought the Utes would pull it out. PAC goes winless in Bowl games. Great game.
0 wins for Pac-12. the new commissioner better kick some pansy asses of the University Presidents in this lefty conference.
Happy Kirk Herbstreit ? (especially since you are an Ohio State Graduate ).
Yeah, I’m watching game with volume set to 0.
Herbie is not as bad as david pollack for UGA and the sec conference…..
This is starting to look like a Ohio State victory.
If Utah loses this game am I gonna hear NY Sports Radio say it again >>>>>> “Pac-12 ….Shoudn’t they move that entire conference to FCS Division ? ” .
NY sports radio? Like they know anything except NY?
Who cares about NY sports radio? That region of the country does not one elite program.
This Rose Bowl is making me nervous. Utah needs to keep up the pressure or else tOHS is going to catch them. No Mistakes!!
Why didn’t Utah kick the field goal on 4th down?
Utah’s secondary almost as bad as SC’s.
Is Ohio State starting to get the momentum in the Rose Bowl ?
Just got back to my den from dinner ….Turn on TV and what a shame (sarcasm) Ohio State is losing in the Bowl Game that I STILL tell people that now And always that SC is still King of (Rose Bowl) <<<<<<< And will be again. …….Fight On !!!!!
If someone would have told me there would be 56 points scored in the first half of the Rose Bowl, I wouldn’t have believed it. Exciting game. Utah holding up the conference pride. A picturesque day like today, with snow capped mountains in the background, the parade and pageantry, all add up to why there is nothing like the Granddaddy. Not a good 24 hours for the top end of the Big 10 with Michigan, Iowa, Penn St and probably Ohio St going down. No tears shed by me.Happy New Year to all
Defense optional today.
Wow. What a return.
His first year was 2015. Crazy.
He saved the best for last. Rising’s run was so unusual. Can’t remember another clumsy, slow long-distance one quite like that.
is Britain Covey a 12th year senior?
Just a thought, my how times have changed when the Rose Bowl is considered by some players as not important enough to play in.
And a second thought, if Utah keeps it up, we won’t have to endure Herbstreet’s giddiness.
You may not subscribe to The Athletic, but if you do, you should read this op-ed.
Wasserman: ESPN’s crew sounded like grandaddies while previewing ‘The Granddaddy of Them All’
theathletic.com
I’ll check it out, thanks for the tip.
Case in point, when Bucks scored that TD, Herbstreet could barely contain his glee. On this last TD run by Utah, he deadpans it as ho-hum. Networks shouldn’t let him be a primary announcer on a big game like this involving tOSU. He just can’t keep his bias under control.
Happy New Year everyone!!!! What a GREAT way to start the new year out with a Notre Dame lost… on New year’s Day!!!! Looking forward to September and the start of a new era for USC football. FIGHT ON!!!
Happy New Year to you to @misterusc. ✌
You’re doing fine, Okie State…Okie State: OK!! Great game. Great outcome. Go Utah! Beat “the” Ohio State!
OK State even gets a FG here ND is in trouble .
How did the ND QB NOT see that OK State defender that intercepted that ball ?????
Just a brutal, picture-perfect pick. Irish in real trouble now. Closing in on yet another bad ending.
Somthing in me just ENJOYS seeing ND lose .
It’s part of being a Trojan.
Momentum seems to be favoring OK State.
But…………………….OK State gives the ball back to ND .
Strip by OK State creates a turnover !
ND coughs up the lead and now tied with Oklahoma State. Go Cowboys!
Great game so far. ND can’t run the ball.
I can’t wait to watch USC teams that can again.
With our OL, Dart, and the young running backs coming in and LFR, we are going to do that next season.
Who here agrees with me that UTAH will win the Rose Bowl? Even one TDB member?
On the college gameday show most (and if memory serves) ALL the guys on that show picked Utah to win .
Wow. I’m shocked. Truly. The Utes lost three games. But I stand with them, all emotions considered.
I know the mathematical transitive property does not apply in sports, but Utah did clobber the Ducks twice, who clobbered tOSU…just saying.
I hadn’t looked at it like that. Boy. it’s sure a sea of red at the Rose Bowl like I’ve never seen before. Change is the only constant.
I also think KW is a better coach than Day. Both inherited programs post Urban Meyer, but KW’s job has been much tougher in keeping Utah relevant. Give KW a few weeks to prep for an opponent and he’s tough to bet against.
I hope so. Utah is a sold team and OSU struggled with Oregon.
Me.
I posted yesterday that I thought the Utes would beat the Buckeyes. The two 1st round pick WRs on tOSU are sitting out the game.
Go Utes! I’m a total fan of the Utes today! They obviously want this SO bad. Great to see a team get into it like the Utes are so far today.
Hope Utah slaps the Overated State University around this afternoon. Go Utes!
Thank God that Mike Bohn didn’t hire James Franklin! What a dumpster fire they have at Penn State.
ARK 24, PSU 10. Amen.
One of the thrills of hiring Riley is that USC didn’t hire that guy Franklin. Loser again.
footballscoop.com — “Chip Kelly is now under contract only for 2022, but that’s not all. As of today, his buyout is $9 million. As of Jan. 16, the number drops to zero.
“Kelly could leave for another job at no cost to him, and UCLA could let him go at no cost to the school…”
UCLA has a huge deficit in the Athletic Department budget so they may let him go and bring the BC Coach over.
That would be a very interesting move.
Why is the BC coach a possible target for UCLA? Doesn’t he like money too? I haven’t followed this topic so far, just because I have no reason to think Choc Chip is leaving.
I figured that since Martin Jarmond came from BC he would hire someone he is familiar with. Would love to see Chip be let go and see what happens with the players there and if they move to SC.
Jarmond is someone I don’t have a good bead on at all. Is he someone who has UCLA football at the top of his priority list?
Not sure. We’ll have to see what happens. I could see Chip going to another school or the NFL.
Prediction? Does he go or stay? I say he stays.
I say he goes. They can’t afford to pay him a large salary.
I’d LOVE to see that. Kelly’s got the killer instinct, which makes him dangerous. Many of UCLA’s coaches haven’t had that in the past.
I think he will stay with a pay cut. I don’t think to many major schools would want him.
I hope a year from now we’re watching SC playing on New Year’s Day. Just doesn’t seem right that bowl games are happening without us.
I’m wondering if any Trojans fans still wish USC had been able to land Luke Fickell after seeing Nick Saban’s club slap the Bearcats around like they were Cubs.
Do other programs also still view Fickell as desirable coaching material after his team went comatose vs the Tide when it mattered? Would Fickell have won that game with ALA’s talent? We’ll never know.
Allen, I still think extremely highly of Fickell. I thought his team was extremely well coached and played hard. AL simply had too much talent on O and D for his team. If anything, this shows why he should have left Cincy if he wants to play for the NC. I think the only team in the nation that can line up with AL is GA. GA was also far superior in talent to MI which it destroyed worse than AL destroyed Cincy. I certainly hope that SC will soon be able to return to that level (maybe 3 years).
Another point, Fickell was far too conservative in his game plan. He simply had to take more chances on O. That might have back fired but the game plan did not reflect the talent discrepancy between the teams. The team with the lesser talent must be far more creative; Fickell was not.
RJJ you are right. Fickell needs to move to program with the money, facilities and the reputation to attract top athletes if he wants to win Natties. Otherwise, there will always be a Bama-like program in his way.
My original question was…will Fickell be as heavily pursued by other CFB programs now that he flopped against ‘Bama? Even though we all expected it, now that it’s reality, I think he has lost some value. JMHO.
Also, coaching hugely talented teams brings along a new set of problems that guys who win with lesser talent aren’t accustomed to, or often very good at.
I believe Fickell lost some juice based on how his feeble team couldn’t do jack all day vs the Tide. And I don’t see how you could say they were well-coached.
They never even made it into the end zone and ALA laid off and coasted in for an easy win. Fickell’s team looked like a fighter just trying to stay upright all day. Not impressed.
Cincy’s D played tough, especially in the 3rd, just not enough speed+strength on offense. Many other coaches would have been crushed by Saban. I think it was talent not lack of coaching that did the Bearcats in.
I would much rather have Riley than Fickell at this point. Riley has been their before. Just look how Oklahoma rolled over the Ducks.
Definitely!
Agree RJJ. The talent gap between the top P5 schools and the top G5 schools is huge. There’s something to be said about Xs and Os, but it still takes Jimmy’s and Joes.
I am discovering that I am getting urges to be an Oklahoma State fan for a day …….Could be because they about to play the great “Fighting Irish “.
So far #5 ND is absolutely destroying #9 OKS 14-0 after eight mins of play. This doesn’t look good for the Cowboys today, that’s for sure.
Too many years since we’ve played on this day and beyond.
Fight on, and happy new year Trojan nation!
Alabama and Georgia again, great
I am rooting for Bama. UGA fans abound ’round here (obviously) and they are just insufferable. I can take last night’s UGA win for a week; I cannot take the next win for all of 2022!
I have to admit, this ALA vs GA game for the NC should be fantastic. Even though I hate to see the SEC get two teams get in, these two are so much better than everyone else.
I’m glad this is the match-up, which I have no clue about. Who should be favored? ALA, I guess. The Era of Saban will never be matched by another coach anywhere IMO.
Is there any way they can both lose?
I guess we should just be happy we don’t have to see MICH vs CIN for the title!
Georgia halfback pass for a TD .
This just in on the Scoop: LSU: Jamar Cain will join the staff as defensive line coach and run game coordinator, according to multiple reports. The former Oklahoma outside linebackers coach had previously agreed to follow Lincoln Riley to USC.
What the heck is going on?
Wow. Score one for Brian Kelly. That one stings for sure.
Riley has a full plate…of problems. We’ll see how he handles it, not heard about Grintz doing much since he showed up with Riley, wonder if he has a Rolodex?
So optimistic on this New Year’s Day @alfa!! Downer post of the day so far! Things could always get worse, right? Now, for an alternative version — You lose one good asst, you go get another one if you’re a good HC, which we all know Riley is. Right? Nobody wanted our assts under The Cat. It’s a different ballgame when you’re shooting for the top and people actually want your people, like in any business. I don’t know why we would expect to hear anything from Grintz yet. What’s he supposed to be doing? Designing spring practice schedules with… Read more »
Much better than what we could have expected with the previous leadership. This is all so new to us, I appreciate your perspective on LR and I cannot remember anyone being so optimistic on here for a long time. I think LR will come up with an outstanding staff in the end, I just hope he has the guys in place by the February signing day so kids know who their coach at their position is.
“I just hope he has the guys in place by the February signing day”
That certainly is a key issue to recruiting top rated recruits who, plus their family expect further development. Will Riley get it done? I’m sure he will, but it will be a task not initially anticipated.
Not pessimistic or on a downer, just a bit concerned.
Both switched because of money and title issues, so, in my mind my concern is justified.
You call that not pessimistic?
All about LR’s big “problems”, in the shadows Grinch, and Rolodex’s? I just see things about USC football now a lot differently than you do, that’s for sure.
Allen, You most certainly do !!!
**Grinch…sp.
I’ve got edgy feelings about Brian Odom and Josh Henson as well
It’s 100% part of the deal now. We have assistants that others want. Riley will get a good hire in his place. Also, we don’t need a Rolodex of coaches we know, we can just go get a guy we know is good. Previously nobody wanted to jump on a sinking ship, it’s different now.
the top programs lose assistants every year, we’re no different.
Appreciate your attempts at reassurance, Chris.
Steveg, I agree with Chris. SC finally has quality assistants. How many coaches left The Cat for other programs? Only two that I can think of: the RB coach from Indiana (who stayed for a year, went to the KC Chiefs and then back to Indiana) and The Cat’s brother, who went to Western Kentucky. Saban loses assistants all the time. It is the cost of having a quality program, which demands quality assistants. We are going to lose some regularly. You will note, that the only assistant on the 2021 SC team got a comparable position was the OL… Read more »
So will the quote-unqoute “Greatest Conference in THE HISTORY of College Football ” (The SEC of course) be braggin tomorrow morning ?????
That ALA team I’m watching right now totally humble previously undefeated CIN is sure worth bragging about. The Saban era just goes on and on. Sooner or later, all of his biggest competitors have just dropped off while he is now trying for NC #8.
I didn’t think it was humanly possible really. But I do think the hiring of Riley by USC is the biggest CFB HC hire since ALA brought in Saban.
I want to believe that Riley can/will raise the SC Football Program up but in my 50 years road of being a sports fan that road is Laden with disapointments so I am in a wait-and-see mode ………Fight On !!!!!
Only once did I blindly believe in a team I root for……..It was in 1969 and I Blindly believed (And bought into the hype hook-line-and-sinker ) of my 1969 Baltimore Colts as they got ready to play Joe Namath and the NY Jets ………I will never allow that level of disapointment (and severe hurt ) to fool me again ……Fight On !!!!!…….Johnny Unitas’s favorite saying was …..”Talk (and hype) are cheap ” .
Johnny U was the best NFL QB when I was just starting to like football in the late ’50s. Here’s a couple of things about Old High Tops I didn’t know per Wiki: “In his younger years, Unitas dreamed about being part of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, but when he tried out for the team, coach Frank Leahy said that he was just too skinny and he would “get murdered” if he was put on the field. (Instead, Unitas went to LOUIS where he first reported at 6-1, 145 in 1951). “Toward the end of his life, Unitas brought media attention… Read more »
When Saban got to Alabama it was a disaster. He did a complete rebuild, took him a few years. He’s built a dynasty.
Nick Saban is not invincible when you have a Vince Young, Cam Newton, Deshaun Watson or a Trevor Lawrence on your side making plays at the right time.
Nick Saban has a FAR superior record to any of the coaches who actually coached those guys you name. He’s clearly the best CFB coach to ever coach the game. And that’s if Saban never even wins another game.
You seemingly disagree. So who do you think is the best CFB of all-time, or is naming names not your thing?
Looks like Alabama is just a little to much for Cinncy. Cinncy doesn’t look bad, just flat out manned by the Tide.
New 5-star incoming Trojan CB Domani Jackson — “I’m not going to bash on the old coaching staff, because I love Clay Helton,” Jackson said. “I just think it was more like everybody was nonchalant about everything. The energy changed at SC when I went out there the last two times and they’re about their business. They are already changing the whole weight room and stuff like that. “I’m more of a guy where I need people next to me that can push me and make me better. I don’t always want to be the best guy, but I am… Read more »
WSU Cougs just lost to Central Mich. With only the Rose Bowl to go, PAC 12 has yet to win a bowl. I think the Utes stand a chance as tOSU has its two best WRs sitting out the game.
So far the Pac12, 4 losses and a Chickened Out! Maybe instead of Chocolate Chip Kelley, he should be Chicken Chip Kelly! I don’t give Utah much of a chance either.
I say UTAH beats the Buckeyes today. I think the Utes see the Rose Bowl as hallowed today. OHIO ST thinks of it as USC used to, remember? Oh, the Rose Bowl again? Anyway, it’s a theory I’m pulling for.
There could be plenty of Buckeyes with something to prove in this one. Should be a good one.
After the bowl results, speculation about transfer portal prospects and coaching moves this month, it really looks like Mike Bohn’s coaching change was one that shifted the carousel into high gear. Would Oregon have looked as bad under Mario? Would coach Kelly gamble with a bowl game, salary impasse,bow-out if the carousel wasn’t still spinning so fast he couldn’t lug himself on it?
I am betting that the carousel won’t slow down until mid-February and several shots have been fired at USC’s being able to keep their new coach, from NFL teams. Keep spinning
True. It does seem like Lincoln Riley truly started an avalanche of various coach/player movements within CFB, especially when you consider his immed drill down on recruiting. . At least I’m thinking that way, maybe too subjectively.
I wish he could keep his coaches.
Y’all don’t think that LR would pull a Kliff Kingsbury and take an NFL offer now that he has seen the friggin’ mess Helton and Co. left behind, do ya?
I admit I am suffering from several years of Cat-inspired PTSD, so you understand why I might think that SC football can’t have nice things anymore.
I believe I read somewhere that LR is getting paid more than the Rams and Chargers Head Coaches combined. Hoping he loves the college game more and doesn’t feel the need to try the challenge of the NFL now. KK was able to make a big jump, from fired college HC to college OC in a terrible program to NFL HC. LR is in a sweet spot right now. Uprooting his family again would be another burden he shouldn’t want.
I also don’t think LR would leave USC right off the bat like this for some Pete Carroll-type offer 2022 version. He has too much to gain right at USC now. Situation perfect.
If KK had been USC’s HC, he might not have left either.
GT and Allen—you guys are far too rational for a man with Cat PTSD. 😄
I asked the same question and the best answer was that LR is paid so much money now, why take a cut to go elsewhere even the nfl and have to deal with those prima donnas.
Think of it as a support group. Helton Anonymous!
I am afraid NFL teams might take a shot. I believe that he, like many people, prefers the college games to the NFL. Hopefully money isn’t everything and considering what happened to Urban in the NFL I think we are safe for now.
Rialto, I researched pro coaches salaries. To make more than SC is paying him, a pro owner would have to make LR the highest paid HC in pro ball plus pay the huge buy out. In addition, LR has put together a great staff. Would he abandon them? I think your worry has little if any basis.
Questions to the TDB faithful considering Caleb Williams’ cryptic response concerning his future after OK’s bowl game, do you want him to transfer in, and do you think he’s an improvement over Dart?
My take is that I’m not that anxious for him to transfer, we’ll be fine without him. The combination of Dart getting improved coaching along with the entire team, and the 2023 commits (Nelson), our QB future is bright.
I trust LR. It really does not matter if Williams comes or not.
I look at it like if he comes he comes, let the best Qb win out. But I do doubt he comes to USC and yes I am usually wrong.
Bruce Feldman @BruceFeldmanCFB
SOURCE: Oklahoma offensive analyst Conner McQueen is expected to join Lincoln Riley’s staff at USC as a graduate assistant working with quarterbacks. The former Texas A&M QB spent two years on staff at UCLA under Chip Kelly after spending a year as a QC assistant for the Aggies.
on3.com
Tony Boselli Hall of Fame
Former Jacksonville OT Tony Boselli was again named a finalist for the Pro Football HOF for the sixth year in 2021. … He was the Jags first-ever first-round pick in 1995, and starting in his second season in 1996, he made it to five straight Pro Bowls.
The Pro Football HOF’s Class of 2022 will be introduced during the broadcast of the 11th annual “NFL Honors” show, a two-hour primetime awards special to air at 6 p.m. PT on Feb. 10, 2022 ahead of Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.
PUR 48, TENN 45. Yippeee!
I couldn’t believe Tenn didn’t go for the field goal, even if it was a bad call at the goal line, it would have put a whole different pressure on Purdue. Give that loss to the Tenn coach.
I can see where in live time it may have looked like his forward progression was stopped. Too bad these refs don’t get a first crack at this stuff in slow motion.
But TENN football has been horrible for so long, one could argue they deserved a break today. Not me though. Watching the SEC lose bowl game after bowl game has been a rare treat this football season. A truer example of Silver Linings Playbook doesn’t come to mind.
I was really hoping Chase McGrath could have nailed that 56 yard attempt with two seconds left to win in regulation. Would have been nice redemption for him. Tennessee is definitely better with Josh Heupel as coach, if they can keep him around
And to think, Riley is five years younger than Heupel. And he’s already won 20 more games.
SEC not doing so well at the moment. Of course, they do have 2 teams in the playoffs (Grr!). Watched TN game and was texting my brother throughout. I almost expected a mustard bottle or two to be tossed on that last goal line call. I will side with TN fans on the call. Refs have no business prematurely ending a play either by signal or whistle. Let them play, then sort it out on replay. Fans were also getting restless with all of the “injuries” to Purdue players, lame (pun intended) attempts at slowing the UT offense down. But,… Read more »
Happy New Years VT! I would imagine you Vol fans took that loss pretty hard yesterday. That was a tough one. I didn’t see much of the game, but it sounds like neither team deserved to lose that one.
As bad as the SEC has done so far in the bowls, most seem to think it’ll be ALA vs GA for it all. I sure hope not. I give CIN no chance, but still have a small, admittedly vague, hope that the Wolverines pull the upset. ✌
My relatives keep me plugged in to SEC and southern football whether I want to be or not, with TN, UF, UGA, and FSU all in the mix. I have long since grown weary of the SEC teams and bias in their favor in media, rankings, bowls, etc, and love when they lose out of conference games.
Here’s to a Cincy vs Mich championship game!
I wonder what the odds are on that? Maybe someone here knows.
My guess is 500 to 1.
I don’t know how odds for Vegas are calculated, but from a simple coin toss perspective, it’s 1 in 4.
Purdue and Tennessee sure came to play. Wow, what a game.
It sure was entertaining, that’s for sure. I never quite grasped all the bachelorette references from the announcers, though.
So now the OK fans are happy Riley left with their “huge” win over a decimated Oregon. Okies have always been accepted as being dumb, that proves it. Although they ran Rileys offense and Grinchs defense they still think they are better off without LR. Wait till fall when the reality hits them square in the face.
Nobody ever said ucla had class, and they proved they have none for sure with their bowl fiasco. Don’t ya just love the bowl season?