FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Familiar Pattern With Some Transfers

USC defensive tackle Ishmael Sopsher has entered the transfer portal.

It’s all so unsurprising. Sopsher played in one game last season after transferring from Alabama.

Let’s review a familiar pattern:

  1. He transferred from Alabama in December, 2020. This caused the usual fanfare among the fanboy media because Sopsher “played” with the Crimson Tide.
  2. I noted here and here to be skeptical about Sopsher. Ex-defensive line coach Vic So’oto doesn’t look great in hindsight for raving about Sopsher.
  3. As USC’s defensive line struggled last season, there was more fanboy giddiness about his anticipated debut, which lasted eight plays.
  4. The people that hyped him went quiet as he departed, of course.
  5. He’s played in two games the past three seasons.

Sopsher has battled injuries at USC, to be fair.

But the bigger point is there often seems to be little scrutiny of some of these transfers because people are too busy overreacting. Not every transfer is a great pickup. I wrote yesterday I’ve heard Brenden Rice is a promising player. But at least I based it on someone who game-planned against him last season, not an emotional feeling.

And I could write something worse about wide receiver K.D. Dixon, who transferred from Colorado last year. The coaches clearly didn’t know what to do with him, which is shameful considering what he did before he got to USC.

48 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Familiar Pattern With Some Transfers”

  1. Scott,
    How many of the transfer portal group have registered for the Spring Semester ? especially if Dart has registered. That might be a sign he is still interested in being at SC.

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. I looked into this, Watcher. Apparently Dart has registered in something called “Special Study Classes” with an instructor listed as Professor L. Kiffin….
      #30UnitsWorth

      Liked by 3 people

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  2. Sopsher came here injured, he didn’t get injured doing anything at any sc practice, & whatever compartment syndrome is…sounds like free school for little action.

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. The curse is still slowly lifting from USC. You have to believe there are still guys LR won’t use but remain for the degree. I predict it will take 2 years to be totally free from the Curse of Clay Helton.
        #ButIStillFeelGreatAboutIt

        Liked by 2 people

      2. The Curse continues. I think there are still players who he has told will not play but will stay for the degree. I predict 2 years before the Curse of Clay is lifted.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. I feel great about it too. And even Scott can’t prevent me from going through my customary Fan Response Cycle: Unbound giddiness followed by silence when and if someone or something doesn’t work out.
        #..OrSaying”IToldYouSo!”

        Liked by 1 person

      4. ….it’s the formula that’s been working for me every season since I was 12 years old…
        #…I’mStillOnly12YearsOld….

        Like

  3. A pop up is asking me to join 410 other fans and start an account with this blog. 410? Where are the other 400 people? Honestly I bet they’re counting every person who has ever commented.
    As for being a fanboy, guilty as charged. Too bad none of the portal players lived up to their potential. But don’t denigrate us for liking potential. All of us expecting good things from the coaches next season won’t be disappointed if they live up to their potential- Scott will be.
    Of the 410 is one of them named “Old Trojans Never Die?” I saw a post on FB that said he quit this blog when someone referred to him by his first name (something no one was supposed to know)

    Liked by 2 people

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    2. The running back from Texas played much better than anyone expected then got hurt just like everyone else around Clay & Bohnerino’s million dollar strength and conditioning coach

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    1. One theory is —Helton could only get injured players to join him. Another theory is that Helton had other reasons for going after injured players…
      #…LikePuttingHimselfInChargeOf”HotTubRehab”

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  6. I read somewhere that after Spring practice there would likely be more players entering the transfer portal. Any player that doesnt feel like they are tops on the depth chart might decide to make a move.

    These changes just are not going to stop. Got to admit, it is alot more interesting than the past. I assume that the content sites love it.

    Liked by 2 people

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  7. Christmas everyday with LR. Brenden Rice may not be the greatest WR to play for USC, but name recognition will be huge. I can’t wait to see his dad in USC colors. You can bet the TV cameras will be on him.

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. Where’s Caleb? Does he not want to go to USC to lay on the beach everyday while rubbing elbows with the truly elite?

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      1. Give me a break. What does RB game W/L records have to do with a individual player’s ability to succeed in the NFL?

        How many SUCC QB’s have been in the RB won a SB as a starting QB?

        Wait for it – zero.

        Ah, ding, ding

        Like

  10. FWIW,

    Wisconsin is in play for Caleb Williams. And they have an Oline.

    Where’s Caleb? He’s busy right now and will call you back.

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    2. A true QB factory there at U Wisky, C75.
      I think Ron VanderKelen was their last QB of note.

      (Russell Wilson being an NCSTATE QB first and foremost)

      Liked by 1 person

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    3. They have an O-Line but no receivers and no passing game. They were somewhere around 110th in the nation last year in passing yards.

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  11. Just Owns Go fuck off. Please. There. I said it nice. Caleb will be the starting QB for USC this season and will help drop half a hundred on the girls from Westwood by the end of the third quarter. Williams is not going to Clown U CLA. Nor is he setting foot in cold ass, boring, never compete for a National Championship Wisconsin. Let’s cut the drama and stupid rumors that Caleb is going anywhere else than to the Trojans.

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Sopsher should change his name to SOFSTER. He was a physical specimen to be sure, but was very soft at both Alabama and USC. Hard to figure these kids out these days they all want to be stars, but don’t want to work to get there. Looks like Brandon Pilli will see the field quite a bit this year at nose tackle if he recovers from injury.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I don’t know about you but after reading about Caleb and his dad I was kinda thinking, “these guy suck…”
      #SometimesEvenGreatTalentCanBeMoreTroubleThanIt’sWorth
      #[AlwaysPossibleThatNoneOfTheQuotesAreReal,Though]….

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      1. Once he comes on the team, I don’t think that him or his dad will be a problems. This is not the Balls(Lonzo, Mello …….). Riley has dealt with both of the Williams(Caleb and his dad) at Oklahoma. They both have a high regard for Riley.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Caleb needs to make a decision. If he decides not to go to USC, it may be too late to get another QB. We could end up going with one scholarship QB next season(Miller Moss).

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Just a hunch, but I think Caleb Williams is coming to USC. But Riley should give him a Friday deadline to decide. As others have posted, Dart wants to be at USC and that commitment should be rewarded if Williams is unable make a commitment in a timely manner.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. THEY NEED TO GET TO WORK on Moss regardless…williams has no loyalty to sc just like Dart did not…he is a one and done. At least Moss has stayed around,and is a good passing q/b,not sure about mobility.

        Like

  14. What’s Wolf’s definition of a fanboy? Is it someone who doesn’t hate USC athletics with every ounce of his being like he does?

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  15. Brenden Rice is way better than K.D. Dixon. Barring an injury, I think that he will be the best receiver SC has and one of the best receivers in the nation. He had an outstanding season last year for Colorado which had a poor passing QB and passing game. Colorado was 126th in the nation in passing yards last year.

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. Sorry folks, Caleb Williams looking at Maryland if the HC can bring in an NFL guy to coach his son-er new OC for the Terps. Freudian slip

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