Korey Foreman exploring redshirt option this season
USC head coach Lincoln Riley said the Trojans and defensive end Korey Foreman are exploring the options of having the former five-star prospect redshirt this 2023 season.
Foreman was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 On3 Industry Rankings but has yet to make a sustained impact at USC.
This season, Foreman played in the first three games, but did not see the field against Arizona State and did not appear to be in attendance for USC’s game at Colorado.
“It’s something we’re exploring right now,” Riley said of a redshirt year for Foreman. “This early in the season, I don’t want to say anything for sure because a lot of things can transpire.”
Riley said that the staff and players who have that redshirt option still available are open about that discussion.
“We have conversations with all of our guys that have redshirt years available,” Riley said. “And so occasionally maybe if a guy is not going to have a huge role in a game, you might hold them back right now. And then if an opportunity presents itself to have a bigger role, you can obviously revisit down the line. I would put Korey in that category right now.”
Foreman’s situation is a familiar one for the Trojans. Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. was expected to play a role in USC’s receiving corps last season. But after limited time early, a decision was made to redshirt the year. Bryant eventually transferred to Oregon this past offseason. Wide receiver Raleek Brown is another former big-time recruit who appears to be on his way to redshirting this season. Brown played in USC’s season-opener against San Jose State but has not been present at any other game while continuing to practice with the Trojans.
Foreman took two defensive snaps against San Jose State, 10 against Nevada and 13 against Stanford. He could play in one more game this season and still maintain a redshirt.
He dealt with injuries early in his USC career, finishing his true freshman season with 2.5 sacks and 11 tackles in eight games. Last season, Foreman played in 12 games, finishing with 13 tackles. But he made one of the biggest defensive plays of the season when he dropped into coverage and made a game-saving interception against UCLA.
