USC Trojans linebacker Osa Masina has been suspended for the Week 1 opener versus the Alabama Crimson Tide regarding sexual assault allegations.
USC Trojans linebacker Osa Masina is not going to travel with the team to Arlington when the Trojans face the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, September 3rd. Masina has been suspended for this Week 1 game by the university for violating team rules.
This stems from Masina’s lingering sexual assault allegations in his native Salt Lake City. These events supposedly occurred this past summer. According to Salt Lake City’s Fox 13, the “Cottonwood Heights [Utah] have confirmed the ongoing investigation, but have not released details about the crime.”
Masina played in nine games for the Trojans as a freshman in 2015. He had 25 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss of yardage, and one fumble recovery before a hamstring injury cut his freshman season short.
Masina was competing with Michael Hutchings for a starting linebacker spot on Clay Helton’s football team, but lost the job to Hutchings this summer.
This is the right move for the Trojans heading into their tough Week 1 matchup versus Alabama from an optics standpoint. USC is looking to rebuild its football program the right way under Helton and first-year athletic director Lynn Swann. Playing Masina Week 1 amid these sexual assault allegations in Salt Lake City wouldn’t be a good look for the school.
While Hutchings did beat out Masina in fall camp for a starting linebacker job, not having Masina available for Week 1 will hurt the Trojans’ depth against a National Championship contender in Alabama.
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USC may begin the 2016 as a ranked team in the AP Top 25 Poll, but the Trojans will absolutely be the underdog to juggernaut Alabama in this Week 1 neutral-site game. Deciding on Tuesday to not bring Masina with them to Arlington is probably best for the Trojans heading into their tough game on Saturday.