USC reaches scholarship limit with transfer of backup QB Jesse Scroggins

USC backup quarterback Jesse Scroggins, a former four-star recruit, will transfer from the school, according to a tweet from the school’s athletic department.

QB Jesse Scroggins will transfer from USC. He is academically eligible after "a strong spring semester in the classroom," Lane Kiffin said.

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USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) June 04, 2012

Scroggins’ departure gets USC to its maximum of 75 scholarship players. The limit is a result of an NCAA punishment for violations dating back to the Reggie Bush era. The team signed only 15 players in this year’s recruiting class but still had more than 75 players on roster heading into next season.

But Scroggins joins Amir Carlisle (Notre Dame) and Kyle Prater (Northwestern) as former Trojans to leave USC this offseason, allowing the Trojans to get below their scholarship cap. Scroggins initially chose USC over Colorado, Florida, LSU, Nebraska and Tennessee. He redshirted in 2010 and backed up Matt Barkley last season in his second year on campus.