Courtland Ford Intends to Enter Transfer Portal
Veteran offensive lineman Courtland Ford intends to enter the transfer portal during the upcoming window, a source told WeAreSC. The next transfer portal window for football runs from April 15 through April 30 and it’s expected that the Trojans could see a few players look elsewhere to finish their college careers.
Losing Ford is a blow to the offensive line depth for the 2023 season, though the Trojans have done well to stockpile linemen this offseason. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle started 12 games and played in eight others during his three-year career with the Trojans.
Head coach Lincoln Riley said Monday night during the Trojans Live Radio Show that he was pleased with the offseason Ford had. Riley added that Ford had “really improved his body.” But Ford was limited this spring as he recovered from what Riley called a “small offseason procedure.”
Ford started one game as a true freshman at left guard in 2020. He then started eight games at left tackle in 2021. Ford started three times at left tackle in 2022, including the season-opener and the Cotton Bowl. He battled through injury and saw Virginia transfer Bobby Haskins slide into that left tackle spot for a bulk of the season.
Ford was part of a six-man offensive line class for USC in the 2020 recruiting cycle. He’d be the third from that group to leave USC, joining Casey Collier and Caadyn Stephen. Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. and kicker Parker Lewis previously entered the transfer portal from that recruiting class that had just 12 signees.
What This Means for USC
USC added veteran offensive linemen Jarrett Kingston and Michael Tarquin via the transfer portal this offseason. Both are capable of playing left tackle and have done so in their college careers. The Trojans also bring back Mason Murphy, who has played there during his time at USC.
Early enrollee true freshman Elijah Paige is already earning positive reviews this spring. He could play either tackle spot over the next several seasons. Four more high school offensive linemen from the 2023 recruiting class are set to join the Trojans this fall.
USC’s Transfer Portal Entrants This Offseason
In the previous transfer portal window, which ran from early December through mid-January, USC saw a number of players enter their names.
Rush ends Julien Simon, safety Xavion Alford, linebackers Ralen Goforth and Tuasivi Nomura, and wide receivers C.J. Williams and Kyle Ford all landed at new programs. Rush end Tayler Katoa, wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr., safety Briton Allen, wide receiver John Jackson III and tight end Malcolm Epps remain uncommitted. Defensive lineman Kobe Pepe remains in the transfer portal but also a spring ball participant. And defensive lineman Colin Mobley entered the portal previously but removed his name to remain at USC.
