Lincoln Riley expects Xavion Alford is out for remainder of 2022

USC head coach Lincoln Riley shared sour news at his press conference on Thursday ahead of the Trojans’ evening bash with the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday. Riley was asked about defensive back Xavion Alford, who hasn’t appeared in a game this season after starting two games last season and serving as a dependable rotation piece. Alford’s been working his way back onto the field, but Riley gave an update that was less optimistic this time around.

At the end of last year, Alford went down with a leg injury and even missed USC’s final conference bout with California. Then, this season, Alford just couldn’t get to 100% to get back on the field. And now, with further injury complications and surgeries and so forth required, Riley called it a season for the talented youngster.

Here was the latest on Xavion Alford from Lincoln Riley on Thursday:

“He had to have a kind of a small medical procedure — I say small…but not major. But had to get a couple things cleaned up. So we’re continuing to monitor his rehab and and try to progress him. I would say he’s not close for right now. I mean there’s certainly some time, and we’ll see how that unfolds. But our expectation is is that he would not be available for the rest of the year.”

A shame, but not a huge blow to the team since they haven’t really had him available all season. Alford was coming on strong as a sophomore in 2021 and figured to have a breakout year on a new defense that would certainly need it. Alas, that third-year boom will have to wait until next fall. But by then he should be totally ready to go.