Tag: Gavin Meyer

One fact shows why USC football fell short in the Big Ten this year

USC placed just one player on the Big Ten’s first team this year, and it was the punter. Few facts will tell a simpler story about the Trojans in 2024.

There are many indicators and telling facts which explain why USC football fell woefully short in Big Ten football competition this year. Earlier this week, the Big Ten announced its all-conference football teams for the 2024 season.

In a rather fitting development just one Trojans made the first team. Who was it, you ask? Why, that would be punter Eddie Czaplicki, of course.

Czaplicki being the lone Trojan to earn all-conference honors was a rather fitting microcosm of USC’s season. The Trojans struggled offensively throughout the year, with Czaplicki frequently needing to bail them out in terms of field position.

Two USC players did earn second team all-Big Ten honors: offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon and running back Woody Marks. The Trojans also had four players on the third team: offensive lineman Jonah Monheim, cornerback Jaylin Smith, long snapper Hank Pepper, and return specialist Makai Lemon.

In addition, Lemon was an all-conference honorable mention at wide receiver. Also earning honorable mention recognition were linebacker Easton Macarena’s-Arnold, offensive lineman Elijah Paige, tight end Lake McRee, safety Kmari Ramsey, and defensive lineman Gavin Meyer.

The Trojans finished the regular season 6-6, and await their bowl game destination.

Lincoln Riley feels Gavin Meyer will make an impact on USC defensive line

Gavin Meyer has made a strong impression on USC coaches and the new defensive line.

USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley did much to assuage spring concerns about the USC defensive line, particularly the interior portion of the line, and the lack of portal success in 2024. Riley offered lavish praise of Wyoming transfer Gavin Meyer.

Riley offered this evaluation:

“I mean there’s just always areas that you’re looking to address. We’ve been really pleased with Gavin and bringing him in. It’s very apparent that he’s going have an opportunity to make a big impact for us, not just the way he plays but just his attitude, the way that he’s joined the team. Culture-wise and long-term-wise, he fits exactly what we want and is going to be a really good player, so we’ve been thrilled with that addition.”

Meyer came to USC from Wyoming with relatively little fanfare, but if he is as good as Riley suggests he will be, that would help explain why USC didn’t pay up extra money for other potential defensive line transfers in the portal offseason.

USC has had more luck with Wyoming transfers lately than they have had with player from the Trinity League.  New pipeline?  The Trojans have had success with current Houston Texan Solomon Byrd and 2024 starting left guard Emmanuel Pregnon.  Meyer is penciled in to be the third annual impact player from the Cowboys over the past three seasons.

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USC adds Wyoming defensive tackle transfer Gavin Meyer

USC finally grabs a defensive tackle in the portal. The Trojans had to get more depth.

USC finally added much-needed defensive tackle depth when Wyoming transfer Gavin Meyer joined the Trojans on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound redshirt senior defensive lineman chose USC over Cal and Big Ten  schools Wisconsin and Illinois.  He appeared in nine games his first two seasons with the Cowboys, but saw his playing time increase with a significant role on the defensive line the past two seasons. 

The Trojans needed to add one or two defensive linemen to their thin roster. Head coach Lincoln Riley discussed this with the media as the team entered spring camp. Defensive ends coach Shaun Nua hinted that Anthony Lucas’ size, athleticism, and versatility made him a prime candidate to play on the outside and help at defensive tackle when needed.

However, instead of adding depth early in the spring portal window, the Trojans saw projected starting nose guard Isaiah Raikes enter the transfer portal. Raikes, an offseason transfer from Texas A&M, was seen as the athletic and disruptive force in the middle that would command attention from the offensive line to free up the defensive ends and tackle Bear Alexander. His departure was made worse by the surprise departure of redshirt freshman Deijon Laffitte 13 days later.

The Trojans will have to rely on the addition of Meyer and the arrival of incoming freshman defensive lineman Carlon Jones (6-2 and 285), who will join the team this summer to shore up the room at this point. Riley, defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn and defensive line coach Eric Henderson are likely to continue actively seeking more defensive options in the lead-up to the start of fall camp. This depth is crucial not only for game days but also for maintaining high-quality, competitive, and physically demanding practices throughout the camp and season.

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Wisconsin top transfer portal DL target commits to a Big Ten rival

Wisconsin’s last big transfer DL target commits to USC

Wisconsin’s top transfer portal target, defensive lineman Gavin Meyer, committed to USC on Wednesday.

Meyer chose the Trojans over finalists Wisconsin, Cal and Illinois.

Related: Updated 2024 Wisconsin football game-by-game predictions after spring practice

The veteran lineman entered the transfer portal on May 1 after four years at Wyoming. He entered with major experience and production, having recorded a combined 66 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks over the last two seasons.

Meyer is a Franklin, Wisconsin, native. The Badgers did not extend him an offer when he was a three-star defensive end recruit in the class of 2020. They now lose out on his transfer recruitment to a rival program on the 2024 schedule.

Wisconsin’s quest for a transfer defensive lineman appears to have concluded. The program lost out on C.J. West (committed to Indiana), Khurtiss Perry (committed to Virginia Tech), Jay’Viar Suggs (committed to LSU), Meyer (USC) and Brandon Lane (committed to Louisville) in the last few weeks.

The Badgers are at the 85-scholarship limit after extending one to former walk-on wide receiver Haakon Anderson.

With a clear weakness along the defensive line, the Badgers will enter the 2024 season that has Oregon, Penn State and Alabama scheduled to visit Madison. If it is not a weakness, then at least the team’s thinnest position.

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Wisconsin top transfer portal target takes visit to Big Ten rival

Wisconsin top transfer portal target takes visit to Big Ten rival:

Wisconsin’s top transfer portal target, Gavin Meyer, took an official visit to Illinois on Tuesday, according to 247Sports’ Jeremy Werner.

The Badgers and Fighting Illini are among the former Wyoming defensive lineman’s finalists, along with USC and Cal. He also has visits scheduled with the two California schools.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings, starting quarterback rankings

Meyer entered the portal this month after four years at Wyoming. He was a major part of the team’s defensive line in 2022 and 2023, recording a combined 66 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks over those two seasons.

The 6-foot-4, 282-pound lineman is originally from Franklin, Wisconsin. He was a three-star recruit in the class of 2020, though he did not receive an offer from the Badgers. He chose Wyoming during his high school recruiting cycle over other offers, including Air Force, Ball State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Illinois State and Navy.

Wisconsin is among three top Big Ten programs in pursuit of the lineman during his transfer recruitment.

Wisconsin is in heavy pursuit of several transfer defensive linemen. It is also a finalist for Grand Valley State transfer Jay’Viar Suggs and reportedly in pursuit of Alabama transfer Khurtiss Perry.

Luke Fickell has recognized defensive line as a clear deficiency on the roster as the program enters a pivotal 2024 season.

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Wisconsin football a finalist for one of the transfer portal’s top linemen

Wisconsin football a finalist for one of the transfer portal’s top DL

Wisconsin football is a finalist to land former Wyoming defensive tackle Gavin Meyer, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

The Badgers were named along with USC, Cal and Illinois. The Franklin, Wisconsin native reportedly already has visits scheduled with the two California schools.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings, starting quarterback rankings

Meyer entered the transfer portal on May 1 after four years at Wyoming. He was a major contributor in both 2022 and 2023, recording a combined 66 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks over those two seasons.

As mentioned, Meyer is originally from Franklin, Wisconsin. He was a three-star defensive end recruit back in the class of 2020 and did not receive an offer from the Badgers. He landed at Wyoming over other top offers including Air Force, Ball State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Illinois State and Navy.

The recruiting process is playing out differently this time around for the veteran lineman. He has received interest nationwide, and is now reportedly down to the three Big Ten schools (USC, Wisconsin, Illinois) and the ACC’s Cal.

Wisconsin continues to look for improvements at defensive line with the position being one of the weakest on the 2024 roster. The Badgers are also a finalist for Grand Valley State transfer DL Jay’Viar Suggs, looking at multiple levels to find a plug-and-play contributor at the position.

For more on Wisconsin’s transfer portal activity this spring as Luke Fickell works to improve the roster, check out our 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker.

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MSU football reportedly in contact with Wyoming transfer DL Gavin Meyer

MSU is reportedly one of many big-time schools to show interest in Wyoming defensive lineman transfer Gavin Meyer.

Michigan State is reportedly one of many big-time schools to show interest in Wyoming defensive lineman transfer Gavin Meyer.

On3 is reporting that Meyer has received interest from numerous power four schools, including Michigan State. Other notable schools to contact Meyer includes Cal, Florida State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Duke, Houston, West Virginia, Purdue and Illinois.

Meyer played in 26 games across the past two seasons, and racked up 26 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in 2023.

Click on the post below to read more on the Spartans’ inerest in Meyer:

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