Saw chatter on Twitter about him not being allowed into USC, with multiple posts stating it is not academic.
Trajan Jeffcoat
- Thread starter PerchedOnRings
- Start date
It is a mystery that plenty know about but none are spilling the beans. Frustrating.
As of now, I’ve only seen conflicting reports as to the finality. There is an article on The State, but I’m not a subscriber
The State picked up Kornblutt's post. I've put it below (korblutt's post). Whatever is going on, I hope it gets cleared up. We sure could use this guy because he's fits a big need at DE and SC is home and he'd like to be here. If it's not academics (as reported) then the speculation comes down
to possible actions regarding an agent, NIL, etc. Everyone is guessing really.
Missouri standout defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat wanted to finish his career close to his Irmo home, and with Jordan Burch transferring to Oregon, USC had an immediate opening and need for a defensive end/pass rusher. The two sides moved quickly to make it happen, and over the last week all indications were Jeffcoat would be in school this week.
Then, something in the transfer process broke down, and as of Monday night it appears Jeffcoat to USC is DOA.
JC Shurburtt of TheBigSpur, who has been out front on this story from the start, reported Monday night the issue preventing his enrollment was not academic related. A source we talked with Monday night confirmed the same, adding that as late as Sunday night Jeffcoat was expecting to join the program without a hitch.
According to our source, coming home to play a final season in the SEC was big for Jeffcoat, and per our source, the NIL deal from USC was less than he would have gotten had he stayed at Missouri. The source, like other sources media have contacted, did not know the reason why the transfer to USC was blocked.
In 2019 at Missouri, after playing six games as a freshman in 2018, Jeffcoat missed the first five games with an elbow injury, then left the team for an undisclosed reason. He was given a redshirt for the season, returned for the 2020 season and made All-SEC. He also played full seasons with the Tigers in 2021 and 2022.
Tuesday is the last day for a USC student to be in class for grades to count in the spring semester.
Not being able to add Jeffcoat to the roster would be a major blow for Shane Beamer and defensive coordinator Clayton White. Thinking they had Jeffcoat, it’s possible they passed on other defensive ends of his quality. And now, finding one in the portal with an All-SEC type of background won’t be easy.
I think this is a ridiculous situation.
Based on a very reliable source, he did not even apply to USC .... that being the case, the rest is mere folderol ...
This sucks. Is Trajan just sort of stuck in the portal with no team then?
I think:
1) he verbally committed and never showed up on campus. Only he would know why.
2) Or he is begging Mizzou to take him back because……… NIL money is less at Carolina like the article says.
I think:
1) he verbally committed and never showed up on campus. Only he would know why.
2) Or he is begging Mizzou to take him back because……… NIL money is less at Carolina like the article says.
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If that's the case, I hope some of the anger and accusations against the admissions office will stop.
I will be very angry if he wants to come here, is prevented from so doing, and ends up at another SEC school. That has happened too many times over the years. The last one I recall was the DB from Columbia - can’t think of his name - that ended up starting for Tennessee. He had too many “issues” to be let in school here. Somehow he did just fine in Knoxville. I am tired of that kind of BS, if that’s what it is. If other SEC schools would take then we should too.
Bryce Thompson? If so, we offered and went hard after him. Alas, he is a product of Dutch Fork which will tell you everything you need to know.
Yes that was it - thank you. Too risky for us to take him, did just fine at Tennessee. Kornblut said again tonight that he wants to come here. Some kind of admissions problem? Still very vague. Said not sports or academics. Phil said Alabama, Tennessee, Southern Cal might take him if we don`t. I`m tired of this ********. If we are going to play an SEC schedule we need to act like the other SEC teams. Tired of being the nice guys who have finished last too much. Auburn has no problem hiring Bruce Pearl and Hugh Freeze. Someone hired D.J. Durkin. A&M hires Petrino. If this kid is good enough for other schools then we should get off of our high horse and play for keeps.
What other admission problem could there be besides academics? Is he not up to date on his shots?
Phil Kornblutt reported that it was not academic or any law enforcement issue. He also reported that there is nothing the athletic department can do because the issue goes higher than them. Also reported that his attorney's met with officials from USC, what went on is not being discussed. There is a possibilty that he can enroll in March or May. I do not know or pretend to know the issues involved but evidently it is something that will have to be worked out by higher authorities than Ray Tanner, Shane Beamer or anyone in the athletic department. Kornblutt and J.C. Shurbutt both know what is going on but they cannot discuss it. I guess we will have to wait and see how this plays out.
So why are these other schools reportedly fine with taking him while someone here has to conduct an FBI investigation or something?
A lot of people upset without really knowing anything. Makes perfect sense
Posters on here delight when kids at other schools get in trouble indicating we are above having athletes with problem behavior except when we want one admitted then we want admissions to do away with any standards. It’s like the entire purpose of our institution of Higher Ed is about winning athletics.
Sounds to me some woke superstar with a power position at Carolina prevailed.
I can think of several things, and there are probably many more. I have no idea what it is in this situation, but pending criminal issues or domestic violence issues, not having required vaccinations, immigration status issues, NCAA tampering issues, etc