Lincoln Riley wins Bear Alexander recruiting battle, convincing him to stay at USC

Ryan Kartje April 10, 2024

After seriously considering another trip to the transfer portal, USC standout defensive tackle Bear Alexander now says hes staying at USC.

Im not crystal clear on all of the noise or what any of this portal mess is about, Alexander said in a Wednesday post on X. Im here to finish what I started and that’s chasing a natty here at USC with my teammates #FightOn.

That didnt appear to be the plan Tuesday, as word spread of Alexanders intentions to enter the portal a second time, after

just

one season at USC. Schools like Texas were already circling. But by the next morning, Alexanders plans had changed.

The effort to change his mind, according to a source familiar with the situation not authorized to speak publicly, included an apparently convincing call from Lincoln Riley to Alexander and his family. Not long after, Alexander confirmed he was staying in a social media post.

‘I was just trying to escape.’ Bear Alexander made it USC thanks to father figure

His return is a major

sigh of

relief for USC, which doesnt currently have many proven disruptors behind him on its defensive front. As the anchor of USCs defensive line

during hisas a

sophomore

season

, Alexander faced regular double teams but still managed to rack up 48 tackles, including 6 for loss.

Alexander transferred to USC last April, fresh off winning a national title at Georgia

to cap thein

2022

season.

But that spring, when he wasnt guaranteed a major role on Georgias defense as a sophomore, Alexander opted to enter the portal. Tony Jones, Alexander’s guardian, told The Times last fall that they felt betrayed by Georgias staff.

If I cant trust you with what you say, Im out, Jones said. Thats what it got to [at Georgia].

Now, with Alexander publicly committed to staying put, USC seems to have avoided a similar fate.