Lincoln Riley on possible USC transfer exits: ‘I don’t think we’ll have a lot’

The spring transfer portal window is wide open, with players across America entering and re-entering the market as the current semester comes to a close.

For some programs, there’s spots to fill and targets to pursue this spring. For others, there may be some transfers out, or for some, little to no action at all. For USC, head coach Lincoln Riley says he doesn’t anticipate a whole lot of movement in or out of the Trojan program. But then again, these things aren’t easy to predict.

So, when asked at recent media availability what USC’s expectation is when it comes to the spring transfer window, Riley explained that he feels good about the roster and is playing things by ear.

“You never know. I mean, you know just ask me again in five minutes,” he joked to reporters. “So I don’t know. I don’t think we’ll have a lot, maybe that’s famous last words, but I don’t think that we’ll have a whole lot. Team feels pretty steady in a lot of ways.”

Riley likes the current group, but if transfers happen, well, then USC will hit the recruiting pavement themselves to go find replacements if necessary.

“But you know, I mean, sure, there’s going to be guys that are thinking about it, there’s guys on every single roster across the country that are. And we may have a few and that’s okay, that if we do, we know that we’ve got a couple targets that we need to go after. And if we lose a a few more guys that may increase those targets.”

Some programs have lived on roster overhauls during the transfer windows, but in year three, Lincoln Riley is hoping for a less chaotic offseason.

“Obviously, you know, we don’t want to, but at the same time, if it is, we’re going to look at it as an opportunity to make our team better,” he added of the possibility of guys transferring out.

Now, the Trojans have already had three guys enter the portal this spring. Cornerback Tre’Quon Fegans announced his plans to enter the portal to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Stanley Ta’ufo’ou and true freshman offensive lineman Jason Zandamela are also both in the portal.

Beyond those losses, though, Riley seems firmly confident in the current group of guys. USC shouldn’t take on too much damage this spring, if any more at all.