USC got a huge bowl victory to end its 2024 season late Friday night in Las Vegas, then the Trojans got a big win for their linebacker room for 2025 the very next day.

On Saturday, the Trojans announced that senior linebacker Eric Gentry was returning to USC instead of bolting for another school or, perhaps, the NFL Draft. Instead, the 6-foot-6, 215-pounder from Philadelphia is returning to help head coach Lincoln Riley try to get things right next fall after USC finished with just a 7-6 record in 2024.

House of Victory, the NIL collective for USC, confirmed Gentry’s return on social media.

Gentry had an eventful season this fall, and not in the greatest way. He was USC’s leading tackler and top defensive player early in the season. But then things went sideways for Gentry, who struggled with a concussion and redshirted after playing in the Trojans’ 4 games in September.

Gentry could’ve been positioning himself for the transfer portal, but he made it clear that wasn’t the case. His absence through October and November was for health reasons, he said, and Gentry proved he was telling the truth by returning for USC’s battle with Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night.

In his first action since September, Gentry had 3 tackles in the Trojans’ thrilling 35-31 comeback victory over the Aggies that at least gave USC a winning season after so much more was expected of the Trojans in 2024.

Now, Gentry will be back to try to make sure the Trojans win a lot more in 2025.