Terrell Anderson didn’t leave North Carolina State with hard feelings, and he made that clear when he met with reporters at USC Media Day on Aug. 3.
The wide receiver, now settling into his first year with the Trojans, said his move to Los Angeles was about what made sense for him and his future - not any sort of breakup with the Wolfpack. That included head coach Dave Doeren.
"He's a really good coach. We're still cool to this day," Anderson told USC Trojans on SI.
"I just had to make a move that was right for me and my future. But I have nothing bad to say about coach Dave."
That same tone carried over when Anderson spoke about the teammates he left behind in Raleigh. His transfer was one of the bigger talking points around USC’s media availability, especially as he prepares for his first game in a Trojan uniform since putting it on for the first time in August. His next chance to wear it comes Aug. 29, when San Jose State visits Los Angeles.
Anderson arrives with some buzz. On3 college football insider Ari Wasserman listed him as the Big Ten’s No. 9 overall transfer, and Wasserman wrote on July 14, "Everyone at USC is raving about him, which probably means something."
USC is counting on Anderson to bring speed and vertical juice to Lincoln Riley’s offense, especially with Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane now off to the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. But his value goes beyond catching passes downfield.
Inside wide receivers coach Chad Savage pointed to Anderson’s work on special teams and his ability to handle multiple roles.
"He's an experienced player and adds value to the special teams game. He's a return guy who can help.
But he's got opportunities to stretch the field and help you in the quick game," Savage told USC Trojans on SI. "He's a good blocker on the perimeter too.
He's got some good traits."
Savage and wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons have also helped Anderson settle into the room since he arrived.
"I trust them and they showed me they can trust me," Anderson said.
That trust matters in a receiver group where the competition is already pushing him. Anderson said going against Jontez Williams, the former Iowa State cornerback, has helped him get sharper.
"Iron sharpens iron everywhere," Anderson said. "You've got good defensive backs and receivers earning reps in the open field. They're going to push you to be better and they're helping me thrive in a good way."
Now, Anderson is focused on fitting into USC’s wideout culture and helping carry it forward.
"We're trying to uphold the standard of being great and pushing one another," Anderson said.
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Darnolds time at USC from 2015 to 2017 left enough of a mark to keep him in the conversation with the schools best, and his pro career has only added to that case. After being drafted by the New York Jets, he has now added a major NFL breakthrough with the Seattle Seahawks, giving USC another former quarterback to point to when the program starts looking ahead to fall. [Read more 🡒]
USC Freshmen Are Already Forcing Their Way Into Key Roles
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There is also help coming in the secondary with cornerback Elbert Hill, giving USC a class with real breadth and not just one obvious strength. What makes it notable is how quickly these freshmen have gone from future promise to present tense conversation, with their backgrounds and physical tools making them part of the roster picture before the season has even fully taken shape. The bigger question now is not whether USC likes the talent, but how many of these first-year players can carve out roles once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]