USC Football: Trojans Lose High-Rated OL to Transfer Portal

Ricardo Sandoval | Apr 11, 2024

Oct 11, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Southern California Trojans helmet during the game / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

USC Trojans freshman offensive lineman Jason Zandamela will enter the NCAA's transfer portal. On3's Hayes Fawcett was among the first to share the news via X.

BREAKING: USC True Freshman IOL Jason Zandamela plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports

The 6’3 305 IOL from Clearwater, FL was ranked as a Top IOL in the ‘24 Class (per On3)

Held 30+ offers and was named an Under Armour All-American 👀https://t.co/TF3uFrVXBI pic.twitter.com/MU4iZn2hh2

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 11, 2024

The Florida native was a four-star recruit coming out of Clearwater Academy International. Zandamela committed to USC in June 2023. The freshman lineman will depart USC after one season where he hardly got playing time in a disastrous 2023 season.

Before his senior year in high school, he was named the 2023 USA Today Florida Network Preseason All-State Team and the 2023 MaxPreps Preseason All-American Second Team.

He was also ranked as the number one interior lineman in the country by 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals. The 18-year-old didn't have the type of freshman season he had expected and will look to make an impact elsewhere.