Maximus Gibbs Enters the Transfer Portal
USC offensive lineman Maximus Gibbs has entered the transfer portal. The move comes several weeks after the second-year player was not listed on the fall roster for the Trojans.
The 6-foot-6, 385-pound lineman became something of a fan-favorite during his true freshman season with the Trojans. But there was no expectation of him being on the team this year after his name did not appear on the roster for USC’s 2022 season.
Gibbs entered the USC program as a three-star lineman. But he flipped over to the defensive line partway into the season due to depth issues there.
He played in each of USC’s final eight games of the season, recording two tackles.
Gibbs moved back to the offensive line following the 2021 season. He spent spring ball working as a second-team offensive guard and looked to have made significant offseason progress towards getting into football shape.
“Hard work, dedication, eating habits,” Gibbs said of everything that’s gone into his process following a spring practice. “Every day finding something to work on.”
Gibbs held a number of impressive scholarship offers coming out of Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco High School in the 2021 recruiting class. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas A&M all offered.
He first gained attention as a 13-year-old featured on the Netflix show “Coach Snoop.” It centered on rapper Snoop Dogg and the Snoop Youth Football League.
USC’s Offensive Line Numbers
USC signed three offensive linemen in the 2021 class and now two are no longer on the roster after just one season. Ty Buchanan transferred to Texas Tech this offseason. But now, only Mason Murphy remains at USC from that trio.
Depth along USC’s offensive line will be tested. USC signed very few offensive linemen in the 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes and added just two this offseason.
There is good news with the improved play of Geno Quinones, a fourth-year player who looks to be a viable backup this season behind starting guards Andrew Vorhees and Justin Dedich. Backup center Andrew Milek also looks to be an option at guard. Cooper Lovelace is another player to watch. The junior college product could factor into the offensive line depth along the interior.
USC is working hard to replenish the numbers along the line. The Trojans already have four commitments from offensive linemen in the 2023 recruiting class.
