Bear Alexander compares coaching styles of Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley
After hopping in the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, USC Trojans defensive lineman Bear Alexander went from one elite college football program led by national championship-winning head coach Kirby Smart to a program run by college football offensive guru Lincoln Riley. While Smart’s bread and butter is on the defensive side of the ball as opposed to Riley being an offensive mind, the two college football headmen share a number of similarities, according to Alexander.
“I mean, it’s the same. Lincoln and Kirby are very similar. I mean, they both got the same goals and the same expectations. So it’s kind of; it’s very similar,” said Alexander.
Last season in Georgia’s national championship run, Alexander saw the field in eight of Georgia’s fifteen wins. He finished the year with nine total tackles, five solo, and two sacks, one coming in the national championship game against the TCU Horn Frogs.
While there are indeed similarities between the two coaches, there is one difference Riley is attempting to erase — being crowned as a national champion. And USC has a legitimate chance at making that a reality this season. The Trojans still have a deep and talented offense led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Willams. Where they made their most significant strides is on the defensive end with the amount of talent they were able to recruit through the transfer portal, with Alexander being one of those individuals. And with their elite offense and a much-improved defense, there’s a chance Alexander’s previous coach and his current one could meet for all the marbles.
Alexander explains what he tells USC teammates that ask him about national championships
With Alexander transferring to USC, that means he brings national championship experience to the Trojans. This has, naturally, led to questions about that championship experience.
“It takes hard work,” Bear Alexander said. “It takes having a good approach, a good intent. Just going into these situations with the right mindset and prepare.”
Last season, Alexander was a key player on Georgia’s team, playing in 12 games and making two sacks and three tackles for loss as an interior defensive lineman. That was his only season with the Bulldogs in what looked like a promising career in Athens.
Of course, Bear Alexander still has a promising career. It’ll just be in Los Angeles now. After all, as a recruit, he nearly signed with Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma out of high school.
“I was actually secretly committed [to Oklahoma],” Alexander admitted. “I ended up going to Georgia, but it was close.”
Now, he’s transferring to USC, where he expects to be an every down player in a way that he likely wouldn’t have been if he stayed at Georgia. Beyond that, he felt like going to USC was a no-brainer given its location.
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