Meet the USC Trojans football transfer portal commitments
Since the start of December, USC has added two commitments from the transfer portal, and that number is only expected to grow in the coming days and weeks.
We have provided info on each of the incoming transfers below (in chronological order from the newest pledge to the oldest), and will continue to update this article each time USC lands a new commitment.
USC Transfer Portal Commitments
Vanderbilt DL Nate Clifton
Height: 6-5
Weight: 280
Hometown: La Vergne, Tenn
Commitment date: Dec. 10, 2023
Transfer portal entry date: Nov. 29, 2023
On3 Industry Transfer portal ranking: No. 107 overall, No. 9 DL
Eligibility: One year
Clifton has spent all five years of his collegiate career at Vanderbilt. He was named a team captain ahead of the 2023 season recording 93 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, and an interception throughout his career. He will provide both depth and experience for USC.
According to Pro Football Focus, Clifton registered his best season in 2023. He earned a 65.8 overall defensive grade during his fifth-year senior campaign. He had 18 pressures (including 10 quarterback hurries) and 18 run stops. NCAA stats awarded him 30 tackles (12 solo), 7.5 TFLs and 5 sacks. He also notched a pass deflection and one interception.
Michigan State LS Hank Pepper
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.
Commitment date: Dec. 6, 2023
Transfer portal entry date: Oct. 18, 2023
On3 Industry Transfer portal ranking: No. 1 LS
Eligibility: 3 years of eligibility
He was a Day One starter at Michigan State and a key part of the Spartans’ special teams as a freshman in 2021. He continued in that tole until an injury cut his 2022 season short. This season, he served as the long snapper for the first four games before electing to sit out the rest of the season and use his redshirt year. Pepper has NFL potential as a long snapper and will have an opportunity to step in as USC’s starting snapper when he arrives on campus.
The Trojans will be replacing Jac Casasante, who started as USC’s long snapper for the past two seasons but is out of eligibility.
