Gary Bryant Jr. Enters the Transfer Portal
USC wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. entered his name into the transfer portal on Monday.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound receiver was expected to play a fairly significant role for the Trojans this season but caught just two passes for 15 yards in the season’s first two games. He returned two kickoffs for 30 yards in the third game and then elected to sit out the rest of the season while utilizing his redshirt year. The expectation during the season was that Bryant would eventually earn his degree from USC this spring and then look for another school to finish his college career. That can still play out and now with his name in the transfer portal, he can be actively recruited by other programs.
Bryant was a four-star prospect in the 2020 class and by far the top signee for the Trojans that season. That was the much-maligned recruiting class signed by Clay Helton that finished No. 53 in the nation and No. 10 in the Pac-12. But Bryant was the No. 50 overall player and No. 1 athlete.
As a true freshman in 2020, Bryant caught seven passes for 51 yards. His biggest impact came late in the season against UCLA. With the Bruins leading by two points and less than a minute remaining, Bryant returned a kickoff 56 yards to set up what turned out to be a game-winning touchdown for the Trojans.
In 2021, Bryant tied for the team lead with seven touchdowns. While Drake London dominated the ball for the USC offense, Bryant still finished with 44 receptions for 579 yards. With London off to the NFL, the thought was that Bryant’s stats would climb in 2020. But USC brought in four wide receivers via the transfer portal and it was Tahj Washington who became the returning receiver to make the major step forward under new head coach Lincoln Riley.
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USC’s 2022 Wide Receiver Production
Jordan Addison led the Trojans with 59 receptions, 875 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. That, despite missing three full games and most of a fourth. Washington was the team’s No. 2 receiver, finishing with 50 receptions for 785 yards and six touchdowns. And Mario Williams took over at slot receiver, catching 40 passes for 631 yards and five touchdowns, despite also missing three games.
Looking Ahead to 2023
Addison hasn’t made an official announcement to this point, but the expectation is he’ll declare for the NFL Draft. Washington, Williams, Brenden Rice, Kyle Ford, Kyron Hudson, Michael Jackson III, and John Jackson III could all return next season. Former Arizona wide receiver Dorian Singer has his sights set on becoming the No. 1 receiver for the Trojans. And all eyes will be on five-star, early enrollee, true freshmen Zachariah Branch and Makai Lemon. Both are capable of playing this fall.
True freshman C.J. Williams has already entered the transfer portal this offseason.
