Will the USC Opt-Outs Return To Play? Will More Opt-Out?

Alijah Vera-Tucker and Jay Tufele haven’t said if they’ll return for USC

USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker declared for the NFL draft earlier this month after the Pac-12 postponed the 2020 season. Will he play for USC again now that the season has been restored? (Katherine Lotze / Getty Images) 

But Amon-ra St. Brown was in no hurry to make that leap, even as he watched teammates Alijah Vera-Tucker and Jay Tufele declare their intentions to skip the upcoming season. He couldn’t understand why anyone would announce before January, when top prospects normally are faced with that decision.

“I was out there treating every day like there was a season,” St. Brown said. “I wanted to play — that was my intention. And as we look now, we’re going to have a season, and I’m excited to play this year.”

A spring season might’ve changed that calculus. But patience ultimately paid off for St. Brown, and with the Pac-12 set to return in early November, the focus now turns to whether the two Trojans who already declared their intentions might change their mind.

Neither player’s status has changed yet, per USC coach Clay Helton. Vera-Tucker, an offensive lineman, has yet to sign with an agent and presumably still could return without consequence. Tufele, however, already signed with an agent. Under normal circumstances, the defensive lineman would be unable to return.

If he chooses, Tufele could enter the NCAA’s Student-Athlete Reinstatement process, in order to regain his amateur status, similar to the process top prospects like Minnesota wideout Rashod Bateman have undertaken. But the NCAA would have to grant a special waiver, and without precedent, it’s unclear how such cases will be handled.

“We’re seeing across the country there are some waivers being put in place just because of these special situations that are happening, especially with not knowing we’re going to have a season,” Helton said. “There have been other schools where waivers have been applied. If they choose to do that, we would obviously look into that. But first, we’re going to let them absorb the information.

“I don’t think all decisions are final one way or the other,” Helton said of players looking to return or leave. “There are some tough decisions to be made and I want every man to have the privacy to be able to have the time over these next two weeks to make their personal decision.”

They’ll presumably have two weeks to decide, with USC hoping to start practice Oct. 9.

USC quarterback Kedon Slovis said he’s discussed the decision with Vera-Tucker, who was slated to protect his blindside.

“He’s a great player and we’d love to have him back,” Slovis said. But the quarterback was wary of “applying too much pressure because that’s his decision to make.” 

Helton didn’t rule out other players deciding to opt-out between now and the opening of fall practice. Safety Talanoa Hufanga (above) is believed to be a potential first-round pick next spring, while wideout Tyler Vaughns briefly considered leaving for the NFL after last season.

St. Brown never let himself worry too much about that decision. Instead, he spent the last few months focused on making the best of what figures to be his final college season.

According to Helton, he’s well on his way.

“I’ve known him since he was a freshman in high school,” Helton said. “I’ve never seen him in this great of shape or so far advanced than where he’s at right now. I truly believe he’ll separate himself among other receivers in this country.”

latimes.com

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TrojanRJJ
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September 30, 2020 8:25 am

Once again, I must correct my speculations based on Wilner. I have posted several times that the USC players having to petition the Governor publicly to play showed a lack of leadership inside the Pac and also SC. My thought was the Pac should have been handling this issue and not relying on the kids Well, Wilner reports what actually happened and I got it wrong. What occurred was the Pac did commence seeking the required changes from the Governor’s office shortly after the new Covid testing was in place. They hit a stonewall and were getting nowhere. My guess… Read more »

gametv
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September 30, 2020 2:05 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

COVID decisions have all become a political statement. too bad.

the only thing I took away from that horrible debate is that our 2 party system is completely broken. are these really the two best people to be president? really?

Terrific Tommy
September 30, 2020 2:12 pm
Reply to  gametv

The only real loser last night , IMO, was Chris Wallace. Otherwise, for me, it was a non-event.

Terrific Tommy
September 30, 2020 6:27 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

They need to be able to kill the mic on the candidate who’s not talking. I’m confident that they will.

Steveg
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September 30, 2020 7:24 pm
Reply to  Terrific Tommy

They need to have a 250lb nun with a ruler to smack their knuckles if they talk out of turn. CW came up with the questions which led nowhere. Out of it I gave all three a zero. No substance, no positions. What did we learn? Trump is a no BS president, Biden is an old time politician.

ATL D.D.S.
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October 1, 2020 7:07 am
Reply to  Terrific Tommy

He couldn’t keep his Trump hatred under wraps. It soon came to be an unfair fight–2 against 1 and DJT fought back. This is why the President’s base adores him. When attacked, he will fight back, especially when someone lies about him. This makes him unique among Republican presidents, with the possible exception of Reagan.

ATL D.D.S.
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October 1, 2020 7:03 am
Reply to  gametv

Covid/Wuhan CCP Virus has been the first virus that was utilized for political-economic reasons by your friends in the Red Chinese Govt.

Here in the USA, Covid-19 has been the first political pandemic.

gametv
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September 30, 2020 2:11 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

i personally think that if Drake London picks up where he left off at the end of last season and Bru McCoy lives up to his hype, the receiver corps will be stacked again. but i cant help but wonder why Oregon took 4 receivers that USC must have wanted. there is some issue with recruiting on the offensive side of the ball this year. defensive recruiting is as good as anyone could expect with Helton as HC, but offensive recruiting was run over by Oregon and some other top programs. i’m pretty sure that Bohn sees this as the… Read more »

Golden Trojan
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September 29, 2020 1:16 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Where would the Holiday Bowl be played? The old stadium in San Diego is basically abandoned. SDSU has taken over the property and has started on a new stadium, to be complete in 2 years. The Aztecs will be playing at Carson till then.

Golden Trojan
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September 29, 2020 2:52 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

One of the reasons for SDSU moving to Carson was the lack of space for TV cameras at these small stadiums. I guess there won’t be spectators, at least in California, maybe all the TV cameras won’t be an issue for a lesser bowl. It would be weird for the Holiday Bowl to be in Carson.

Golden Trojan
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September 29, 2020 5:42 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

The 2014 game was fun, it felt like USC was on the way back. Then Sark imploded and the next year felt like why even bother. Then getting pounded by Iowa last year. I’m over it, get back in the national spotlight already.

Terrific Tommy
September 29, 2020 9:17 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Well Allen, that was certainly not one of my proudest Trojan moments. I never thought I’d see a Trojan Bowl Team get punched in the mouth that badly. 😫

Golden Trojan
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September 29, 2020 9:05 am

Off topic, housekeeping question. Allen/John, can you run down the status list, from Active Member to Mt Rushmore and what it takes to move up? Just curious.

John Weld
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September 29, 2020 9:47 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

The system is based on the number of ‘Likes’ that a member receives for their comments. Active is 0-49 Noble is 50-249 Knight is 250-499 Diamond is 500-999 Mt Rushmore is 1000+ Since the beginning of the Pandemic and Stay-at-Home orders the number of members using the ‘Like’ system has dropped dramatically. I am hoping this trend will change once USC starts playing football games again. A side note: We have a steady group of people that regularly comment but what you may not realize is that our average readership during the summer is about 400 people per day and… Read more »

Golden Trojan
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September 29, 2020 10:41 am
Reply to  John Weld

Thanks for the update. Those eavesdroppers should just jump in. The waters fine.😎

Trojan5
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September 29, 2020 11:56 am
Reply to  John Weld

Thanks for the info. I was not aware there was a FB page.

Chris
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September 28, 2020 6:56 pm

Allen, I think it won’t be much longer before the Jets move on from Darnold. I hope he gets another shot with a team that’s not an absolute train wreck.

Golden Trojan
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September 29, 2020 8:59 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

The Jets look like the Browns and Bengals. Poorly managed organizations that year after year hire a new coach, draft a number one quarterback and build nothing around him. I was looking at the highlights of the KC – Ravens game and couldn’t help but think, you could drop Sam Darnold into the Chiefs offense and he would thrive. Not Pat Mahomes good but in a season or two he would be. Just think what Carson Palmer and Mark Sanchez would have done if their first years in the NFL weren’t in the dumpster fires they got put in.

Jamaica
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September 29, 2020 12:28 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Did Sam fail in the learning system of CFB or did the system fail Sam? Was he really prepared to play in the pros? I am not so sure due to the coaching scenario going on at USC. He could have stayed another year or two and developed with what little was at USC to help him mature no matter the danger of being seriously injured due to a sad OL unable to hold back most defenses. Not to mention he was mostly the show in pulling out wins for Helton. Sam could have transferred to another program with better… Read more »

HOF19
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September 28, 2020 8:10 pm
Reply to  Chris

As he watches Kyler Murray( 1st pick in 2019 NFL Draft) complete passes to DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald does he realize that if he stayed in college another year HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN the 2019 1st pick in the draft and be the Cardinals QB .

HOF19
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September 28, 2020 8:13 pm
Reply to  HOF19

My dad (God rest his soul) told me a good part of life can be the decisions we make !!!!!

Terrific Tommy
September 28, 2020 7:37 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Does JT still have his SC tats? That should be interesting in the Georgia locker-room if he does. 😁

Golden Trojan
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September 29, 2020 9:02 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

May be time to put some UGA tats on the other leg. Just another phase in his career.

Steveg
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September 28, 2020 4:05 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

They better come up with more than one RB for 2021.

HOF19
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September 28, 2020 2:01 pm

I am a Colts fan so he will be missed …..But him getting back to full health comes first >>>>>>>>>

Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet
· 50m
#Colts WR Michael Pittman had compartment leg syndrome in his calf, source said, and he had surgery last night. It went well. He should be back the game after their bye. So, likely Week 8.

HOF19
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September 28, 2020 2:04 pm
Reply to  HOF19

More info on Pittman >>>>>>>David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc

@ProFootballDoc
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50m

Compartment syndrome is one of the true medical emergencies. Too much bleeding into a confined space and cuts off microcirculation and compresses nerves. Cutting open fascia relieves the swelling issue. About 6 week return when caught early.

ATL D.D.S.
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September 29, 2020 6:18 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Still so very sad to have this happen to the young man.

RialtoTrojan
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September 27, 2020 6:05 pm

I’d like to see these men return. But is saying they’re declaring for the draft the same as a dying wish? If they haven’t signed with an agent yet, are they disallowed from playing? I’m asking for a friend.

Steveg
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September 28, 2020 3:26 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

I believe if they have not signed with an agent they can reinstate. If they have signed with an agent they must return any and all money received and get approval by the ncaa before they can reinstate.

Steveg
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September 27, 2020 5:47 pm

Slovis needs to have a good left tackle and AVT is the guy. Tufele is the best D lineman we have, if he can get some grace from the ncaa it would be great for him to return and shine for USC in his last season.

TrojanMPA90
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September 27, 2020 5:36 pm

Both AVT and Tufele would be wise to return and play so scouts can see them one more time and they can help their draft position.

Jamaica
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September 27, 2020 3:25 pm

If it wasn’t mostly for “luck”, I don’t know how Clay Helton could be where he is today. No matter how poorly he performs in his HC duties, he continues to land on his feet backed up by an administration that no one on the outside can figure out. The only skill he possibly has is knowing who to genuflect in front of.

Steveg
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September 27, 2020 3:45 pm
Reply to  Jamaica

Jam, I don’t know of anyone on here that would disagree with you.

RialtoTrojan
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September 28, 2020 7:20 am
Reply to  Jamaica

Jam, the truth is stranger than it seems. Luck has to be combined with something else to actually be considered lucky. In this case Helton’s ability to win a game was seen as an asset and so the administration did the lazy thing. Helton has been as lucky as the administration has been lazy. The fans and faithful have been ignored because the administration doesn’t answer to them. Nobody disputes that Helton’s teams have won games, but anybody who knows football knows Helton’s teams have been below standard. It’s not that we lost a game or two, it’s who and… Read more »

gametv
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September 28, 2020 1:24 pm
Reply to  RialtoTrojan

Helton’s biggest problem has been that he surrounded himself with coaches who were not highly qualified/skilled. To some degree, that problem has been improved, if not fully solved.

I’m starting to wonder if SC will have a really good team this year (Urban Meyer thinks so). I decided that even if I generally wanted Helton replaced, I just cant hope for this team to fail.

Jamaica
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September 28, 2020 4:37 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

USC’s inability to play up to its accustomed potential started when its OL became unreliable in its execution. It no longer could provide a rushing game and put its QB in harms way. You can pay millions to keep an incompetent HC who does nothing to help the program prosper and yet USC can’t hire a competent position coach for the OL…..

John Weld
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September 27, 2020 11:21 am

AP TOP 25 1 Clemson (2-0) 1 ACC 1,542 (55) 2 Alabama (1-0) 2 SEC 1,473 (3) 3 Florida (1-0) 5 SEC 1,324 4 Georgia (1-0) 4 SEC 1,310 5 Notre Dame (2-0) 7 IA Independents 1,231 6 Ohio State (0-0) Big Ten 1,169 (4) 7 Auburn (1-0) 8 SEC 1,133 8 Miami (FL) (3-0) 12 ACC 1,045 9 Texas (2-0) 8 Big 12 862 10 Penn State (0-0) Big Ten 840 11 UCF (2-0) 13 American Athletic 743 12 North Carolina (1-0) 11 ACC 734 13 Texas A&M (1-0) 10 SEC 705 14 Oregon (0-0) Pac-12 651 15 Cincinnati… Read more »

Steveg
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September 27, 2020 1:23 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

SWAG system.

gametv
gametv
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September 28, 2020 1:28 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

This whole ranking is weird. Georgia still at #4 after a really pathetic start to that game and Ohio State ranked 6th? It seems like half the AP didnt even know that the Big 10 and Pac 12 were going to play this season. Or maybe teams in those 2 divisions are being punished for playing less games? It will start to shake itself out over the next month. Who really cares about where the polls start?

Steveg
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Steveg
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September 27, 2020 1:22 pm
Reply to  John Weld

How in the world Georgia could be considered below #15 is a true mystery. They flat out don’t have it this season. Auburn will shut them down and put the beat down on them. Florida and Alabama are the only contenders in the SEC. This weeks polling is proof positive that polls this early, especially this season are completely not legit.

UtahTrojan
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September 27, 2020 1:31 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Only reason I agree with this now is the shortened season. No time to recover.

Golden Trojan
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September 27, 2020 10:26 am

Pac 12 players with NFL potential can play 6-7 real games in November. Won’t that look favorably by playing versus avoiding injury by not playing? If I’m an NFL scout I would be more impressed by a guy that plays than the guy that plays it safe. But what do I know?

Steveg
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September 27, 2020 5:50 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Pros are only interested in the pros, the money, and how they can drain everything from a player before they burn them out. We would love to see guys play for sure.

John Weld
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September 27, 2020 9:56 am

Larry Scott on the chances of a PAC 12 team making the College Football Playoffs.

TrojanRJJ
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September 27, 2020 10:05 am
Reply to  John Weld

With Oregon having so many of their stars opt out (and my guess is any Oregon kid with NFL potential is going to opt out), that leaves SC as the only team with an outside chance and SC has Clay.

gametv
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September 28, 2020 1:35 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

SC is the biggest unknown of any team this year. The schedule is going to be lightweight and the Pac-12 teams are all not really prepared to play. Going into a second season of the air raid with a loaded deck of receivers is going to give this team a big boost, but can Slovis stay upright and healthy if the o-line is such a big question? And will Stepp finally have a big year, or will SC running attack be MIA? And will Todd Orlando be the defensive savant that turns SC’s talented defense into a real force? I… Read more »

UtahTrojan
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September 27, 2020 11:10 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

We could play the little gutties every week. That could be fun.

PN4SC
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September 27, 2020 11:43 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

With this offseason being so unusual, with no spring practice, on again off again etc, I feel that the first game of the season is when an upset is most likely to take place. I agree that there is no reason to believe the gutties will be a good team, but I doubt Clay’s ability to have us ready early on ( not that I think Clay knows how to get a team ready under any circumstances).
Bottom line, I would rather play them the last game, not the first. I like our chances better, despite Clay’s misgivings.

Jamaica
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September 27, 2020 3:02 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Sometimes over confidence has a way of evening up the chances of an underdog? And you show a measurable weakness and it can’t be resolved in time, you can get beat. In addition how many of these teams are weakened by opt-outs & positive tests? LSU got beat because its D-line couldn’t get to Costello soon enough and the tigers lost one of their premier DBs. I don’t remember MSU having that great of WRs. Same might be said of OU’s defense? This could be one of the screwiest CFB seasons to date and even a PAC-12 team could qualify… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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September 27, 2020 1:34 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I am with you. Candidly, I think UCLA is the weakest team on the schedule this year. Best to use them as a warm up. And, they are NOT going to be ready to play.

gametv
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September 28, 2020 1:38 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

I actually want to play Cal to start off the season this year. Why make it easy on Helton? If he is going to remain as coach, let him earn it.

If SC cant beat Cal, then we need to really move on to a new head coach. 7-0 is the only really acceptable record this year. Aside from Oregon and maybe ASU, the year should include a good number of blow-outs.

Let’s hope that AVT returns.

Steveg
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September 27, 2020 3:42 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, I’m all for it. Beating ucla makes for a great weekend. Anytime!!

ATL D.D.S.
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September 28, 2020 10:32 am
Reply to  John Weld

Really Larry? The rest of the USA no longer believes the BS you are pushing….