I found out today former walk-ons Matt Lopes, James Toland and Reuben Peters, each of whom were placed on scholarship last fall, all intend to return to the football team and will remain on scholarship. (Lopes and Toland will be redshirt seniors, Peters will be a redshirt junior.)
This is notable because USC is currently at 66 scholarships with 19 slots left for the 2017 signing class. Unless a player transfers or leaves the team, the Trojans will be at the 85-scholarship limit if 19 players sign, leaving no room to blueshirt. If less than 19 players sign, USC will have space to add a transfer and blueshirt them — they would count towards the 2018 class. Recent examples of transfers blueshirting include Taylor McNamara, Daniel Imatorbhebhe and Stevie Tu'ikolovatu.
I also checked up on LB Olajuwon Tucker and DT Kevin Scott, who were ruled academically ineligible for the Rose Bowl. A USC spokesman said their status for spring practice still has not been determined.
This is notable because USC is currently at 66 scholarships with 19 slots left for the 2017 signing class. Unless a player transfers or leaves the team, the Trojans will be at the 85-scholarship limit if 19 players sign, leaving no room to blueshirt. If less than 19 players sign, USC will have space to add a transfer and blueshirt them — they would count towards the 2018 class. Recent examples of transfers blueshirting include Taylor McNamara, Daniel Imatorbhebhe and Stevie Tu'ikolovatu.
I also checked up on LB Olajuwon Tucker and DT Kevin Scott, who were ruled academically ineligible for the Rose Bowl. A USC spokesman said their status for spring practice still has not been determined.
