The transfer portal window has closed. But there are plenty of red-hot portal players out there burning holes in the pockets of head coaches and athletic directors. USC football is still in need of adding players to fill out their roster. These are the Trojan’s top transfer prospects.
Top Transfer Recruits for USC Football
Bryce Foster, IOL, Texas A&M
Bryce Foster just took a visit with USC this week. The former Aggie was ranked as the 2nd best interior offensive lineman in the nation in 2021. The 6 foot 5, 330 pounder was a three-year starter for A&M. He allowed just one sack over 435 pass-blocking snaps. According to Aggies beat reporter, Matt Guzman, Foster was one of few bright spots on the team.
“Foster started eight games for the Aggies last season, playing a big role in their offensive efficiency, though it didn’t quite translate to their record. Either way, he was effective.”
Johnny Bowens III, DL, Oregon
Coming out of high school in 2023, Johnny Bowens was a 4-star recruit, the 15th-best defensive lineman in the nation. He played just 11 snaps for the Ducks as a true freshman last season. In those snaps he was incredibly impressive with three STOPs, a PFF stat defined as ‘tackles that constitute a “failure” for the offense.’
If Bowens is looking for playing time, the Trojans can facilitate that request. Head coach Lincoln Riley has made it clear that he is looking for transfer defensive linemen post haste. At 6-foot 3, 290 lbs, Bowens could be one of the few that ‘God made’ to play defensive line.
The best news about Bowens is he isn’t draft-eligible until 2027.
Tyler Baron, Edge, Louisville
Tyler Baron finished last season with a career-high in quarterback pressures and in STOPs. His pressure rate has remained consistently good, but the run defense has improved vastly. Baron visited USC football at the end of April.
Baron was the 8th-ranked edge rusher in the nation in 2020.
Elijhah Badger, WR, Arizona State
Elijhah Badger led the Sun Devils in receptions and receiving yards in both of the last two seasons. Badger could be looking to new schools for some stability. Among ASU’s problems last season was a carousel of four different quarterbacks.
USC has padded the WR room this year, but most are untested and in a Riley offense, you really can’t have too many pass catchers. As of Tuesday, USC football has extended a scholarship offer to the 6’2″ 190 receiver.
Cormani McClain, CB, Colorado
There has been a big ‘will-they, won’t they’ romance between USC and Cormani McClain since he entered the transfer portal. He is the big fish in the cornerback market and for good reason. Apart from a few bad plays, McClain was a shutdown corner last season. Mind you, this was as a starting true freshman.
Cornerback isn’t the team’s biggest need, but McClain would be a tide that lifts all boats in the USC defense.
