USC receiver Gary Bryant Jr set to redshirt, reportedly considering transfer

Gary Bryant Jr. had a monster year for USC in 2021 and was seen as a potential playmaker this year. Through three games, that hasn’t been the case, and now his future with the program is reportedly up in the air.

Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley announced Bryant is expected to redshirt this season, one year after totaling 44 receptions for 579 yards and seven touchdowns. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported he will “strongly consider” entering the transfer portal.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

USC is off to a hot start to the season with a 3-0 record. But Bryant, after playing such a big role last year, has just two receptions for 15 yards. He arrived in Los Angeles with plenty of hype as a four-star recruit and the No. 50 prospect from the class of 2020, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

The Trojans used the transfer portal quite a bit to rebuild the roster as Riley took over the program. Through the first three games, their two leading receivers — Jordan Addison and Mario Williams — are both in their first seasons with the program after entering the portal. They were both highly ranked, with Addison coming in at No. 2 and Williams at No. 39 in the 2021 On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. It was part of a portal haul that included Caleb Williams and Travis Dye, On3’s No. 1 and No. 21-ranked transfers, respectively.

Bryant is also expected to garner some NFL Draft buzz, according to Rapoport. He was a preseason All-Pac-12 selection by Pro Football Focus as a kickoff and punt returner after taking 16 kickoffs for 413 yards last season. This year, he took two kicks for 30 yards and two punts for four yards.