Travis Dye discusses what he saw from USC defense throughout spring practice

Former Oregon running back Travis Dye entered the transfer portal this offseason and landing with Pac-12 rival USC after being recruited by new head coach Lincoln Riley. After facing off with the Trojans defense throughout his career, he now sees them every day at practice.

During a postgame press conference following the USC spring game, Travis Dye discussed what it is like going up against the new-look defense full of returning stars and transfer additions every day in practice.

“Out defense goes all out every day,” said Dye. “That’s an issue for me. They’re such a great defense and they hit really hard, especially [Shane Lee and Tuli Tuipolotu] right here. But our competition level is out the roof right now and it’s almost – I’ve never been part of a team where every single day during spring we’re going all out every single play now matter what. So that’s very exciting to be a part of a team like this.”

The high praise from Dye has been echoed by other USC additions Caleb Williams and Shane Lee following the final days of spring practice as the team now heads into the offseason and waits for summer workouts and fall practice before getting the 2022 season started.

Travis Dye on USC switch

Travis Dye returned to The Coliseum on Saturday, but this time he was representing USC while running through the defense. The last time he was playing on the field, he was there as the enemy, a member of the Oregon Ducks.

“It’s a little different,” started Dye. “Definitely a little shock to me. I was getting flashbacks to when I was here before. But it’s so much nicer being in this jersey, being in this Coliseum with this type of energy. These type of fans, you can’t match it in college football. Very blessed and very lucky to be here.”

The spring game was a phenomenal introduction for Travis Dye at USC, but the former Oregon star will be looking for much more in his move to Southern California.

Dye ranked second in the Pac-12 in rushing yards in 2021, totaling 1,271 yards on the ground and 16 touchdowns for Oregon. After entering the portal, he became the No. 23 player on the open market, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

In Lincoln Riley’s high-powered offense, which made Oklahoma a perineal contender, he hopes to improve on his career numbers as a USC star.