Vidal Hazelton is leaving USC
By Adam Abramson
Southern California wide receiver Vidal Hazelton has decided to transfer.
The junior who hails from Staten Island has not announced where he will land.
He's had just six catches for 38 yards during this year's injury-plagued campaign. It's been a disappointing career for Hazelton in Los Angeles - 3 seasons, 57 catches, 4 touchdowns, 1 great catch (watch video).
“It’s been a rough year for him. He’s going to leave in good standing. We’re going to do everything we can to help him. He encountered one injury after another. It didn’t allow for a steady opportunity to get going," coach Pete Carroll said. “This is a very difficult program. It’s not for everybody.”
The program can't be for everybody...really?
Look at the team's current depth chart at wide receiver:
Pat Turner - 5-star (No. 1-ranked WR)
Ronald Johnson - 5-star (No. 1-ranked WR)
Damian Williams - 4-star (No. 9-ranked WR)
David Ausberry - 4-star (No. 5-ranked WR)
Brandon Carswell - 4-star (No. 33-ranked WR...how did they take someone out of the Top 10?!?!)
D.J. Shoemate - 4-star (No. 10-ranked athlete)
Brice Butler - 4-star (No. 13-ranked WR)
Travon Patterson - 3-star (No. 39-ranked WR)...fear not, he was a 4-star on Scout.com
Hazelton was a 5-star, No. 1-ranked WR, for the record.
And in the 2009 class, take your pick:
Alshon Jeffrey, 4-star (6'3, 215)
Patrick Hall, 5-star (6'1, 181)
De'Von Flournoy, 4-star (6'0, 179)
Randall Carroll, 5-star (5'10, 175)
James Boyd, 4-star (6'4, 211)
And we're not even talking about tight ends, running backs and fullback Stanley Havili's 24 catches.
The bottom line is it's a good move for Hazelton. If he's truly an NFL-caliber receiver, let him go to a D-1AA school and catch 75 passes next year. If he wants, he can transfer to Rutgers (or any 1-A school), sit out a year and light it up his senior year.
Southern Cal didn't blink during his drop off this year, and he'll be nothing more than an afterthought next fall.
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (1)
Look for him to maybe land at Dear Old State. His old man pushed hard for him to Happy Valley and it ended up delaying his commitment decision to signing day that year. PSU is dying for big play wide receiver with DWheels and the other triplets graduating. I know he has to sit a year but what a pick up by State if he comes. Also, interesting story about Notre Dame and recruiting ratings which I dont know if it applies with USC's wide receiver hauls. The writer claims that just being recruited by the Irish adds a star to your name. Wonder if the same is true for USC.