Lincoln Riley just can’t hold on to anybody this offseason.
The latest defector amidst a tsunami of departures from the USC Trojans football program is senior offensive lineman Andres Dewerk, according to Connor Morrissette of 247Sports. He redshirted as a sophomore.
Dewerk appeared in just four contests, accruing 18 snaps total, for the 8-5 Trojans this past season, between stints on the club’s OL and special teams.
The 6’7″, 330-pound vet is a holdover from the Clay Helton days, but clearly is seeking greener pastures. He’s notched a scant 39 total snaps across his fours at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Los Gatos native was a three-star recruit out of high school, according to 247Sports. As a prospect, he was considered the 120th-best offensive tackle in the nation, and the 132nd-best overall player, regardless of position, in the state.
Dewerk is the 18th Trojan with eligibility left to ditch the program at this point. The most detrimental departure for the club (thus far, at least) is freshman quarterback Malachi Nelson, a five-star recruit and USC’s anticipated Caleb Williams replacement under center. The 6’3″, 190-pound Los Alamitos native was the top-ranked recruit in his high school class, so losing him ahead of next season is a monumental issue.