USC HC Lincoln Riley highlights challenges faced surrounding transfer portal during 2024 Big Ten media days

Coach Lincoln Riley shared his thoughts on USC's transfer plans just before the 2024 Big Ten Media Days, set to take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. In a video posted by writer Marc Kulkin on X (formerly Twitter) on June 24, a reporter asked Riley about the spring transfer portal and its challenges.

Riley said that the spring transfer portal is unpredictable. Unlike the fall, where coaches can have a better idea of who's available, spring can be hit or miss.

“Well, the thing about both of them, maybe the spring one more than anything, is you don't know what's going to be in there,” Riley said. “I think the fall one has been a little bit more predictable, right? That like after guys' seasons, more people are gonna move.”

“You have a little bit more of a confidence of maybe, you don't know specifically, but you have a decent feel of generally what's gonna be in there. Spring, it's a new deal, right?”

According to Riley, this year, the talent level in the spring portal seemed lower than before.

“And so, I think honestly a lot of the talent level in there in the spring was maybe even a little bit less than what it was the year before. I didn't feel as much high-quality movement. And I think at that point, I think you're really conscious about, you know, teams already started to be formed and you got to be really conscious.”

Coach Riley says integrating new players into the team late can be tricky.

Lincoln Riley mulls over new recruits

USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks to the podium.

USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said the team found a few talented players but still had "reservations" about how they would fit into the team culture. Additionally, Riley said that he is still looking to make a few more additions.

“I think of bringing somebody in that late that you're worried about, how are they going to fit in the locker room and within the culture and what you're trying to build,” Riley said.

“We ran into, we ran into a couple of, a couple of players that we felt like, you know, we're had, had the talent to be able to help us, but that didn't quite, that gave us some reservations on the other part of it.

“So, I'm excited about the guys that we added. We're not completely done yet, but excited about the guys that we added,” Riley said. “I think the response so far of those guys in our offseason, the way they've integrated themselves into the team has been very positive,” he added.

At the Big Ten Football Media Days, all 18 football programs will be represented by their head coach and three players each, ready to engage with the media in Indianapolis.