USC adds another transfer portal commitment in Solomon Byrd
USC continued to add to its offseason transfer portal haul on Tuesday, picking up a commitment from former Wyoming defensive end Solomon Byrd.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end was a big-time pass rusher for the Cowboys during his time there. He recorded 10 sacks and 13 tackles for loss among 87 total stops in two full seasons. He was a 2018 recruit out of Palmdale (Calif.) Knight High School who signed with Wyoming over offers from Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and others. He reportedly became the first player in his high school’s history to play FBS football directly out of high school.
Byrd is Another Big Transfer Get for USC
Byrd is commitment No. 16 out of the transfer portal for USC this offseason.
The first 13 were able to participate in spring ball. The following three have come after the conclusion of USC’s spring ball and have hit each level of the defense.
Former Ohio State safety Bryson Shaw, former Arizona State linebacker Eric Gentry and now Byrd are huge additions on that side of the ball who should all contribute quickly.
Byrd played defensive end in a four-man front for Wyoming but appears to have the side to play end in a three-man front for USC. That’s a need for the Trojans, who have zero experienced depth behind presumed starters Tuli Tuipulotu and Nick Figueroa. It’ll be interesting if he gets a look at the rush end spot, where USC brought in Auburn transfer Romello Height and brings back Korey Foreman. Getting a pass rush from that position is a key and Byrd has shown that to be his strength.
Tuipulotu led the Trojans with 5.5 sacks last season. Foreman had 2.5. Safety Jaylin Smith is the only other returning USC player who recorded a sack for the Trojans last season. Getting some pass rushers into the fold is a key this offseason. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch wants defenders in the backfield pressuring the quarterback and disrupting the running game.
Byrd will have two years of eligibility remaining, another positive development for USC looking to balance a roster with players who have multiple years remaining. Byrd entered the transfer portal in mid-March and committed to Georgia Tech in late-April.
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USC’s Continued Transfer Portal Success
Byrd is USC’s sixteenth commitment out of the portal and ninth on the defensive side of the ball.
The defensive line now has three of those, with Byrd joining Tyrone Taleni and Earl Barquet.
Quarterback Caleb Williams is the headliner and was the top player available in the portal.
Running backs Travis Dye (Oregon) and Austin Jones (Stanford) sprinted to the top of the depth chart this spring. The wide receiver room got a big boost from Mario Williams (Oklahoma), Brenden Rice (Colorado) and Terrell Bynum (Washington).
Offensive lineman Bobby Haskins (Virginia) was injured but will be in the mix for one of the tackle positions this fall.
Defensively, Gentry and Shane Lee (Alabama) were huge pickups at inside linebacker. Height is a potential starter at rush end. Shaw will at least provide depth at safety if not push for more.
Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (Colorado) seemed to have locked up a starting spot before an injury sidelined him late in spring camp. And Latrell McCutchin saw time corner, nickel and safety this spring.
