Nearly a month after it was announced Dillon Baxter was no longer a part of the USC football program, and as expected, the running back is officially looking for another football program in which to continue his collegiate career.
Baxter’s stepfather, Anthony Mooney, confirmed to the Orange County Register that his stepson had actually received a release from his scholarship two weeks ago and has already begun the pursuit of schools to which he may want to transfer. Those schools include San Diego State, Florida and Portland State, Mooney told the Register.
As for the reason or reasons behind a departure that was rumored to be in the making for months -- thanks in large part to myriad off-field missteps that plagued Baxter’s brief stint with the Trojans -- Mooney opted to take the “mutual parting of ways” tack.
“After speaking with Coach (Lane) Kiffin, we decided it was better to part ways,” Mooney said Thursday. “It was an amicable situation that was better for Dillon and for USC. We want to thank everyone at the university for the opportunity and support they gave to Dillon while he was there. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out. It just wasn’t a match at this point.”
Baxter was a five-star member of the Trojans’ 2010 recruiting class and the No. 1 running back in the country, but never remotely approached the hype heaped upon him. In one-plus season at the school, Baxter has 68 carries for 281 and a lone touchdown. This season, it was just nine carries for 29 yards.