Tag: bear alexander

Bear Alexander chooses USC, gives Trojans huge lift in transfer portal

The Bear is here. #USC, Lincoln Riley, and Alex Grinch hit the grand slam they absolutely needed in the portal.

Bear Down? That’s for the Arizona Wildcats. Bear market? That’s for Cal, where the Golden Bears are in decline and have lost a lot of stock value. The USC Trojans are simply going to be a bear for the next few years. They’re going to be hard to beat now that they have landed the top-ranked prospect in the 2023 spring window of the college football transfer portal.

Bear Alexander, the Georgia defensive lineman who played in the national championship game in Los Angeles this past January, chose USC on Sunday evening. Alexander was expected to be a core part of Kirby Smart’s defense this year with Georgia. He was going to be a main component of the Bulldogs’ push for a third consecutive national championship.

This is not a situation in which a national title-caliber program discarded a player because it already had sufficient quality and depth. This was a case of Alexander ostensibly being part of an elite program’s plans, but wanting a change of scenery and maybe different kind of challenge.

The boost this gives USC on paper is substantial. As long as it translates to the field this fall, the Trojans should be noticeably better on defense in 2023, which is exactly what they and Alex Grinch need to contend for the College Football Playoff this year.

We’ll have much more on this story at Trojans Wire.

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A reminder: Bear Alexander is the top-ranked transfer portal prospect

Before he announces his choice, Bear Alexander is worth spotlighting for a simple reason: He’s the top-ranked portal entrant.

Bear Alexander will announce his transfer destination Sunday night. Before that decision arrives (or even if you’re reading this after his choice), let’s make one thing clear: Alexander is not a modest talent or a peripheral, secondary piece. He is, according to On3 Sports and other evaluators, the top-ranked prospect in the spring transfer portal window.

Let’s remind you what our partners at UGA Wire wrote when the news of Alexander’s transfer hit the headlines earlier this month:

“If Alexander transfers, it will be a tough loss for Georgia’s defensive line. The Bulldogs were counting on Alexander having a much larger role in 2023.

“Alexander instantly becomes one of the most talented players in the NCAA transfer portal.”

Bear Alexander did not fall out of favor in Athens. Georgia’s coaching staff liked him and was hoping he would be part of a run at a third straight national championship. This is not a case of an ultra-successful program discarding a peripheral piece who has failed to live up to expectations. No, this is a sophomore whose stock is rising and who is expected to be a prime player in 2023.

Now comes his Sunday decision. We’ll be here covering it.

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Zach Branch tweet with Fight On emoji sends smoke signal on Bear Alexander

#USCTwitter was flooded with GIFs of bears — roaring, hunting, growling — after a Zachariah Branch tweet. You do the math.

The USC Trojans football team could be on the verge of landing a huge transfer portal addition with Georgia defensive lineman Bear Alexander.

On Saturday, USC receiver Zachariah Branch took to Twitter and got the entire fan base on the edge of their seats with one simple tweet.

In response, USC fans flocked to social media with classic responses and a ton of GIFs of bears in anticipation of Alexander.

The Georgia transfer is announcing his decision on Sunday, but it is telling that Branch would tweet this out. The replies and quote tweets are perfect, as you’ll see below:

Georgia DT Bear Alexander to choose between Texas, others on Sunday

Bear Alexander has set his announcement date.

Georgia transfer defensive tackle Bear Alexander is set to make his transfer decision on Sunday. The choice of destination could have have a huge impact on the college football world in 2023.

The heavy favorite and likely pick for Alexander is Lincoln Riley’s USC Trojans. The move would abandon defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s philosophy on defensive linemen and give Southern California a huge presence on the inside.

Texas was also listed as one of the top schools for the former Denton Ryan football player. Albeit as of Friday the Longhorns were not likely to push hard for the interior defensive linemen according to Inside Texas. There’s a real possibility the talented player simply listed the team as one of his top schools to add to suspense.

Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis already added veteran depth at defensive tackle with Trill Carter from Minnesota. Time will tell if the Longhorns are a serious contender in the race.

Alexander is set to choose between USC, Colorado, Texas, Oregon, Miami and Penn State on Sunday night.

Bear Alexander will announce transfer move Sunday night; USC favored

Bear Alexander paid a visit to #USC this weekend. He’s announcing his transfer choice Sunday night. Seems good, yes?

The larger reality of situations can sometimes be very complicated, but it can also be very easy to make sense of. Maybe this is a complicated case, but the Bear Alexander transfer story certainly seems to be clear-cut at this point.

Alexander, a transfer from Georgia, visited USC this weekend. He then tweeted that he would announce his college decision Sunday night — that’s April 23.

If you put two and two together, this seems like a story with an obvious conclusion. USC is the overwhelming favorite for Bear Alexander, and it could be that this visit has already convinced the defensive lineman that the Trojans are the right fit for him this season. We will find out on Sunday, but it’s hard — if not impossible — to be pessimistic right now from a USC vantage point.

Bear Alexander coming to USC would give the Trojans a big lift. USC would become deeper, tougher, stronger, and better against the run. There is not a more important need on this roster than a player with Alexander’s precise collection of attributes.

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Georgia DL Bear Alexander visiting Pac-12 school

Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Bear Alexander entered the transfer portal and is now visiting USC.

Georgia defensive lineman Bear Alexander is visiting the USC Trojans from April 21-23. Alexander entered the NCAA transfer portal during the spring transfer window and did not play in Georgia’s spring game.

Bear Alexander is a former four-star recruit. He was ranked as the No. 50 prospect in the class of 2022. Alexander played high school football in Texas prior to spending his final high school season at IMG Academy in Florida.

Now, he is one of the top players in the NCAA transfer portal. Alexander could help make a difference for USC’s leaky defense. The Trojans finished No. 94 in scoring defense; they allowed an average of 29.2 points per game. For perspective, Georgia has allowed more than 29 points just three times over the past two seasons. The Bulldogs have five shutouts over the same period of time.

Alexander recorded nine total tackles as a freshman in 2022. He added two sacks. Alexander had a particularly strong performance in the national championship game against TCU.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Bear Alexander (99) celebrates after a sack against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half in the national championship game. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

If Alexander transfers, it would be a tough loss for Georgia’s defensive line. The Bulldogs were counting on Alexander having a larger role in 2023. However, Georgia still has a great deal of talent along its defensive front.

Another school to watch in Alexander’s recruitment is the Texas Longhorns. On3 reported Alexander’s visit with USC.

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Georgia transfer Bear Alexander will visit USC; Trojans try to close the door

#USC will get a chance to convince Bear Alexander to become a Trojan. We’re not going to downplay this one. This is big.

The USC Trojans saw Florida transfer Ethan White reverse course and not come to Southern California after all. However, the Trojans are now bringing in Georgia defensive lineman Bear Alexander for a visit, per Matt Zenitz of On3.

“Georgia defensive line transfer Bear Alexander is expected to visit USC this weekend, sources tell On3,” Zenitz wrote. “Alexander, arguably the top player to enter the transfer portal since the spring window opened on Saturday, was a top-45 recruit in the 2022 On3 Industry Ranking.”

The spring portal window recently opened, and players have been entering their names. Alexander totaled nine tackles and two sacks last year for the Bulldogs as they won another college football title.

Alexander did have two tackles and a sack in the national title game victory over TCU, and the Trojans would be thrilled to have him join a defense that needs some revamping after a rough 2022 season.

Alexander is the top player available, and the Trojans’ defense has faced a ton of questions, especially after an ugly ending in the Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane.

However, finding a way to add Bear Alexander would be terrific news for DC Alex Grinch.

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Prominent college football analyst gives USC inside track to Bear Alexander

Josh Pate thinks #USC is the likely landing spot for #UGA transfer Bear Alexander. The Trojans badly need this portal prospect.

The USC Trojans’ pursuit of elite prospects in the transfer portal continues. If the Trojans (and their fans) want to land one prospect more than any other, the choice is very clear and contains no real debate or ambiguity.

It’s Georgia defensive lineman Bear Alexander.

We noted how good Alexander is as a prospect.

Our partners at UGA Wire specifically wrote that “If Alexander transfers, it will be a tough loss for Georgia’s defensive line. The Bulldogs were counting on Alexander having a much larger role in 2023. Alexander instantly becomes one of the most talented players in the NCAA transfer portal.”

This is not a player Kirby Smart and Georgia essentially discarded. They wanted Alexander to be a core part of their 2023 defense.

If you’re a big part of Kirby Smart’s plans for a Georgia defense, that’s as good a player as USC could hope to get in the portal, also as good a fit for USC’s roster needs (and current deficiencies).

Now we have a little more context to offer in this portal drama.

Josh Pate, the smart and informative podcaster, YouTuber, and college football commentator, has weighed in on this portal plot point:

It’s not a done deal, but USC fans have to be cautiously optimistic.

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Six schools that make sense for Georgia DL transfer Bear Alexander

Bear Alexander is the next big name in the transfer portal.

The post-spring transfer window has officially begun. Continue reading “Six schools that make sense for Georgia DL transfer Bear Alexander”

Former Georgia DL Bear Alexander could be transfer target for Ducks

Former Georgia DL Bear Alexander — who had a pair of sacks in the national championship game this year — is in the transfer portal.

Whenever a defensive player for the Georgia Bulldogs enters the transfer portal, ears start to perk up in Eugene, Oregon.

So on Saturday, when freshman DL Bear Alexander, a former high-end 4-star recruit announced that he was looking for a new team, some ideas started to formulate in Eugene.

Of course, the Ducks don’t necessarily have a need on the defensive line, but head coach Dan Lanning has long said that if they see a player in the portal who they think can make them better, then they are going to do what they can to try and get him.

Alexander fits that billing. Although he played in just 8 games as a true freshman, Bear broke out in the national championship game, notching two sacks against the TCU Horned Frogs in Georgia’s blowout victory.

We will see over the coming days and weeks if the Ducks end up reaching out to Alexander and trying to get him to Eugene, but this is certainly a name to be aware of.

Bear Alexander’s Transfer Portal Profile