Former USC QB Max Browne to Transfer to Pitt

Max Browne will finish out his college career at Pitt, the former USC quarterback and graduate transfer announced on Twitter Thursday afternoon.

The second edition of the recruitmet of Max Browne is complete.

The former five-star and USC quarterback officially announced on Thursday that he will swap the cardinal and gold of the Trojan uniform for the navy and gold of the Pitt Panthers.

“Found a new home. Heading to Pitt in January!” Browne posted on Twitter.

Pitt is set to lose redshirt senior quarterback Nathan Peterman to graduation after the Panthers play Northwestern in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The only other quarterbacks on Pitts roster include two three-star quarterbacks — freshman Thomas MacVittie and sophomore Bo Schneider.

RELATED: Ranking the Top 10 USC Quarterbacks of All-Time

Browne was a five-star recruit and the nation’s top quarterback coming out of high school in 2013.

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After sitting behind Cody Kessler for three seasons, it was expected that Browne would elevate to the starting role as a redshirt junior in 2016 and he did — briefly. However, after a rough start to the season, USC decided to go another direction, promoting the mobile and exciting Sam Darnold.

With USC’s success under Darnold resulting in a Rose Bowl berth, Browne opted to make use of graduate transfer rules and stated his intention to find a new program for his final season of eligibility.

As a graduate, Browne does not have to sit out a year as he would under normal NCAA transfer rules. He will be eligible to play immediately.

Head coach Clay Helton was on board with that decision from the beginning, pledging every aid to the quarterback who had faithfully served USC.

“We just want the best thing for Max,” Helton said on Wednesday. “He’s honored us with the way he’s handled everything and how he’s helped this football team and we wish him nothing but the best.”