Just a day after USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley criticized the media for making a “story” out of Bear Alexander’s limited playing time during the team’s loss to the Michigan Wolverines, the former five-star recruit became the focus of attention on Wednesday. According to reports from 247Sports’ Connor Morrissette, and later confirmed by On3, Alexander has chosen to redshirt and plans to transfer, marking the third college program in his career.
This decision follows his participation in just 21 of 58 snaps in USC’s 27-24 loss to Michigan, after which he posted a cryptic message on social media: “FREE 9-OWE.” His guardian, Tony Jones, also expressed frustration on social media, targeting fans who criticized Alexander for a perceived lack of effort and a missed tackle during the game.
This marks the second time Alexander has left a top-tier program, having also departed from Georgia after the Bulldogs’ 2022 championship season when he didn’t secure a starting role. Similar circumstances seem to be at play at USC, where his snap count dropped from 50 per game in 2023 to just 23 this season, and he hasn’t started any games.
As a recruit, Rivals ranked Alexander as the No. 9 player nationally and the No. 2 defensive lineman. When he entered the transfer portal last season, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 14 overall player and the top defensive lineman. Now, after stints at two major programs, it’s uncertain what kind of interest he will generate moving forward.
