USC offers intriguing FCS transfer portal defensive end

The USC Trojans took huge strides on the defensive side of the ball in 2024 under new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. But one area the Trojans couldn’t ever find consistent success was getting to the quarterback and bringing him down. Lynn and USC are expected to look for pass rush help in the portal this offseason and the Trojans made an interesting offer on Monday to defensive end Cazeem Moore.

Moore is a 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end who has spent the past three years at FCS program Elon. Moore recorded 51 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles this season and now has 98 tackles and 13 sacks in his college career.

Moore was expected to be a notable Power 4 target when he entered the portal as another one of the players capable of making the jump from FCS to FBS. Moore announced in late November that he would enter the portal with one year of eligibility remaining.

First and foremost, I would like to thank God for allowing me to be where I am today. I would like to thank my coaches and teammates for the memories created these last 3 years #Juice #BMB

I will be entering my name in the transfer portal with 1 year left of eligibility pic.twitter.com/XI5R3YIpi6

— CazeemM (@CazeemMoore) November 25, 2024

On Monday, things really picked up when he officially entered the portal. Memphis, Boston College, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Virginia, South Florida, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Cal, Wisconsin and USC all extended offers. Moore is a North Carolina native, so the Trojans would be working to pull him across the country.

USC’s leader in sacks this season was middle linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, who finished with three. Linebacker Eric Gentry led the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and played in just four games. However it happens, whether with additional bodies from the transfer portal, instant-impact true freshmen, or development from guys on the roster, USC has to do better when it comes to getting to the quarterback and creating negative plays next season.

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