Under fire for its handling of a disturbing off-field situation, USC has suddenly reversed its course.
The Trojans program announced Tuesday afternoon that linebackers Osa Masina and Don Hill have been banned from all football-related activities and will not play in the Week 3 game against Stanford. Masina and Hill had been suspended for the first two games but had controversially been permitted to practice and otherwise participate in all other football activities during the week.
“Under the university’s further guidance, it has been decided that they have been suspended from participation with our football team,” head coach Clay Helton stated.
Both players are under investigation in California for allegedly raping a woman this past July. Masina is also being investigated in Utah for the alleged rape of the same woman.
Neither player has been charged in connection to the allegations as the investigations continue.
Masina (pictured, left) was a five-star 2015 recruit who was the top-rated player at any position in the state of Utah. He played in 12 games as a true freshman last season and was credited with 25 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, with the highlight of his first year as a Trojan coming on a fumble return for a touchdown in the season-opening win over Arkansas State.
Hill appeared in five games a redshirt freshman last season