After securing a transfer pledge from former Auburn edge rusher Romello Height Sunday, USC stayed in the state of Alabama to add more defensive talent.

Shane Lee, a former top-100 prospect from the Class of 2019 and member of the Alabama Crimson Tide, will transfer to USC. The Trojan program announced the news on social media. He’ll have three years to play two for the Trojans.

Whereas Height is a pass-rushing type off the edge, Lee is a linebacker for the middle of the Trojan defense. As a high school recruit, he was a 4-star prospect, the 78th overall player in his class, and the fifth-best inside linebacker, per the 247 Composite. The St. Frances Academy (Md.) product chose the Tide over Clemson, Florida State, LSU, and others.

Lee played in 13 games for Alabama this past season, though largely in a reserve capacity. He finished with just six total tackles. But Lee played right away as a first-year man in 2019, stepping in as the team’s starting MIKE linebacker following injuries to guys ahead of him on the depth chart. He finished that season with 86 tackles (second on the team). For his career, Lee totaled 95 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, six sacks, and three forced fumbles in 29 appearances for the Tide.

According to PFF’s tracking data, few were a surer tackler than Lee during that 2019 season. Among SEC linebackers with at least 150 snaps played, no one had a lower missed tackle rate and only two had more stops (tackles that constitute a failure for the offense). In fact, only seven FBS linebackers (min. 150 snaps) had a lower missed tackle rate than Lee in 2019.

He’ll join an inside linebacker group with a good chance at seeing immediate playing time. USC will need to replace leading tackler Kana’i Mauga (2022 NFL Draft entrant). It also saw linebacker Raymond Scott—27 tackles in a reserve role last season—opt for the transfer portal after the year. Barring any more attrition, USC will return multi-year starter Ralen Goforth (62 tackles, second on the team) and 2021 4-star signees Julien Simon and Raesjon Davis.

Lee is the 12th known transfer pledge for USC this cycle. He joins Washington wideout Terrell Bynun, Oklahoma wideout Mario Williams, Colorado wideout Brenden Rice, Stanford tailback Austin Jones, Oregon tailback Travis Dye, Virginia offensive tackle Bobby Haskins, TCU defensive lineman Earl Barquet, Kansas State defensive lineman Tyrone Taleni, Height, Colorado corner Mekhi Blackmon, and Oklahoma corner Latrell McCutchin.

USC has the 13th overall recruiting class (high school plus transfers) and the second-best transfer class in the country.