USC removes Bear Alexander from updated depth chart
The USC Trojans release an updated depth chart every Wednesday of game week. It’s rare to see a change appear during the season even when it comes to injured players, who are often left wherever they were slotted to start the season. But the Trojans made a change this Wednesday, removing defensive tackle Bear Alexander completely. The change comes after news broke Wednesday afternoon that Alexander planned to sit out the remainder of the season while utilizing his available redshirt year.
While there can sometimes be a back-and-forth between team and player when those decisions are initially announced, this move from USC makes this one feel pretty finalized.
RELATED: What Bear Alexander’s redshirt plan means for the USC defensive line
The 6-foot-3, 313-pound defensive tackle began the season listed as a co-starter with Gavin Meyer at one of the two defensive tackle spots. Now, Meyer appears lone at the top spot, followed by true freshman Jide Abasiri in the No. 2 spot. Meyer started the first three games of the season along with Nate Clifton on the interior of USC’s defensive line. Alexander played as a key reserve in all three games.
This is the third big-name player in three years to make this early redshirt decision at USC. Wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. elected to stop playing after three games in 2022 and use his redshirt year. He ultimately transferred to Oregon that offseason. Running back/wide receiver Raleek Brown played sparingly in the opening game last season and then decided to use his redshirt year. He returned to the field late in the season for a game against Washington, scoring a touchdown, but did not play in any other games that year. He entered the transfer portal and is now at Arizona State. Both Bryant and Brown remained with the team and practiced throughout the season. Alexander’s guardian, Tony Jones, told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Alexander would also stay with the team.
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Alexander was seen as a major transfer portal addition for USC out of Georgia ahead of the 2023 season. He finished last year with 48 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He was named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.
Alexander had four total tackles and a quarterback hurry this season. He had three solo tackles in USC’s 27-24 loss to Michigan this past weekend.
