USC Sports – San Gabriel Valley Tribune https://www.sgvtribune.com Sat, 20 May 2023 04:13:51 +0000 en-US hourly 30 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.1 https://www.sgvtribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/san-gabriel-valley-tribune-icon.png?w=32 USC Sports – San Gabriel Valley Tribune https://www.sgvtribune.com 32 32 135692449 USC athletic director Mike Bohn resigns unexpectedly https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/05/19/usc-athletic-director-mike-bohn-resigns-unexpectedly/ Fri, 19 May 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3905097&preview=true&preview_id=3905097 USC director of athletics Mike Bohn has tendered his letter of resignation as the head of the Trojans’ athletic department, university president Carol Folt confirmed in a letter to the USC community on Friday.

“On behalf of the Trojan Family, I thank Mike for his contributions to our athletics department during a time of rapid transformation and growth,” Folt said. “We will be announcing a transition team comprising both internal and external leaders in the coming days and will launch a national search for a new director of athletics shortly.”

Bohn, 62, arrived at USC from Cincinnati in November of 2019, replacing former Trojan standout Lynn Swann. His hiring marked a new approach for USC as just the second athletic director without previous ties to the university.

When he was hired by USC, the athletic department had been shaken by the Varsity Blues scandal and an FBI investigation into the men’s basketball program. Bohn guided the program through the end of those controversies while overhauling the athletic department and modernizing it to compete with other national powers.

Bohn’s impact on USC athletics really came into view in 2021. He extended men’s basketball coach Andy Enfield after an Elite Eight run, then hired Lindsay Gottlieb from the Cleveland Cavaliers to lead the women’s basketball program. Then later that year, he stunned the college football world by hiring Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma.

Since then, Riley has transformed the football team into national contenders, coming a win away from the College Football Playoff in 2022. Gottlieb reached the NCAA tournament in her second season with the Trojans, while Enfield has extended his tournament streak to three years.

But Bohn’s most earth-shaking move as USC athletic director came last summer, when the Trojans announced their intention to move from their traditional home in the Pac-12 conference to the Big Ten beginning in 2024.

“Over the last four years, the USC athletics department has transformed into a national powerhouse,” Folt stated. “In our singular pursuit of excellence, I am committed to ensuring we have the right leadership in place to achieve our goals. As part of that commitment and as we prepare to move to the Big Ten, we conducted a thorough review of the athletics department, including its operations, culture, and strategy. Having built a strong foundation over the last few years, now is the time for new direction grounded in our values and in expertise needed to fulfill our aspirational vision for Trojan athletics.”

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3905097 2023-05-19T14:00:00+00:00 2023-05-19T21:13:51+00:00
Pac-12 economic threat: New California legislation attempts to redirect operating revenue to athletes https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/05/16/pac-12-economic-threat-new-california-legislation-attempts-to-redirect-operating-revenue-to-athletes/ Tue, 16 May 2023 19:07:38 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3902521&preview=true&preview_id=3902521 As the Pac-12’s existential crisis plays out in public, a threat to its economic model is quietly churning through the California state legislature.

Assembly Bill 252, also known as the College Athlete Protection Act, aims to create a revenue-sharing arrangement between the schools and athletes in the major sports.

The bill’s author is assembly member Chris Holden, who represents District 41 (Pasadena) and is a former San Diego State basketball player.

To craft AB 252, Holden worked closely with National College Players Association, the athlete-advocacy group that helped push forward the “Fair Pay To Play Act” — better known as name, image and likeness (NIL) — and is supported by the United Steelworkers.

But there is a significant difference in the pieces of legislation. While NIL allowed athletes to receive compensation from the private sector for endorsement and promotional endeavors, AB 252 funnels revenue currently used for athletic department operations into the pockets of the athletes in sports that meet certain financial thresholds — namely, football and basketball.

How much cash would go straight to the players? Depending on the revenue generated by the specific team, each athlete could receive $25,000 annually and have more than $100,000 waiting for them upon graduation.

If AB 252 becomes law in California, the impact likely would ripple through the Pac-12 footprint and, as was the case with NIL, spark massive change across the college sports landscape.

And it could have serious ramifications for Title IX, the 51-year-old civil rights law designed to prevent gender-based discrimination.

The bill has a difficult but not treacherous road ahead:

— It passed the assembly’s higher education committee in April by an 8-3 vote and has moved to appropriations.

— In order to reach the assembly floor during this legislative cycle, AB 252 must pass appropriations by May 19. That seems likely. Holden, the sponsor, is chair of the appropriations committee.

— At that point, AB 252 would need to pass the full assembly by June 2 in order to advance to the senate this year.

“At some point we have to recognize that what’s demanded of these athletes far exceeds what the average student is expected to contribute,” Holden said last month, after AB 252 passed the higher education committee.

“We owe it to these young people to put protections in place that match the unique position they are in and set them up for success post schooling.”

However, AB 252 could have massive consequences for Olympic sports.

The operating revenue targeted by AB 252 is currently used to fund recruiting budgets and coaches salaries for football and men’s basketball. But it also supports dozens of teams — from tennis and softball to swimming to field hockey — that don’t turn a profit.

The bill is opposed by the University of California (UCLA, Cal, etc.) and the California State University (San Jose State, Fresno State, San Diego State, etc.), which believe AB 252 would result in the elimination of non-revenue sports, in addition to any Title IX ramifications.

According to an analysis published by the appropriations committee, the UC estimated the potential impact could reach “tens of millions of dollars annually.”

The appropriations committee has scheduled a hearing on AB 252 for Thursday.


*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

*** Follow me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline

*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.

 

 

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3902521 2023-05-16T12:07:38+00:00 2023-05-16T12:10:54+00:00
Son of NBA great Dennis Rodman transferring to USC, joining Bronny James https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/05/10/son-of-nba-great-dennis-rodman-transferring-to-usc-joining-bronny-james/ Wed, 10 May 2023 23:17:54 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3898821&preview=true&preview_id=3898821 LOS ANGELES — The USC men’s basketball roster is getting more star-studded by the moment.

The Trojans had already landed Bronny James, son of Lakers superstar LeBron James. Now, D.J. Rodman has announced on social media that he’s transferring to USC, which confirmed his addition on Wednesday.

The son of NBA rebounding great Dennis Rodman played the last four seasons at Washington State. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds while starting 30 of 31 games for the Cougars last season.

Rodman graduated from WSU with a degree in communications. He will take advantage of an NCAA rule allowing an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic to play for the Trojans close to his hometown of Newport Beach.

Coach Andy Enfield on Wednesday also said the Trojans have received a signed national letter of intent from James. The guard announced on his social media last weekend that he had committed to the Trojans, and his father discussed it after the Lakers’ playoff victory.

The Trojans have already signed guard Isaiah Collier and forward Arrinten Page. They’ll join returning starters Boogie Ellis, Kobe Johnson and Joshua Morgan. Ellis averaged a team-high 17.7 points last season, while Johnson and Morgan were named to the Pac-12’s All-Defensive team.

USC was 22-11 last season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. The Trojans lost to Michigan State, 72-62, in the first round.

James averaged 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals as a senior at Sierra Canyon School in nearby Chatsworth. He was named a McDonald’s All-American and played for Team USA in the Nike Hoop Summit.

Collier of Marietta, Georgia, was the top scorer for the West team with 25 points in the McDonald’s All-American game and was named co-MVP.

Page was a teammate of Collier at Wheeler High in Marietta.

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3898821 2023-05-10T16:17:54+00:00 2023-05-10T18:48:55+00:00
Nourse twins, USC defeat UCLA for NCAA beach volleyball title https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/05/07/nourse-twins-usc-beach-volleyball-beat-ucla-for-ncaa-title/ Sun, 07 May 2023 22:35:30 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3896764&preview=true&preview_id=3896764 GULF SHORES, Ala. — The USC beach volleyball dynasty keeps rolling along.

Twins Audrey and Nicole Nourse of USC beat UCLA’s Haley Hallgren and Rileigh Powers, 21-18, 19-21, 15-9, to give the Trojans a 3-2 win over the top-ranked and No. 1 seed Bruins on Sunday to lift USC to its third consecutive NCAA beach volleyball championship.

Jenna Johnson and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope of third-ranked and No. 3 seed USC (32-5) beat UCLA’s Marlie Monserez and Jess Smith, 22-20, 21-14, on Court 4 and USC’s Madison White and Madison Shields beat UCLA’s Abby Van Winkle and Peri Brennan, 24-22, 23-21, 15-9, on Court 2 to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead.

Lexy Denaburg and Maggie Boyd kept UCLA (40-3) alive with a 21-17, 21-13 win over Megan Kraft and Laynie Maple on Court 1 before Devon Newberry and Jaden Whitmarsh defeated USC’s Olivia Bakos and Gabby Walker, 21-18, 21-19, on Court 5 to pull the Bruins even at 2-2.

USC has won five of the seven beach volleyball championships sanctioned by the NCAA, with the Bruins winning the other two (2018 and ’19).

USC, which improved to 27-4 all-time in NCAA tournament duals, beat UCLA for the second time in five meetings this spring and snapped a three-dual losing streak to the Bruins to improve to 23-17 all-time against its crosstown rival.

The Nourse sisters, who starred at Orange Lutheran High, improved to 29-6 this season and earned their 91st career victory as a pair, the second-best total by a Trojans duo all-time (Nicolette Martin and Allie Wheeler, 2014-16).

Fourth-year USC head coach Dain Blanton has now won three championships as a head coach and owns six rings including the three he won as an assistant coach with the Trojans. He concludes his fourth season with a 105-15 career record.

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3896764 2023-05-07T15:35:30+00:00 2023-05-08T15:44:56+00:00
UCLA, USC to play for NCAA beach volleyball title https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/05/06/ucla-usc-to-play-for-ncaa-beach-volleyball-title/ Sat, 06 May 2023 22:56:45 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3896143&preview=true&preview_id=3896143 Southern California’s best in beach volleyball will play for it all in Alabama.

Top-seeded UCLA will take on third-seeded USC for the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship after displaying their dominance Saturday in Gulf Shores.

The Bruins (40-3) handily defeated Cal and Florida State, exacting some revenge after the Seminoles bounced them in last year’s semifinals, to establish program, Pac-12 and NCAA records for wins in a season.

The two-time defending national champion Trojans (31-5), meanwhile, showed a flair for the dramatic in their semifinal clash with second-seeded Texas Christian.

The Trojans found themselves down two points to the Horned Frogs (37-3) before Jenna Johnson and Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope came up with a 21-16, 21-19 win for USC’s first point. Soon after, twins Audrey and Nicole Nourse emerged victorious 21-15, 29-27 to grind out another point and even the match.

All eyes were then on Match No. 5. USC’s Olivia Bakos and Gabby Walker rebounded from dropping the first set 23-32 to take the second 21-16 and set up the only third set. Bakos and Walker won the last two points to wrap up a 15-12 victory.

 

Seeking their fifth national title and playing in their fourth consecutive final, the Trojans will take on the Bruins for the fifth time this season. USC won the first dual 3-2 before UCLA won the next three, sweeping the last meeting April 28 in the Pac-12 tournament. The teams will square off at 9 a.m. PT Sunday on ESPN.

Against Florida State, Jessie Smith and Marlie Monserez got the Bruins their first point with a 21-14, 21-16 win. Lexy Denaburg and Maggie Boyd followed with a nail-biter in their second set before their 21-18, 24-22 victory. The clincher was up to Abby Van Winkle and Peri Brennan, with Van Winkle burying a kill for the 21-14, 21-18 final to send UCLA to its fourth national championship dual.

 

Earlier in the day, the Bruins had advanced to the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over eighth-seeded Cal (29-10) in a rematch of their Pac-12 Conference title match that was also won by the Bruins.

USC went to bed Friday not knowing who it would be playing in the quarterfinals. Inclement weather postponed Loyola Marymount’s first match to early Saturday morning, with the fifth-seeded Lions knocking off 11th-seeded Hawai’i by a 3-1 score to set up their showdown hours later with the Trojans.

In the quarterfinals, the teams had to take a 30-minute break because of a lightning delay before the Trojans, who started the match trailing 1-0, prevailed 3-1 to eliminate the Lions (29-9).

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3896143 2023-05-06T15:56:45+00:00 2023-05-06T16:56:58+00:00
UCLA, USC advance to NCAA beach volleyball quarterfinals https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/05/05/ucla-usc-advance-to-ncaa-beach-volleyball-quarterfinals/ Fri, 05 May 2023 23:40:14 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3895725&preview=true&preview_id=3895725 At the 2023 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championships on Friday, two local teams advanced, one was eliminated and another is on hold due to severe weather in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

In the first match of the day, top-seeded UCLA put together a 3-0 sweep of No. 17 seed Texas A&M Corpus Christi, which had swept the Tennessee-Martin on Wednesday to advance to the 16-team, single-elimination tournament.

The team of Peri Brennan and Abby Van Winkle got the Bruins started with a 21-11, 21-12 win, followed by Lexy Denaburg and Maggie Boyd’s 21-1, 21-8 win. Marlie Monserez and Jessie Smith finished it 21-11, 21-11 for UCLA’s program-record 24th sweep this season.

The Bruins (38-3) will take on eighth-seeded Cal (29-9) in a quarterfinal on Saturday at 7 a.m. PT, a rematch of the Pac-12 tournament championship match won by the Bruins.

After a nearly two-hour rain delay, the Golden Bears dispatched ninth-seeded Long Beach State, 3-2, for their first NCAA tournament victory. LBSU’s Maggie Walters and Christine Deroos pushed the decisive match to three sets before Cal’s Lexi McKeown and Ella Dreibholz came away with a 21-14, 19-21, 15-8 win. Long Beach finished the season 24-15 after winning its first Big West championship.

Third-seeded USC swept Georgia State (20-17) to claim its spot in the quarterfinals. The two-time defending national champions got on the board thanks to Olivia Bakos and Gabby Walker recording a 21-17, 21-11 victory. Megan Kraft and Delaynie Maple won their match, 21-18, 21-18 and twins Audrey and Nicole Nourse secured the sweep with identical 21-18 scores as well.

Next up for the Trojans (29-5) is the winner of the match between sixth-seeded Loyola Marymount (28-8) and 11th-seeded Hawaii (27-8). Their match, the last of the day scheduled for 2 p.m. PT, was postponed after several weather delays. The Lions and the Rainbow Wahine will play Saturday at 6 a.m. PT, with the Trojans awaiting the winner at 10 a.m.

The other quarterfinals feature fourth-seeded Florida State (31-8) vs. fifth-seeded LSU (27-12) at 8 a.m. PT, followed by second-seeded TCU (36-2) vs. 10th-seeded Stanford (29-12) at 9 a.m.

The semifinals are Saturday at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. with the final scheduled for Sunday at 9 a.m. PT.

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3895725 2023-05-05T16:40:14+00:00 2023-05-05T18:37:00+00:00
NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships have a Southern California vibe https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/05/04/ncaa-beach-volleyball-championships-have-a-southern-california-vibe/ Thu, 04 May 2023 23:46:52 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3895020&preview=true&preview_id=3895020 Based on the short history of the NCAA sport, the 2023 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championships should come down to two Southern California schools, with two other local teams hoping to play spoiler.

UCLA is the No. 1 seed going into the newly formatted 16-team, single-elimination tournament, in which third-seeded USC hopes for a three-peat in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Trojans have claimed four NCAA championships, winning the first two in 2016 and 2017 and the last two in 2021 and 2022. The Bruins are the only other team to take home the titles, doing so in 2018 and 2019 before COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 season.

Sixth-seeded Loyola Marymount and ninth-seeded Long Beach State will also kick off play Friday at Gulf Shores Public Beach.

Here’s a look at the four local teams:

NO. 1 UCLA

Record: 37-3

First opponent: No. 17 Texas A&M Corpus Christi (25-9)

Info: The Bruins won the Pac-12 title to claim the top seed, but it wasn’t easy. They found themselves in the contender’s bracket after a 3-2 loss to No. 8 Stanford, then rallied with consecutive 3-0 sweeps of Top 10 teams (No. 3 USC, the Cardinal and No. 9 Cal). Guided by Pac-12 Coach of the Year Stein Metzger, UCLA is led by All-American first-teamers Lexy Denaburg and Maggie Boyd and second-teamers Abby Van Winkle and Peri Brennan.

How to watch: 7 a.m. PT, ESPNU/ESPN+

NO. 3 USC

Record: 28-5

First opponent: No. 14 Georgia State (20-16)

Info: Fourth-year coach Dain Blanton, coming off back-to-back national titles, brings the Trojans back for more. Juniors Megan Kraft, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, and Delaynie Maple were named to the All-America first team. The Pac-12 Pair of the Year are 25-1 this season and have won 15 consecutive matches.

How to watch: 1 p.m. PT, ESPNU/ESPN+

NO. 6 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

Record: 28-8

First opponent: No. 11 Hawai’i (27-8)

Info: Coach John Mayer’s four-time West Coast Conference champs look to improve on their third- and fourth-place finishes the past two seasons. Melanie Paul and Vilhelmiina Prihti gave the Lions their third consecutive top pairing named to the All-America first team. LMU matched up against Hawai’i in last year’s opening round and advanced via a 3-0 score.

How to watch: 2 p.m. PT, ESPNU/ESPN+

NO. 9 LONG BEACH STATE

Record: 24-14

First opponent: No. 8 Cal (28-9)

Info: LBSU is making its second appearance in the NCAA Championships after winning its first Big West Conference title. Mike Campbell was named Big West Coach of the Year for the first time in nine seasons. Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah were named Co-Freshman of the Year after the first-year pair finished with a program-record 33 victories.

How to watch: 8 a.m. PT, ESPNU/ESPN+

Other first-round matches on Friday: No. 4 Florida State (30-8) vs. No. 13 Florida International (20-16), 9 a.m.; No. 5 LSU (26-12) vs. No. 12 Florida Atlantic (19-13), 10 a.m.; No. 2 TCU (35-2) vs. No. 15 Stetson (22-14), 11 a.m.; No. 7 Grand Canyon (26-7) vs. No. 10 Stanford (28-12), noon.

The quarterfinals (7, 8, 9 and 10 a.m.) and semifinals (11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., ESPN2) are Saturday. The championship match is at 9 a.m. Sunday on ESPN.

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3895020 2023-05-04T16:46:52+00:00 2023-05-05T00:23:43+00:00
NFL draft: USC OL Andrew Vorhees scooped up by Ravens in 7th round https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/04/29/nfl-draft-usc-ol-andrew-vorhees-scooped-up-by-ravens-in-7th-round/ Sat, 29 Apr 2023 23:44:39 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3891111&preview=true&preview_id=3891111 After a draft process marked by misfortune and inspiration, Andrew Vorhees found his new home on Day 3 of the NFL draft.

The former USC offensive lineman was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round with the 229th pick of the draft.

Vorhees was viewed as a potential first-round pick following the 2021 season before deciding to return to USC for his extra season of eligibility. He was an integral senior leader in Lincoln Riley’s first year at USC while starting at left guard for the Trojans in 11 games and being named a first-team All American by the Associated Press and Pro Football Focus.

He was still a likely first- or second-day prospect entering this year’s draft. But Vorhees tore his ACL at the NFL combine in March. After learning the extent of the injury the next day, Vorhees still participated in the bench press. He went up to the equipment in crutches and still lifted the most reps of any prospect at the combine.

That viral moment was not enough to stop Vorhees’ slide following knee surgery, but the Ravens traded back into the seventh round to pick the 6-foot-6 lineman, who also has experience at tackle from his time at USC.

Vorhees was the fourth USC player taken in the 2023 draft, joining receiver Jordan Addison (Vikings, first round), defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu (Chargers, second) and corner Mekhi Blackmon (Vikings, third).

It was a tough weekend at the draft for Trojans coming off of injuries. Running back Travis Dye, who broke his ankle in a November game, went undrafted. So did center Brett Neilon, who suffered a leg injury in the Pac-12 championship game.

Dye signed an undrafted free agent deal with the New York Jets, according to the Oregonian.

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3891111 2023-04-29T16:44:39+00:00 2023-04-29T16:44:58+00:00
NFL draft: USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon taken by Vikings in 3rd round https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/04/28/nfl-draft-usc-cornerback-mekhi-blackmon-taken-by-vikings-in-3rd-round/ Sat, 29 Apr 2023 03:57:25 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3890228&preview=true&preview_id=3890228 Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon used to line up against receiver Jordan Addison in daily practices at USC. Now they will continue to be teammates in the NFL.

Blackmon was selected with the final pick of the third round of the NFL draft on Friday, heading to the Minnesota Vikings with the 102nd overall selection. Minnesota selected Addison, the USC receiver, with its first-round pick on Thursday.

A graduate transfer from Colorado, Blackmon played one season with USC. He immediately took over as the Trojans’ top cornerback, using his physicality to harass opposing receivers. He defended 15 passes and recorded three interceptions to go with 66 tackles as an All-Pac-12 first-team selection.

Undersized at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Blackmon did not enter the NFL draft as a prospect expected to be a Day 2 selection. But he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash with a 1.54-second 10-yard split at the NFL combine, raising his stock just as he did at the College of San Mateo prior to Colorado.

He became the third Trojan selected in the 2023 NFL draft, joining Addison and Tuli Tuipulotu, the defensive lineman taken by the Chargers in the second round.

Blackmon took a pre-draft visit to Minnesota and is considered a good fit for defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ man-heavy scheme.

“Super instinctive corner,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. “He’s one of those guys who throughout the route there’s a calculation going on at any moment. Plays really physical, plays with good vision on the ball. Somebody we’re really happy we got where we did.”

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3890228 2023-04-28T20:57:25+00:00 2023-04-28T21:05:45+00:00
NFL draft: Chargers select USC DE Tuli Tuipulotu, Washington State LB Daiyan Henley https://www.sgvtribune.com/2023/04/28/nfl-draft-chargers-select-usc-de-tuli-tuipulotu/ Sat, 29 Apr 2023 01:03:18 +0000 https://www.sgvtribune.com/?p=3890100&preview=true&preview_id=3890100 A couple of local kids will be playing their home games in Inglewood.

The Chargers selected former USC defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night, using the 54th selection on the former Trojan.

And in doing so, the Chargers guaranteed that Tuipulotu will stay close to his roots in Hawthorne and at Lawndale High.

“I’m happy for sure,” Tuipulotu said. “I haven’t left L.A. for most of my life so I was kinda preparing myself to go somewhere far, East Coast, something like that. But I’m happy to stay home, be close to family.”

Tuipulotu was a three-year starter at USC and a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection, the first honor coming as a sophomore. But he elevated his game as a junior, leading the nation with 13½ sacks and recording 46 tackles and 22 for loss.

The performance led to Tuipulotu being named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and a consensus first-team All-American. He credited his growth as a junior to USC’s new defensive line coach, Shaun Nua.

“He prepared me very well throughout that season,” Tuipulotu said. “There’s a big jump from my sophomore year to my junior year and a big reason for that was my coach, Nua.”

Tuipulotu is the second USC player selected this year, following wide receiver Jordan Addison’s selection by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round.

The Chargers showed an early interest in Tuipulotu, with a scout in January making the first contact of any NFL team after the Trojan declared for the draft. He went to the team’s local pro day and had a Zoom meeting with the Chargers two weeks later.

The 6-foot-4, 266-pound Tuipulotu provides needed depth at defensive end for the Chargers. The team already has Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in place, but Tuipulotu will have the opportunity to learn from two decorated edge rushers while being a necessary reinforcement behind them.

“Coming into the league, that’s what I wanted,” Tuipulotu, 20, said. “I wanted the best to learn from, and man, Joey Bosa and Khalil, that’s crazy. So I’m excited for the opportunity. I’m a sponge so I’m going to absorb all the info they give me and just try to get better.”

Despite having a strong trio with Mack, Bosa and safety Derwin James, the Chargers were ranked 20th in total defense, 21st in points allowed per game and the fifth worst against the run last season.

Tuipulotu should give the Chargers more versatility up front after moving around the defensive line for USC and even moving back to a blitzing linebacker at times for the Trojans.

“He has a lot of the characteristics that we think translate to playing championship defense,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “He’s really tough and rugged at the point of attack. He can rush from the outside and from the inside. He has versatility that way. He has the play style that we’re really attracted to.”

The Chargers continued to add to the defense in the third round and again stayed local, selecting Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley with the 85th overall pick.

A Los Angeles native, Henley attended Crenshaw High prior to spending the first five years of his collegiate career at Nevada. He transferred to Washington State as a redshirt season and recorded 106 tackles to go with four sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. The 6-foot-2 Henley excelled in rushing defense, with 40 run stops.

Tom Telesco, who is handling his 11th draft as the Chargers’ general manager, and Staley both said Henley’s biggest impact this season might come on special teams, where he played on all four units.

“I think he’s got a lot of ability, but there’s a lot to see and learn in the pro game for an inside linebacker,” Staley said. “We think he’s got a lot of good things to work with and I think he really upgrades our athleticism at that position.”

Henley was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and the All-America second team by College Football News.

“Those two guys really took advantage of their opportunity in that (team pro day) setting,” said Staley, who is going into his third season as the Chargers’ coach. “I’m from Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, which is a special place for football, but Southern California has taken it to a different level.”

The Chargers, who drafted TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston in the first round, have four selections on Saturday, one in each round.

CHARGERS PICK UP HERBERT’S OPTION, DECLINE MURRAY’S

The Chargers officially exercised their fifth-year option on Justin Herbert on Friday as they work toward signing their franchise quarterback to a long-term deal.

Meanwhile, Telesco said the Chargers would not be picking up the option for linebacker Kenneth Murray.

The deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year option on first-round picks from the 2020 draft class is Tuesday.

Herbert, the sixth overall selection in that draft, is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 4,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Since entering the league, he is second in completions (1,316), third in passing yards (14,089) and sixth in passing touchdowns (94).

By virtue of being selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021, Herbert’s fifth-year option is worth $29.5 million, the same as Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, who was the top pick in 2020. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, who went one pick before Herbert, also had his option picked up at $23.17 million.

Herbert, who led the Chargers to their first playoff appearance since 2018 last season, was second in the league in completions (477) and passing yards (4,739) despite suffering a rib injury in Week 2 and then a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder in Week 17. He had surgery on the shoulder in late January and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

Murray’s option would have been worth $11.73 million. Telesco said not picking up the option was more of a salary cap decision. With Herbert expected to sign a large extension at some point, the Bolts also have large contracts with receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as well as linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Excluding Herbert, the other four players have a salary cap number of at least $32 million each in 2024.

The Chargers traded with New England to move up into the first round to take Murray with the 23rd overall selection in 2020.

The Associated Pres contributed to this story.

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