Lincoln Riley details what makes Eric Gentry standout as a defender

Heading into the second half of fall camp, USC Trojans first-year head coach Lincoln Riley provided his assessment of Arizona State transfer Eric Gentry.

Riley praised the 6-foot-6 linebacker’s athleticism for his size and said he’s picked up on the defensive scheme rapidly since his move this offseason.

“Eric’s doing good,” Riley said after practice on Tuesday. “His length and his play-making ability, nose for the ball, really stick out. It’s rare to have a guy on your defense that has that type of length with that type of athleticism. You love it defensively, you love his instincts, he’s getting more comfortable in the system and making less mistakes. He’s doing a really nice job.”

Gentry was a consensus Freshman All-American last season with the Sun Devils. He finished with 45 tackles, including five for loss, with two pass deflections.

In 2021, Gentry played behind one of Arizona State’s best defensive players but saw more and more time as the season went on due to injuries on the roster.

Gentry adds boost, length to USC defense

On the first day of fall camp, Riley noted that Gentry’s presence was an immediate addition to the practice atmosphere.

“He’s been a real positive addition so far,” Riley said. “[He] kind of strikes you as a guy who really loves football, loves to be out there, loves to compete. You kind of always hear him, always see him, feel his presence. And he’s a pretty physical player, being as young as he is.”

Gentry was one of the hottest transfers in the 2022 transfer portal after finishing sixth on the Sun Devils’ defense. He’s a Philadelphia native and chose Arizona State over 15 other D-I offers, despite the distance from home. According to the On3 Consensus for the 2021 class, Gentry was a three-star prospect and the No. 63 linebacker in that recruiting cycle.