Mitch Mustain Leaving USC, Transfers To Tennessee? Vols To Get Last Laugh?

According to a radio interview and perhaps internet rumors, Malik Jackson said that Mitch Mustain and several other USC Trojan players are going to transfer to other schools. Jackson who recently made his announcement to transfer and play the rest of his 2 years of eligibility at the University of Tennessee, also said that he may try to convince other players on the team to go with him to Tennessee.

Malik Jackson is the 2^nd player to transfer out of USC after the NCAA banned the USC football team from post-season play for 2 years. Jackson went on to say that the main reason he transferred was not due to the severe sanctions but rather the chance to play and that Tennessee wanted him. We see this as a great move for Jackson and others who have transferred or released from USC commitments.

Mitch Mustain leaving USC is going to be intriguing. If Jackson’s statements are correct, losing Mustain to another team is going to be the biggest hit in the offseason for the Trojans. Mustain is an insurance policy to the intercept-prone starting quarterback Matt Barkley. In fact, some people believe that Barkley only got the starting job over Mustain because former Trojan coach, Pete Carroll was so enamored with Barkley. If Mustain transfers, we expect him to go to Tennessee with Jackson.

The Tennessee Volunteers threw a fit when Lane Kiffin decided to jump ship and go back to his old coaching grounds at USC. In addition, Kiffin not only destroyed a community of people who trusted and believe in Kiffin, he tried (successfully) to take star Volunteer’s recruits with him. Now the table has turned into the Volunteers favor. Tennessee signed #1 Punter in the Class of 2010, Matt Darr, who was a longtime USC commitment and now signed Malik Jackson.  We guess that the old adage “what goes around comes around” is true, especially in a dog-eat-dog world of college football .

Below are our opinions on who are going to transfer out of USC (sinking boat):

Announced:

1)      Jordan Campbell = transferred to Louisville (Big East)

2)      Malik Jackson = transferred to Tennessee (SEC)

3) Seantrel Henderson = scholarship released, possible transfer to Michigan, Miami or Ohio State

Projected

1)      Mitch Mustain = possible transfer to Tennessee, Fresno State, Tulsa, Auburn, Big East schools

2)      Marc Tyler = possible transfer to Fresno State, Boise State, Utah, Notre Dame, Michigan, Louisville, WAC schools

3)      Travon Patterson = possible transfer to Boise State, Louisville, Conference USA schools

4)      David Ausberry = possible transfer to Fresno State

photo: davebleasdale

UPDATE: This is all speculation. We will update when we listen to the actual interview.