What We Learned: USC WR Devon Williams is in the transfer portal but is he gone for good?

Another USC wide receiver has entered the transfer portal, and this time it might matter.

Devon Williams, who was a healthy scratch in the season opener and played just 10 snaps against Stanford, has been granted his release from the program. Barring a change of heart, I’m told the staff does not expect him to return.

Williams has not practiced the past two days. While Coach Clay Helton did not address the media Wednesday, linebacker Hunter Echols told me he spoke with Williams about his possible transfer and isn’t certain if he’ll leave.

“If he leaves I wouldn’t be surprised, if he stays I wouldn’t be surprised,” Echols said. “I know he loves USC. He knows he can ball here. It’s just up to him to make a decision. …

“Obviously I encouraged him to stay, but if USC’s not the place for him, I want to support him, whatever he wants to do.”

Williams' desire to transfer, as you would imagine, has everything to do with playing time. In that regard, both sides are probably making a mistake here.

The 6-5 wideout had a good spring and better training camp, appearing to carve out a role as Michael Pittman’s backup -- only Pittman rarely comes off the field. Helton had said there’d be an eight-man rotation but thus far it hasn’t really involved more than four.

The tipping point for Williams might have been seeing freshman WR Drake London play 44 snaps versus Stanford, albeit in a different spot. Williams hasn’t played that much in a single game since he arrived last fall. There’s a good chance that his usage would significantly increase next season without Pittman (and possibly Tyler Vaughns) in the picture. But no position is deeper than receiver, and there are no promises on a roster that also includes freshmen Munir McClain and Kyle Ford, and Bru McCoy in 2020.

Williams’ size and speed combo made him a tantalizing prospect coming out of high school. His time on the Howard Jones practice field was marked by big plays but also inconsistency. He sometimes struggled to make the routine plays yet would make catches that none of his peers could. Helton singled out his improvement in USC’s simpler offense on multiple occasions in August.

It’s likely that Williams expected to be more involved through two games. Leaving now opens the door for him to be eligible next season. The next steps would involve transferring to a junior college in the coming weeks for an entire academic year before transferring back to a four-year school.

Such a scenario is being contemplated more and more in this era. Echols, whose role was limited his first two years, clearly empathized with Williams. He briefly left the team in the spring and was in the process of entering the transfer portal himself before ultimately deciding to stay. Helton’s open-door policy has allowed for Velus Jones and Matt Fink to also return in recent months.

“I’m pretty sure Devon could come back,” Echols said. “I made an emotional decision earlier this year and I wanted to hit the portal and leave. But this is my family, this is where I want to be. Hopefully he realizes this is his family, this is where he wants to be. He’s a young kid, he’s only a sophomore. …

“It’s hard when you leave a team, because I know he loves us, he loves the players here at USC, he loves the coaches, but he’s just got to do the best thing for him.”

Williams appeared in all 12 games last year, catching four passes while primarily serving on special teams. He returned a blocked a punt for a TD against UCLA. Three of his receptions came against Oregon State, where he filled in for a banged up Pittman and led the team with 77 yards and a touchdown.

It was also the only game of his USC career in which he got extended run at wide receiver.

FOOTNOTES

Defensive end Christian Rector has been out the past two days because of an ankle injury. DC Clancy Pendergast would not say whether Rector will play versus BYU. Helton said Sunday that he didn't believe Rector's injury would sideline him this weekend. Connor Murphy could get the start if Rector is unavailable. The Trojans might also lean on a three-down front more.

Defensive back Chase Williams, offensive lineman Liam Jimmons and defensive tackle De'jon Benton were held out as well Wednesday.

Ford has participated in practice this week but is still limited as he works his way back from a torn ACL. The freshman wideout has yet to participate in 11-on-11.