USC DT Bear Alexander is suddenly expected to enter the transfer portal, setting back Trojans’ D
USC DL Bear Alexander (90) swats down a pass by STAN QB Justin Lamson (8) in Trojans’ 56-10 smackdown at the Coliseum on Sept. 9. (Ashley Landis / AP)
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — After just one season as a 300-pound wrecking ball in the middle of USC’s defense, former five-star defensive tackle Bear Alexander plans to reenter the NCAA transfer portal, in search of his third school in three seasons.
Alexander appeared on track to becoming a cornerstone of USC’s new defense this season as it rebuilds under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn. His sophomore season was loaded with glimpses of his sky-high potential, as he recorded 48 tackles, 6½ of them for a loss.
Where those plans went awry was still murky as of Tuesday.
Alexander attended USC’s early-morning practice, hours before word of his transfer spread.
His departure, confirmed by a source with knowledge of the decision not authorized to discuss it publicly, leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the Trojans’ defensive front, one that may not be easily filled when the transfer portal opens on Monday.
Meanwhile, there should be no shortage of suitors lining up for Alexander, whose five-star talent is exceedingly rare to find in the portal, post-spring.
Alexander, who grew up in Texas, is no stranger to starting anew at another school. He attended five different high schools and played for four different football teams, before landing at Georgia ahead of its 2022 national title run.
Alexander’s guardian, Tony Jones, told The Times in the fall that Alexander left Georgia because they could no longer trust staff members who assured Jones that he’d play a major role as a sophomore. When Alexander wasn’t the clear-cut starter, Jones said he felt betrayed.
“If I can’t trust you with what you say, I’m out,” Jones said. “That’s what it got to [at Georgia.]”
Alexander immediately stepped into an impact role at USC upon his arrival last April. But a year later, he’s stepping back into the transfer portal, in search of something else.
latimes.com
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And now that Big Bear Alexander is “back in the fold”, or was it just a mirage? Lincoln Riley Unplugged … and It’s Business As Usual Moving To the B1G Riley — “I know it’s a big story on the outside, and I get it. We’re playing some different people, and there’ll be a few different things schematically and all that, but sometimes it gets made out in the media that the Big Ten is some wildly different deal. It’s football. So a couple of teams play with one more tight end. Like, big deal. “For us, it’s more our… Read more »
Resurgent 16-16 USC baseball continues to stay hot with its eighth win in the last nine games (and 13 of last 17), the latest being yesterday’s lopsided 12-5 defeat of #12 UCI (24-5).
UCLA is drastically headed in the opposite direction, dropping to 12-18 after losing 10-2 to Pepperdine at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Too bad SC got off to such a bad start. They are rolling now, and the bruins are 6 games underwater. Andy has these guys playing well, and it looks like he will one day get the Trojans back to making the playoffs and maybe fighting for a spot in Omaha.Order is being restored.
I couldn’t agree more.
Playing without a true home field until 2026 is such a big disadvantage it would seem. I don’t remember the last time USC could claim winning eight of nine games. Seems like a miracle based on USC’s recent history pre “Stanky”.
LOL…..Somehow a big bag of green paper arrived just in the nick of time and Bear rediscovers the wonder of USC…….last year it probably was a much smaller bag because our head coach believed that the only position that was important was QB and WR.
College football…….all about team, colors…….and getting a degree.
Cardinal, Gold and GREEN! 🤑✌💲💲💲
Nice little shot of cynicism there, made me laugh, but is probably more close to the truth than not. We rarely get a glimpse of the machinations going on behind the curtain.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see someone actually say “Ya, they offered me enough money so I am staying”. Not saying that is the case here though.😉
Yeah, it’s basically the college version of an NFL holdout.
Exactly
Prolific Ivy Leaguer Clark Slajchert commits to USC men’s basketball
Slajchert (6-1, 170, Los Angeles native) shot 42.2 percent from three this past season at PENN averaging 18 ppg.
Slajchert is the No. 152 overall prospect in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings. The three-star transfer prospect is the No. 33 shooting guard and the only guard on the Trojan roster.
247sports.com
Another shoe drops for USC basketball
USC star Isaiah Collier is moving on after one season in Los Angeles.
The 6’5″ guard declared for the 2024 NBA draft, via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Before the 2023-24 season tipped off, Collier bolting for the NBA at the earliest opportunity was basically a foregone conclusion.
bleacherreport.com
Stewart Mandel on the Trojan QB spot — USC is interesting as it took a complete turn with Miller Moss’ unanticipated six-touchdown performance against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl.
That may have scared away any high-profile transfers. But Lincoln Riley did land UNLV’s Jayden Maiava, the reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Moss holds the lead in large part because he has been in the system, but don’t count out the athletic Maiava.
theathletic.com
The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel on John Calipari, Lincoln Riley and Jimbo Fisher Question — John Calipari going to Arkansas certainly was a shocker. Do you think Lincoln Riley going from Oklahoma to USC was the college football equivalent, or is there a better comparison? Mandel — Am I the only one who wasn’t shocked by it all? As soon as Kentucky lost to Oakland, I knew he would hightail it out of there. He completely lost the fan base. Granted, I thought it would be for Michigan, not Arkansas, but Arkansas is not some dead-end basketball outpost. The Razorbacks were just in back-to-back Elite 8s… Read more »
USC Football: Source Denies Bear Alexander’s Rumored Transfer Portal Exit Ryn Dyrud (LAFB) — The LA Football Network had previously written that sources reported that Keithian “Bear” Alexander was expected to leave USC Football via the transfer portal once the new term opened on April 15. Shortly after publication, a source high up in USC’s football program refuted the claim, simply stating, “Bear is not going anywhere.” In 2023, the 6-3, 313 lb space eater DT had 32 pressures, three sacks, and 28 run stops per PFF. He was one of three Trojan DLs to play in all 13 games and played more than… Read more »
Well, I hope he stays and really learns how to be an elite defensive player. He has the right coaches at the right place in time for him. A couple of years to gain maturity would be a good idea as well. I look forward to one of his coaches taking him under his wing to teach him what it takes to be a man. Fight On!😎
Such a common thing to see with young men who grew up with chaotic home lives. He has the opportunity to learn from one of the best DL coaches anf DCs in college football and he immaturely throws the chance away. It’s a crying shame.