USC transfer portal losses: 3 impact players Lincoln Riley lost during winter window ft. Zachariah Branch

NCAA Football: Nebraska at Southern California - Source: Imagn
NCAA Football: Nebraska at Southern California - Source: Imagn

The USC Trojans finished the 2024 college football season with a 7-6 record, but coach Lincoln Riley did not have a great season. Key players hit the NCAA transfer portal during the winter portion, and the team will look a bit different going forward.

Let's take a closer look at the more impactful losses for the program and what stats they were able to put up.

USC Trojans' Biggest Transfer Portal Losses

WR Zachariah Branch

Sophomore wide receiver Zachariah Branch has left the USC Trojans and Lincoln Riley, as he has officially transferred to the Georgia Bulldogs. In his two years with the Trojans, Branch showcased his abilities to take over with 78 receptions for 823 yards and three receiving touchdowns while also having 11 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown.

However, he was more important than just a wide receiver, as he would return kicks and had 29 punt returns and 29 kickoff returns. He also had more than 900 return yards and a pair of touchdowns throughout the special teams adventures. Branch was the program's third-leading receiver last season and is going to be difficult to replace.

QB Miller Moss

Miller Moss will be an interesting discussion as he was expected to be the next quarterback for Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans after Caleb Williams left for the NFL. He had a spectacular six-touchdown performance in that year's Holiday Bowl and entered 2024 as the team's starting quarterback. However, Moss would be benched and entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Moss had solid numbers on the season as he completed 233 of 362 (64.4%) of his passes for 2,555 yards with 18 passing touchdowns to nine interceptions in his first season as a starting quarterback. It will be difficult to replace him, but Jayden Maiava has shown flashes since taking over. However, that does not make Moss' loss any easier on Lincoln Riley and the program.

S Zion Branch

Sophomore safety Zion Branch joined his brother Zachariah in entering the NCAA transfer portal and joining Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs next season. He took a big step in the right direction in 2024 as Branch finished with 19 total tackles (15 solo, four assisted) with a sack and three pass deflections.

After dealing with season-ending injuries in 2022 and 2023, he was able to finally get healthy and play well. Replacing someone like Branch will be difficult, but this is certainly a massive loss for the Trojans.

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Edited by R. Elahi
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