As national signing day approaches, USC coaches are focused on recruiting the top high school and junior college players in the country. But there’s also concern with recruiting some of USC’s upperclassmen to stay on the team.
TrojanSports.com has learned that safeties Chris Hawkins and Leon McQuay and receiver Steven Mitchell, as well as family members from each party, met with Coach Clay Helton shortly after the Holiday Bowl to voice concerns about their futures. It should be noted that such meetings between players, parents and the coaching staff are hardly unusual.
All three players are entering their fourth year in the program. They’ve had very different career trajectories after being highly-touted prospects coming out of high school.
Hawkins, who is coming off a career year after switching from cornerback to safety and will be a redshirt junior, has concerns of his role being significantly altered by more coaching changes.
McQuay, who will be a senior, was displeased about his playing time last season after starting nine games in 2014. He was often behind John Plattenburg, newcomer Marvell Tell and Hawkins for much of the season before missing five of the final six games because of injury.
Mitchell, who will be a redshirt junior, was frustrated about ball distribution in the passing game. His 37 receptions were second on the team but paled in comparison to JuJu Smith-Schuster’s 89. JuJu accounted for 29.8 percent of Cody Kessler’s completions, despite being hampered by injuries for the final two months of the season.
Our source tells us Hawkins, McQuay and Mitchell are on schedule to graduate from USC in May, which would open the door for any of them to transfer without having to sit out a season. It is an option that any one of them is liable to exercise depending on how things play out in spring practice.
TrojanSports.com has learned that safeties Chris Hawkins and Leon McQuay and receiver Steven Mitchell, as well as family members from each party, met with Coach Clay Helton shortly after the Holiday Bowl to voice concerns about their futures. It should be noted that such meetings between players, parents and the coaching staff are hardly unusual.
All three players are entering their fourth year in the program. They’ve had very different career trajectories after being highly-touted prospects coming out of high school.
Hawkins, who is coming off a career year after switching from cornerback to safety and will be a redshirt junior, has concerns of his role being significantly altered by more coaching changes.
McQuay, who will be a senior, was displeased about his playing time last season after starting nine games in 2014. He was often behind John Plattenburg, newcomer Marvell Tell and Hawkins for much of the season before missing five of the final six games because of injury.
Mitchell, who will be a redshirt junior, was frustrated about ball distribution in the passing game. His 37 receptions were second on the team but paled in comparison to JuJu Smith-Schuster’s 89. JuJu accounted for 29.8 percent of Cody Kessler’s completions, despite being hampered by injuries for the final two months of the season.
Our source tells us Hawkins, McQuay and Mitchell are on schedule to graduate from USC in May, which would open the door for any of them to transfer without having to sit out a season. It is an option that any one of them is liable to exercise depending on how things play out in spring practice.
