4 former Texas transfers that could be stars in 2022

Xavion Alford, S

Yet another effective safety among the former Texas transfers in recent years is the former highly-touted blue-chip recruit and USC Trojans rising redshirt sophomore defensive back Xavion Alford. This third-year defensive back only played in 16 defensive snaps for Texas before putting his name in the transfer portal last offseason.

Alford would be one of multiple former Texas transfers last offseason that took his talents to join the Trojans. A few others included wide receiver Jake Smith, running back Keaontay Ingram, and tight end Malcolm Epps.

Moreover, Alford was definitely a flashy playmaker for the Trojans last season. But he was one of the more up and down defensive players in the mix for USC throughout the PAC-12 slate. That will need to change for Alford starting this fall.

This really feels like the year for Alford to prove a point in the PAC-12 South and have a true breakout campaign with the Trojans. This coming season will be the one with the brightest spotlight on the USC program in the three years Alford spent here to date.

USC is definitely riding a high right now after stealing away the newly-hired head coach Lincoln Riley from the Oklahoma Sooners a few months ago.

Alford has to be considered a clear breakout candidate for Riley and the Trojans this year. He got consistently better down the stretch last season. Alford was the second-highest-graded defensive back in pass coverage in the last four weeks for USC last season. And he certainly put up some impressive stats in his first year getting regular game reps. He registered just over 30 combined tackles, three interceptions, and three pass breakups.

This spring, though, is an unfortunate one for Alford thus far. He’s spent essentially the entirety of spring ball dealing with injury issues that kept him out of team reps and the scrimmages over the last few weeks.