3 best transfer destinations for Oregon LB Justin Flowe

Oregon linebacker Justin Flowe is in the transfer portal and his options for jumpstarting his career include some heavy hitters.

Justin Flowe had the potential to become the next big defensive star to come out of Oregon when he signed with the Ducks in the class of 2020. Fortune has not been on his side.

He tore his ACL as a true freshman in his debut. He played one extremely promising game in 2021, recording 14 tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble against Fresno State…then he injured his foot and had to miss the rest of the season.

The 2022 campaign was supposed to finally be his breakout, but it didn’t go that way. The linebacker started just twice. His diminished role in Dan Lanning’s defense apparently prompted him to enter the transfer portal.

So now a former five-star prospect is on the market and there will be no shortage of teams happy to give him a second chance.

3 best transfer destinations for Oregon LB Justin Flowe

USC was a contender for Justin Flowe as a recruit

Flowe is from Southern California and there was a time when he looked like USC’s to lose. Obviously, they lost him as he chose Oregon over the Trojans.

At the time, USC was in an uncertain place. Clay Helton didn’t exactly look like a championship-winning head coach. Mario Cristobal’s Ducks had just won the Pac-12 and looked like they’d continue to rise while the Trojans stood in place.

Times have changed for USC. Lincoln Riley is in charge and championship aspirations are back on the table. The thing holding the Trojans back? Defense. Specifically? Linebacker play.

Going to USC wouldn’t just be a homecoming for Flowe. It would be a chance to step directly into a starting job on a defense in need of serious playmakers.

And guess who was Flowe’s primary recruiter to Oregon? USC assistant coach Donte Williams.