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Bear Alexander plans to redshirt in 2024, per report
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Bear Alexander intends to redshirt in 2024 and will not play the remainder of this season, according to a report.
That news comes from 247Sports’ Connor Morrissette, who cited a conversation with Alexander’s guardian. The report says that Alexander was not at USC’s practice on Wednesday after informing Lincoln Riley of his decision earlier in the day.
The former Georgia transfer is in his second season with USC, but has largely been playing with the Trojans’ reserves to start this season.
Riley spoke about Alexander’s situation with local media on Tuesday night, but downplayed his lack of playing time.
“People want to act like he’s not playing,” Riley said. “He’s doing a good job for us out here. He’s getting better. There’s no story there. I know you guys are looking for one. There’s no story there. Guy’s out here working hard, he’s improving, he’s in a new system with a new coach. He’s getting better and I think he’s going to continue to get better.
“It should be hard to play D-Line at USC. It ought to be kind of hard. It wasn’t hard last year and that’s why we weren’t very good up there. We’re pretty decent up there [now] and it’s hard and the margins are thin.”
NCAA rules allow for players to use a redshirt year provided that they have played in 4 or fewer games in a season. Alexander has played a total of 69 snaps in USC’s 3 contests so far in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.
Alexander has been credited with 4 total tackles this season. USC will face Wisconsin on Saturday.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.