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USC DL Elijah Hughes enters NCAA Transfer Portal with do not contact tag

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•12/17/24•

AndrewEdGraham

Elijah Hughes
(acscottphotography/WeAreSC)

USC defensive line Elijah Hughes has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3 has learned. He has a “do not contact” tag.

Hughes will have two years of eligibility remaining. He played in 15 games for USC across two seasons with the Trojans. Hughes had three tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, during his two seasons there.

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Hughes was a three-star prospect in the 2023 signing class. He was the No. 1029 overall prospect in the class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, playing at Washington-Liberty (Va.) High School.

Hughes is also not the biggest portal departure for the Trojans thus far on Tuesday, as former five-star recruit and sophomore wideout Zachariah Branch plans to enter the portal.

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Branch just finished his second collegiate season with the Trojans. Through his underclassmen campaigns in Los Angeles, he posted 78 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 11 carries for 87 yards and another score. Then, as a returner on special teams, he returned 29 kickoffs for 547 yards and a score as well as 29 punts for 406 yards and another score.

Branch’s total touchdown numbers and returning statistics each went down from his freshman year to his sophomore one. His catches and yardage as a receiver improved, though, by tying for the team-high in total receptions and being second on the offense in yardage behind only Makai Lemon.

Branch, a native of Las Vegas, played high school football at Bishop Gorman (Nv.) High School. He was a Five-Star+ prospect there as the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also rated as the No. 1 wide receiver in his class and the No. 1 player out of Nevada.

With this, Branch will be the latest departure for Southern Cal. The Trojans already have 16 players officially in the portal. Among them are QB Miller Moss (committed to Louisville), their second-leading rusher in Quinten Joyner, and two of their other top-five receivers in Kyron Hudson (committed to Penn State) and Duce Robinson.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.