USC added a veteran reinforcement to its offensive line on Sunday with the addition of Virginia offensive line transfer Bobby Haskins.
USC adds Virginia offensive line transfer Bobby Haskins – Orange County Register (ocregister.com)
Haskins, who announced his decision on Twitter, was an All-ACC honorable mention selection starting at left tackle for the Cavaliers in 2021. The 6-foot-7, 295-pound lineman will have one season of eligibility remaining with USC.
His addition is a necessary one for new USC head coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans lost two starters on the offensive line this season with the departures of Liam Jimmons and Jalen McKenzie. Starters Brett Neilon and Andrew Vorhees are coming back, but it was important this off-season to add someone with experience at tackle after relying so heavily on redshirt freshmen Jonah Monheim and Courtland Ford in 2021.
“I am incredibly blessed and excited to put everything I have into my last year of college football, playing for Coach Riley,” Haskins wrote.
And more:
USC lands top transfer target, Virginia OT Bobby Haskins
Ryan Young • TrojanSports, Publisher, @RyanYoungRivals
USC expects to be very active in the transfer portal this offseason -- both ways -- and on Sunday the Trojans reeled in one of their top early transfer targets, as offensive tackle Bobby Haskins announced his commitment.
Haskins, who took an official visit to USC the second weekend of December, was Virginia's starting left tackle this season.
Haskins logged 654 offensive snaps for the Cavaliers while receiving a season grade of 65.7 from PFF, which had him allowing 27 pressures (3 sacks, 22 QB hurries and 2 QB hits) while drawing 5 penalties.
Haskins, who has one year of eligibility remaining, was named the ACC offensive lineman of the week after Virginia's game against Duke, as he allowed 0 pressures and had 7 pancake blocks, per his UVA bio.
He also started 13 games at left tackle in 2019 before an injury limited him in 2020.
The Trojans must replace starting right tackle Jalen McKenzie, who lost his job in fall camp to redshirt freshman Jonah Monheim but later reclaimed the starting job down the stretch of the season. Overall, McKenzie graded out at 76.9 from PFF over 517 snaps while allowing just 9 pressures (0 sacks, 6 hurries, 3 hits) before announcing he would declare for the NFL draft.
On the left side, redshirt senior Andrew Vorhees eventually slid over from left guard to replace injured redshirt freshman Courtland Ford as the starter. Vorhees announced that he has decided to return for his final year of eligibility after he graded out at an elite 90.0 for his work across both positions while allowing 14 pressures (1 sack, 11 hurries, 2 hits) over 902 snaps.
Monheim (21 pressures, including 4 sacks over 472 snaps) and Ford (20 pressures, including 3 sacks, over 535 snaps) both struggled in their first seasons with significant playing time, meanwhile, so the new coaching staff will have some decisions to make as to how best to put those pieces of the puzzle together.
It might make the most sense to install Haskins at left tackle, allowing Vorhees to slide back to his natural and best position at left guard, with Neilon back at center and some combination of
Ford and Monheim at right tackle and the other rotating with experienced reserve Justin Dedich at right guard.
Overall, Haskins is the second incoming transfer for USC, along with TCU defensive tackle Earl Barquet.