Eli'jah Winston enters the transfer portal
USC rush end Eli’jah Winston entered the transfer portal on Tuesday becoming the first Trojan player to do so since spring ball ended.
Winston played in 14 games in an injury-plagued USC career. He saw time in four games as a true freshman in 2018 and played in seven games during the 2019 season. Winston broke his ankle during the summer before the 2020 season and missed that year, then played in just three games this past season. He finished his USC career with 10 tackles.
Winston bounced around between inside and outside linebacker during his time with the Trojans. This spring, he made the move out to rush end where he took some second-team reps behind Romello Height and ahead of Korey Foreman. Winston always looked the part as a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker prospect. But he had difficulty staying healthy and on the field for significant stretches. He was likely going to be in an uphill battle for time this year against Height and Foreman.
Winston committed to USC as a late flip from Oregon in the 2018 class. He was a four-star prospect and seen as a significant get in that class.
Height’s addition this offseason is a big one. That rush end spot is key in the USC defense and the Trojans need to find some production after the departure of Drake Jackson as a second-round NFL pick. The interior linebacker spots got a big boost with the arrival of Shane Lee from Alabama via the transfer portal. They’ll get another when Eric Gentry arrives on campus after announcing he’ll come over from Arizona State.
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Winston Joins Other Trojans in the Transfer Portal
Winston becomes the 11th Trojan to enter the transfer portal since January.
Wide receiver Joseph Manjack and running back Brandon Campbell are at Houston. Wide receiver Bru McCoy just committed to Tennessee. Offensive lineman Casey Collier is at Oklahoma State and offensive linemen Ty Buchanan is committed to Texas Tech. Quarterback Jaxson Dart and tight end Michael Trigg are at Ole Miss. Linebacker Kaulana Makaula and defensive lineman Maninoa Tufono remain in the portal.
USC’s 2018 Linebackers
USC’s 2018 inside and outside linebacker haul was considered one of the greatest in the nation on paper.
Inside linebacker Palaie Gaoteote was a five-star prospect and the nation’s No. 15 recruit. Solomon Tuliaupupu was a high four-star prospect and top 100-recruit. Abdul-Malik McClain, Raymond Scott, Kana’i Mauga and Winston were all four-star prospects.
Gaoteote is at Ohio State, McClain is at Jackson State, Scott is at Fresno State and Winston is now in the portal. Only Mauga played significant minutes for the Trojans. Tuliaupupu moved to the defensive line this spring.
