USC quarterback Jaxson Dart enters the transfer portal, per reports
And now the second Trojan quarterback to start a game in 2021 has entered the transfer portal.
According to multiple reports Monday morning, USC’s Jaxson Dart has put his name into the portal and intends to leave the program. Dart started the back half of the 2021 season in place of Kedon Slovis, who has also left the program since head coach Lincoln Riley’s arrival.
USC QB Jaxson Dart has entered the transfer portal, @TheAthleticCFB has learned.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) January 10, 2022
Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times added that Dart could still choose to return to USC, but he’s exploring his options.
I’m told a return to USC is still on the table for Dart — because he loves USC — but that the young QB is assessing what would be best for his future https://t.co/Zyy5Z2h547
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) January 10, 2022
Dart was a former 4-star and top-100 player, per the 247 Composite, in the Class of 2020. He was the national Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior, and then threw for 1,353 yards and nine touchdowns this season in six appearances. Dart completed 62% of his throws and tossed five interceptions in 189 attempts.
It’s impossible not to draw a line from Dart’s decision to former OU quarterback and Lincoln Riley recruit Caleb Williams. Ever since Riley left Oklahoma, speculation has been nonstop that Williams, a former 5-star from the 2021 class and Heisman darkhorse after the took over the Sooners’ starting gig midway through the year, would leave Norman for Los Angeles.
Williams entered the transfer portal last week and was in LA on Sunday to take in the Rams game during the day and then the Lakers game in the evening.
That Dart and Slovis have both left and there appear to be no other names on the radar, Williams-to-USC has picked up serious traction in recent days.