Former Trojans WR Colbert joins USC staff from Alabama

Alabama offensive analyst Keary Colbert will fill the same position under USC coach Clay Helton according to sources.

It's a homecoming for the beloved Colbert, a star wide receiver for the Trojans from 2000-03. He finished his career at USC as then the program's career leader in receptions (209).

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This past season was Colbert's second in his position at Alabama, where he helped the Crimson Tide win the national championship last month. Prior to time in Tuscaloosa, he was Georgia State's wide receivers coach in 2013.

The bright 33-year-old Colbert was also a graduate assistant at USC in 2010, working with tight ends that season that included Jordan Cameron, a fourth-pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Colbert was an NFL wide receiver for seven seasons after being a second-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2004.

Besides the Panthers, he spent time with Denver, Seattle, Detroit and Kansas City. He finished his NFL career with 130 catches for 1,629 yards with eight touchdowns.

An Oxnard, Calif. native, Colbert also had stints with the United Football League's Florida Tuskers in 2009 and Sacramento Mountain Lions in 2011.

Helton had his interim tag as USC's coach removed in late November after taking over the previous month when former Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian was fired. Helton started the season as the Trojans’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, positions he had held since 2013.

USC won the Pac-12 South this season and finished with an 8-6 record, which included a 5-4 mark under Helton.