USC tackle Bear Alexander is redshirting after dispute over playing time
When Bear Alexander flirted with the transfer portal last spring, USC and its staff did whatever it could to keep the former five-star defensive tackle in the fold. At the time, Alexander looked like the Trojans’ best hope to bring a disruptive defensive presence to the Big Ten.
But as USC’s new defense came together, Alexander’s role diminished. Even as coaches praised his progress, the former all-Pac-12 defensive tackle didn’t start any of USC’s first three games. Relegated to a rotational role up front, Alexander played just 28 snaps, then 20, then 21 last Saturday against Michigan, before frustrations finally boiled over into public view, posted on social media for all to see.
Those frustrations, from Alexander and his family, were dismissed on Tuesday by USC coach Lincoln Riley. But any questions about the talented defensive tackle’s future at USC were answered by Wednesday, when his guardian, Tony Jones, confirmed to The Times that Alexander intends to redshirt this season, sitting out the rest of the season to preserve a year of eligibility.
Asked if the reason for Alexander’s decision to leave the team was a lack of playing time, Jones said, “100%.” He characterized the relationship with USC as “severed.”
Read more:USC lineman Bear Alexander is pushing to become the Big Ten star the Trojans need
That relationship was strained earlier this year when Alexander told coaches during spring practice that he planned to enter the transfer portal. The USC staff convinced him to stay thanks, in part, to the NFL pedigree of new defensive line coach Eric Henderson and a renegotiated NIL arrangement.
“He didn’t [leave]. So we’re glad he’s still here,” Henderson said during USC’s media day in August. “We do not want to relive whatever that was at that time.”
Henderson raved that day about Alexander’s renewed interest in USC’s defense and how he’d spent the summer holed up in Henderson’s office, “thirsting for knowledge.” At the time, Alexander said he was focused on turning previous flashes of brilliance into prolonged stretches of “being a consistent player.” He spoke of being a leader for USC’s defense by “just making sure my motor is at the top, so other guys’ motors are as well.”
After Alexander missed most of spring with a hamstring injury, Riley highlighted how important it was for Alexander to “take more steps in that direction.”
Gavin Meyer, a graduate transfer from Wyoming, emerged during preseason camp as the more reliable option on the interior in the eyes of USC’s staff. By the end of August, Riley had begun to temper expectations for Alexander, explaining that he had “a long ways to go” and was “still very young on the football field.”
That trepidation clearly left Alexander with a lesser role to start the season. Still, in his 69 snaps, USC’s leader in quarterback hurries from last season (23) has more hurries this year (2) than Meyer or Vanderbilt transfer Nate Clifton, who has started at the other tackle spot.
USC hadn’t made Alexander available to speak with reporters since the season began. After the loss to Michigan, Alexander vented his frustration on social media by tweeting, “FREE 9-OWE,” in reference to his own jersey number.
Jones, his guardian, argued with former USC football players on social media and posted several clips from the Michigan game to prove his point. He took aim at other Trojan defensive tackles competing with Alexander, and, in a since-deleted tweet, even suggested that Riley and USC’s coaches had lied to him.
“NO DEFENSIVE TACKLE IS BETTER THAN MY SON, in the NATION,” Jones wrote Tuesday on social media. “I respect those guys, but damn fool I don’t think they are better than Bear.”
Read more:USC lineman Bear Alexander is pushing to become the Big Ten star the Trojans need
Later that day, Riley dismissed questions about Alexander’s discontent.
“Everybody needs to just relax,” he said. “Everybody’s going to be fine.”
Asked again about plans for Alexander, Riley suggested inquiring reporters were just “looking for” a story.
“People want to act like the guy’s not playing snaps,” Riley said. “He’s doing a good job for us out here. He’s getting better. There’s no story there.”
The next day, Alexander was on his way out.
Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn deferred any questions about Alexander that afternoon to Riley. Then, on Thursday, Riley preempted his usual news conference to say he wouldn't answer any questions regarding "the surprising news from yesterday."
"We're fired up for the guys that we have that are playing," Riley said.
Lynn, too, expressed confidence in the depth left behind on the defensive line with Alexander now out of the picture.
“We feel like that’s one of the strengths of the team,” Lynn said Wednesday.
Riley was happy to reiterate that point, at least.
"There’s a lot of excitement about the opportunities that will break for some of these guys," Riley said, "and I think we’ll have several guys jump up and seize it. A lot of people, a lot of people want to play with this defense and this defensive line right now."
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
