A couple of interesting items out there today...
Brice Butler looking to transfer.
Last offseason, USC receiver Brice Butler announced his intention to transfer. He subsequently changed his mind. Now he’s thinking about it again.
Coach Lane Kiffin confirmed reports that Butler is eyeing a possible transfer. Having graduated in December, Butler could go to another Division I school and play immediately.
"I know Brice is looking around," Kiffin said. "We’ve had some conversations, very similar to where we were a year ago with this.
This should surprise no one.
Butler wants playing time, but he won't crack the starting rotation with the young studs we currently have...heck we can't even get some of those younger players quality reps.
This is part of the future that USC has to deal with over the next three years. Some guys will end up moving on. Some will do it on their own, others will be encouraged to move on.
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DeVante Wilson joins the Team.
Defensive end DeVante Wilson, who missed the 2011 season because of a knee injury, is expected to begin classes at USC on Monday.
Wilson, a three-star prospect from Corona, originally was a member of the 2011 recruiting class. But he suffered a torn ACL during the offseason and spent the ’11 season as a "greyshirt."
Greyshirting is not something USC has done a lot over the years.
Wilson is the 5th EE for USC.
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Armond Armstead to look at other schools.
Although he hasn’t ruled out returning to USC next season, defensive lineman Armond Armstead is strongly considering transferring after the school wouldn’t clear him to play in 2011.
"Nothing’s set in stone, but I’m going to start taking visits and checking some other schools out," Armstead said by phone Tuesday night. "I’m not 100 percent sure what’s going to happen."
Armstead, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior from Elk Grove, has three options to choose from: Return to USC, transfer or enter the 2012 NFL draft. Based on conversations with him and his father, transferring seems like the most likely outcome, returning to USC the least. Armstead listed Notre Dame, Auburn and Arkansas as three possible destinations.
After starting all 12 games in 2010, Armstead was hospitalized in March ’11 because of an undisclosed medical condition. Despite passing numerous tests and being well enough to work out with the team, Armstead never gained medical clearance from USC’s doctors and redshirted.
The school’s reluctance to clear Armstead was a source of frustration for him and his family and led his brother, top-rated two-way lineman Arik Armstead, to decommit from USC.
I am actually surprised by this. Both of these guys are gone...I am not buying "nothing's set in stone" at all.
Whatever the reason for USC not clearing Armond, it is moot at this point. Armond wants to graduate so he can transfer penalty free. That is fine as it is his right and within the rules, but lets not drag this out and make it look like there is a "chance" that Armstead is coming back.
Don't get me wrong I would love to see them both on the field but too much water is under the bridge for this situation to change. Kiffin will do the right thing and let Armond go ANYWHERE where he wants but it won't be USC.
I wish them both luck and have no hard feelings if they end up elsewhere, but lets not make a mini-series out of it.