Despite boasting a 5-star recruit at quarterback in J.T. Daniels, a kid so hyped that it at least partially played into Sam Darnold’s decision to go pro last summer, USC struggled during the 2018 season. They went 5-7 under third-year head coach Clay Helton, and Daniels completed under 60 percent of his passes while throwing for just 14 touchdowns. In fact, outside of two 10+ win seasons in 2017 and 2016, respectively, the Trojans have been on a lengthy run of mediocrity, unable to replace to glory days under Pete Carroll in Southern California.
A school with USC’s football reputation is always looking to make a splash, and two of its distinguished alumni already have their eyes on reeling in a big fish in the future. Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart will be working with Meyer and Brady Quinn this season on Fox’s attempt at creating a College Gameday competitor for Saturday mornings, and they’ll be trying to get in the ear of the ex-Ohio State coach.
Bush spoke with Los Angeles Times reporter Arash Markazi, a conversation that was then relayed by Brett McMurphy, and said the two will be openly recruiting Urban Meyer to come coach USC in 2020, should things go further south in 2019.
Reggie Bush tells @ArashMarkazi if USC struggles this year, Bush & Matt Leinart will “recruit” Urban Meyer to replace Clay Helton as USC’s coach in 2020. “We’ll definitely be recruiting him,” Bush said. "What makes you think we won’t be recruiters? Nothing is off the table.”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) April 30, 2019
“We’ll definitely be recruiting him,” Bush told Markazi. “What makes you think we won’t be recruiters? Nothing is off the table.”
Meyer stepped down as Ohio State’s head coach following a season in which he was embroiled in controversy, stemming from how he handled claims of domestic violence against one of the coaches on his staff, Zach Smith. Offensive coordinator Ryan Day has taken over the reigns for the Buckeyes, while Meyer moves to Fox this upcoming season. Still, Meyer has never fully ruled out returning to coaching, and the recruiting campaign to get him back on a sideline has already begun.
