EDITOR’S UPDATE; 9/25/2024, 10:01 pm EST: Bear Alexander’s family member Tony Jones says the player wants to stay with the Trojans all year, despite his plan to sit out the rest of the season, so as to redshirt and enter the portal. ESPN’s Pete Thamel spoke with Jones earlier tonight. There is no confirmation from head coach Lincoln Riley as to whether he will allow Alexander to stay with the program, despite the intent to transfer.
Off the heels of UNLV’s Matthew Sluka and Michael Allen electing to shut down for the year, USC’s Bear Alexander has done the same. While Sluka’s situation is focused on NIL, Allen and Alexander’s motives seem to be centered around playing time.
Alexander was expected to have a breakout season for the Trojans. This preseason, he was named to the watchlists for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Trophy, Bednarik Award, and Outland Trophy. He joined the Trojans via the transfer portal prior to the 2023 season.
BREAKING: USC DL Bear Alexander plans to redshirt the remainder of the season and enter the transfer portal, @C_Morrissette reports.https://t.co/h1ohDSbs0J pic.twitter.com/hrSXjou8kM
— On3 (@On3sports) September 26, 2024
USC’s Bear Alexander to Redshirt, Enter Transfer Portal After Season
It has been quite the journey for Alexander. As a freshman, he logged quality snaps and finished the year with nine tackles, two sacks, and 13 quarterback hurries. Then, he transferred to USC. He amassed 48 tackles, six-and-a-half tackles for loss, one-and-a-half sacks, four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup.
However, this year, Alexander has only played 69 of USC’s defensive snaps on the season, resulting in just four tackles.
According to 247Sports’ Connor Morrissette, the news was officially broken by Alexanders’ guardian, Tony Jones with a text, “He’s taking the shirt.” This was after the defensive tackle was absent from Wednesday’s practice. He reportedly told head coach Lincoln Riley of his intention to take the redshirt and hit the transfer portal again once the season ends.
This all comes after a 21-snap, three-tackle effort in the loss to Michigan. In the wake of the loss, he tweeted “FREE 9-OWE.”
This past spring, Alexander had intended on re-entering the transfer portal. He was talked down after renegotiating his NIL deal with the Trojans’ NIL collectives. Wherever he ends up, Alexander will have two years of eligibility remaining. He was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class. Additionally, he was the 15th-best defensive lineman in the country out of IMG Academy.
