USC Trojans defensive tackle, Bear Alexander, has been a player of conversation ever since he transferred to SC in 2023.
He was far and away the best defensive player on the team last year but then was rumored to be close to transferring out of the program last spring before ultimately deciding to stay.
After Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to the Michigan Wolverines, he and his guardian took to social media.
Without speaking directly to Bear, we don’t know if this post is just frustration after a tough loss, or directed toward his coaches or teammates. Either way, it never looks great.
Coach Lincoln Riley was asked about this during his media availability after Tuesday’s practice. Here was his response:
Lincoln Riley On Bear Alexander: “There’s No Story There”
He played over a third of the game. People want to act like he’s not playing snaps. He’s doing a good job for us out there. There’s no story there. I know you guys are looking for one. There’s no story there.
Lincoln Riley
Per PFF, Alexander played a total of 21 snaps. The defense was on the field for a total of 58 snaps.
Riley continued:
He’s in a new system, with a new coach. He’s getting better, and I think he’s going to get better. It should be hard to play D-Line at USC. It ought to be kind of hard. It wasn’t hard last year. That’s why we weren’t very good up front…So sometimes, it’s not what someone is not doing, but it’s competitive, and there’s tough decisions to make every week.
Without social media, this would be even less of a story, but anytime a player speaks out or posts something a bit cryptic, especially after a loss, it gets people talking.
Riley finished:
Go look at the last snap of the game, see if he’s on the field. There’s no story there. Guy is getting better. He needs to keep improving, and I’m confident that he will with the coaching we have and the room that we have him in.
Bear has a chance to truly put this story to bed by going out on Saturday and having himself a game at the Coli against Wisconsin. He has the best defensive line coach in America in Coach Henderson, so I would certainly expect him, and the entire defensive line room, to have a much-improved game.
The USC Trojans host the Wisconsin Badgers this Saturday at 12:30 PM PT at the Coliseum.