Backup quarterback Jesse Scroggins set to transfer


By
 in ,

Sophomore quarterback Jesse Scroggins will transfer from USC this summer, USC coach Lane Kiffin announced Monday.

Scroggins, who had been held back by academic issues and a thumb injury, did not log any pass attempts with the Trojans despite coming into the program as the No. 2 quarterback in the ESPN 150 in 2010.

Leaving Troy · Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jesse Scroggins (left) has decided to transfer from USC. The prized recruit from Lakewood battled injuries and academic ineligibility throughout his Trojan career. - Corey Marquetti | Summer Trojan

Scroggins suffered the injury during a training camp scrimmage in August and was forced to miss the first half of the 2011 season.

During that time, redshirt freshmen quarterbacks Cody Kessler and Max Wittek closed the gap on Scroggins, who had showed promise as a potential second-string quarterback behind junior Matt Barkley.

 

Once Scroggins recovered from his hand surgery, he took his one and only snap with USC — the last play of the Trojans’ 40-17 home win over the Washington Huskies on Nov. 12.

Scroggins missed more time during spring practice with a hip injury and was listed behind Kessler and Wittek in the end-of-spring depth chart.

Kiffin had also noted in February that Scroggins had “fallen behind” in the classroom and was in danger of being ruled academically ineligible for the upcoming season.

Scroggins plans to transfer to and play for a junior college and earn an Associate of Arts degree before transferring again to a four-year university with two years of eligibility remaining, according to his father, Jesse Sr.

“We’re just doing what’s in the best interest of my son. He wanted more control of the situation and this seemed like an opportune time,” Jesse Sr. told the Los Angeles Times.

Despite Scroggins’ academic struggles, Kiffin says that Scroggins had “a very strong spring semester in the classroom” and is “academically eligible to transfer at this time.”

“We wish Jesse and his family nothing but success,” Kiffin said.

The Lakewood High School product had committed to USC over Florida, LSU, Nebraska and Tennessee and was touted for his potential and a strong cannon arm.

The departure of Scroggins now has the Trojans scholarship roster set at 75, the reduced limit imposed by NCAA sanctions.

The Trojans have three scholarship quarterbacks on their roster in Barkley, Kessler and Wittek.

USC also has a verbal commit from quarterback Max Browne, who will be a senior at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash.

Browne, the No. 2 ranked pocket passer according to ESPN, plans on graduating early so he can enroll at USC in January and practice with the Trojans in spring 2013.