New USC head football coach Lincoln Riley added his first new player out of the transfer portal on Monday, earning the commitment of former TCU defensive tackle Earl Barquet.

Barquet, who announced his decision on Twitter, is a 6-foot-3, 277-pound lineman who comes to USC with three years of eligibility remaining.

COMMITTED@USC_FB pic.twitter.com/QGMS7LZ0g5

— Earl barquet 97 (@Sleepe24) December 14, 2021

A redshirt sophomore this season, Barquet had 12 tackles for the Horned Frogs. Barquet had 2.5 sacks in his first season of action.

The Louisiana native is an addition at an important position of need for USC and Riley this offseason. The Trojans had few healthy contributors at defensive tackle this season, often utilizing ends Tuli Tuipulotu and Jake Lichtenstein inside and converting freshman offensive lineman Maximus Gibbs into a defensive tackle and actually playing a significant role for USC at that new position.

Even if Ishmael Sopsher (compartment syndrome surgery) and Brandon Pili (Achilles tear) get healthy enough to contribute next season, USC needed a player like Barquet with Power Five conference experience who can step in immediately and help a group largely populated by underclassmen.

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