UPDATED: USC Spring Transfer Portal List (5/4)

The USC Trojans will be active in the transfer portal this spring as Lincoln Riley’s program has a few holes on the roster to fill before heading into the 2024 season.

This is the second portal window of the 2023-24 offseason, and here’s a look back at the USC transfer portal tracker for the first window, which included 22 departures and 11 new arrivals.

The Spring Transfer Portal entry window closed on April 30. Players can visit anytime they want and enroll in June for the summer session.

Fluid List of USC Transfer Targets

Below is a running list of players who have entered their name in the transfer portal, or submitted paperwork, and we’ve learned USC has interest.

Players did not have to announce a commitment to a new school by April 30. They can enroll at their school of choice anytime between now and the start of classes for the next school year. The next enrollment period at USC is for the June summer session.

Keep in mind this list will continue to grow each day. During the next two weeks there will be additions and subtractions as guys enter their names, and others commit to their new schools.

USC Spring Transfer Portal Targets

Liberty IOL Chase Mitchell (6-4, 330) – May 3 USC Visit

Liberty offensive lineman Chase Mitchell entered NCAA transfer portal with a no-contact tag, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. He’s visiting USC this weekend.

Mitchell entered the portal as a graduate transfer after spending all four seasons of his college career with the Flames, as he’ll now look for a new program to call home ahead of the 2024-2025 football season.

In his college career Mitchell has appeared in 31 total games, starting at left tackle last season for a Liberty offense that was one of the top units in the country. Protecting the blind side of star quarterback Kaidon Salter as the Flames went undefeated in the regular season and made an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.

Mitchell showed off some positional versatility throughout his time at Liberty after working at right tackle last spring and left guard during the team’s most recent spring practices. As the 6-foot-4, 330-pounder will look to bolster up a different offensive line unit ahead of the upcoming season.

Mitchell played high school football at Washington High School in Washington (PA), where he was a three-star prospect. Ranked the No. 2,890 overall recruit and the No. 284 offensive lineman in the 2020 cycle, according to On3’s Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Grand Valley State DT Jay’viar Suggs – May 4 USC Visit

(photo via Jay’viar Suggs)

As the spring transfer portal window winds to a close and the available names begin to finalize, it will be fascinating to see where programs go for those final players to add to the roster.

USC looks to be in need of multiple defensive linemen in this transfer cycle and the Trojans made a move in that direction on Thursday, extending an offer to former Grand Valley State defensive tackle Jay’viar Suggs.

The Trojans are hosting Suggs this weekend on an official visit and plans to visit Michigan after USC.

The 6-foot-3, 282-pound defensive lineman still reportedly has two years of eligibility remaining after spending five years at Division-II Grand Valley State. He has collected nearly 40 offers after hitting the portal this spring and is reeling in big ones as the final crunch continues.

Michigan and Oklahoma extended an offer this week. Suggs has taken visits to Floridas St., Arkansas and Wisconsin.

It’ll be interesting to see what effect the Michigan offer will have on the Flint native who attends Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan.

This past season, Suggs had 21 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and five sacks, to go along with a forced fumble and four pass deflections while appearing in 11 of 13 games. He had at least a half-tackle for loss in eight of those 11 appearances. The previous season, Suggs had 21 tackles, including seven for loss and three sacks, with a forced fumble and five pass deflections.

Stephen F. Austin DL Brandon Lane (6-4, 300)

Following a mid-week visit to East Lansing in April, Brandon Lane announced his commitment to play in the Big Ten for new head coach Jonathan Smith.

The defensive tackle transfer spent the last two seasons playing for Stephen F. Austin after beginning his career at South Dakota State. The 300-pound defensive lineman recorded 45 tackles last season.

But Lane has since backed off his verbal pledge to the Spartans and USC is among the schools taking a close look at him. Kentucky is another program pursuing Lane.

Lane told WeAreSC Friday night that a USC visit is in the works.

The defensive tackle has picked up offers from California, West Virginia, Indiana, Appalachian State, and others since entering the portal. Lane is ranked the No. 542 overall recruit in the 2024 On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Notre Dame CB Micah Bell (5-10, 175)

Notre Dame cornerback Micah Bell at the All-American Bowl Jan. 4, 2023 (Sam Spiegelman/On3)

On Monday, Notre Dame Defensive Back Micah Bell announced his intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. He spent just one season with the Fighting Irish after

Although Bell didn’t play much in his one season at Notre Dame, he made three appearances and tallied one tackle, which was a tackle for loss.

On Tuesday Doug Belk and USC offered Bell a scholarship. Bell also announced offers from Vanderbilt, Houston and more are expected this week.

Bell played high school football at The Kincaid School (TX), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 264 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

USC didn’t offer Bell in high school, but he earned offers from Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas, Oregon, Michigan, Florida, TCU, Nebraska, Michigan St., Purdue, Colorado and many more.

Micah’s brother, Dillon, is a wide receiver at Georgia. He played in all 14 games for the Bulldogs last season while making eight starts. Along with his decision to transfer, Micah Bell released a heartfelt message on social media.

UCLA WR Kyle Ford (6-3, 220) – Committed USC

Not many of us were surprised when Kyle Ford hit the Transfer Portal after the 2022 season, as he strongly hinted that was his plan after the Cotton Bowl. What was surprising, was him ultimately transferring to play for cross-town rival UCLA.

On Monday we learned it’s very likely Ford will come full and return to USC for his final season in 2024. Ford attended two USC Spring Practices and the April 20 USC Spring Game.

Ford played sparingly until the 2021 season, when he played in eight games and hauled in 19 passes for 252 yards, scoring two touchdowns. He had similar reception numbers with 20 in 2022 at USC and in 2023 at UCLA.

After the Bruins kicked USC’s butt in the Coliseum last December, Ford had indicated he’d likely transfer again. He entered the transfer portal on March 15 and now he’ll be back at USC for summer workouts and player run practices (PRP).

Last week Ford’s top schools were revealed. They were USC, Ohio St., Florida, South Carolina, Wake Forest and Michigan.

Auburn WR Jay Fair (5-11, 190) – Committed USC

Jay Fair (Photo by Matt Rudolph/Auburn Live)

Auburn wide receiver Jay Fair entered the transfer portal on Monday and USC was among the first schools to hit him up he told WeAreSC.

Hayes Fawcett tweeted Fair’s intended plans on Saturday afternoon, writing:

“BREAKING: Auburn WR Jay Fair plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports. The 5’11 186 WR was a 2 year starter for the Tigers 2nd on the team in yards & receptions, averaged 11 yards per catch Will have 2 years of eligibility remaining.”

On Friday morning we learned about Fair being on campus at USC for an official visit. Michigan State DL Derrick Harmon has also been at USC since Thursday.

Fair spent two seasons with the Tigers after committing there out of the 2022 class. In that 2022 class, Fair rated as a three-star recruit, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He was also slotted as the No. 87 wide receiver and No. 83 recruit out of Texas for his cycle.

Of note: Fair had been dealing with some sort of injury during a portion of spring practice, Hugh Freeze shared to reporters after practice one day.

Louisville Edge Tyler Baron (6-5, 260) – May 4 USC Visit

Former Tennessee EDGE Tyler Baron entered the NCAA Transfer Portal last week. Baron initially committed to Ole Miss in the portal before flipping his commitment to Louisville. Now, Baron will examine his options once again.

USC has emerged as one of the top options for Baron and he’s scheduled to take an official visit to Los Angeles on Monday April 29 per sources.

Baron spent four seasons at Tennessee. In the 2023 campaign, Baron tallied a career-high 28 tackles and six sacks while also recovering a fumble. Baron was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording two sacks in Tennessee’s season-opening victory over Virginia.

In four seasons with the Volunteers, Baron made 48 appearances and amassed 101 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, four passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Tyler Baron played high school football at Knoxville Catholic (TN), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 111 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Baron committed to Ole Miss in the portal on Dec. 16. Only one month later, Baron flipped his commitment to Louisville. Evidently, Baron still has not found what he’s looking for. He will be one of the top available defensive linemen in the transfer portal.

UPDATE APRIL 29:

Baron has already visited Miami and was scheduled to visit USC April 29, but he’s now set to check out the Trojans this weekend. He may also visit Ole Miss this week.

Florida State CB Greedy Vance (5-11, 170) – Committed USC

Florida State defensive back Greedy Vance (Gene Williams / Warchant.com)

Florida State defensive back Greedy Vance Jr. is planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

USC is pursuing Vance and it won’t hurt that he’s a New Orleans kid and attended the same high school, Edna Karr, as USC defensive line coach Eric Henderson. We expect Coach Henny to be heavily involved with Vance’s recruitment should it heat up as expected.

The veteran DB appeared in all 14 games last season, making five starts. He finished with 18 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception.

As a redshirt freshman he appeared in 12 games, with nine starts, finishing with 36 tackles and seven pass breakups. He then transferred to Florida State and was an immediate contributor for the Seminoles.

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