Riley Hints at a 'Few More' Transfers to USC With Caleb Williams Decision Looming

The deadline to add classes at USC is on Friday. Could Caleb Williams follow his former coach out of Oklahoma to Los Angeles?
Riley Hints at a 'Few More' Transfers to USC With Caleb Williams Decision Looming
Riley Hints at a 'Few More' Transfers to USC With Caleb Williams Decision Looming /

While all eyes are on quarterback Caleb Williams and his transfer decision, new USC coach Lincoln Riley told Sports Illustrated Tuesday that “it’s possible” the school could add other players to the roster this week.

NCAA rules prohibit Riley from speaking about individual recruits, but said the Trojans “have a few more on the transfer side and a couple from the high school side who may decide to enroll early.” The last day to register or add classes for the spring semester at USC is Friday.

That should indicate that Williams and others are likely to declare their intentions regarding the Trojans this week. Williams, a standout freshman QB for Riley at Oklahoma in 2021 and considered a prime NFL prospect when he is eligible for the draft in 2024, entered the transfer portal in early January. Speculation immediately centered on him following Riley to USC, but Williams and his family have been deliberate in making their decision on his next school.

Caleb Williams passes during the Alamo Bowl
Daniel Dunn/USA TODAY Sports

The QB depth chart has cleared out at USC, with Kedon Slovis transferring to Pittsburgh and Jaxson Dart entering the portal. While Dart is considering Oklahoma and Mississippi, there is a chance he could return to USC if Williams opts to go elsewhere.

USC signed a small but talented high school class in December, while also reaping big rewards in the transfer portal. With as many as 35 roster spots available, there is a desire to get as many enrollees on campus as possible this winter. But Riley said his staff could be active in the portal all the way into August. “It will be a constant roller coaster,” he said.

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Pat Forde
PAT FORDE

Pat Forde is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated who covers college football and college basketball as well as the Olympics and horse racing. He cohosts the College Football Enquirer podcast and is a football analyst on the Big Ten Network. He previously worked for Yahoo Sports, ESPN and The (Louisville) Courier-Journal. Forde has won 28 Associated Press Sports Editors writing contest awards, has been published three times in the Best American Sports Writing book series, and was nominated for the 1990 Pulitzer Prize. A past president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and member of the Football Writers Association of America, he lives in Louisville with his wife. They have three children, all of whom were collegiate swimmers.