Kenny Bigelow to transfer from USC Football for sixth year of eligibility

Retired defensive lineman Kenny Bigelow plans to transfer from USC Football and play elsewhere after being granted a sixth year of eligibility.

Kenny Bigelow’s football career may not be over after all as the senior defensive lineman announced his intentions to play his sixth-year of eligibility elsewhere.

The injury-prone former five-star lineman retired from football earlier this season in order to get a head start on his coaching career. He has remained around the program as a student-coach.

However, on Tuesday Bigelow tweeted his honor at receiving an offer to join Lane Kiffin’s FAU program. By Wednesday, he revealed that, with his medical sixth year of eligibility granted, he will leave the Trojans to give playing football one more try.

“I have had a wonderful experience and would like to thank the coaches, staff and my teammates for their support and to all the fans for standing by me through the years,” Bigelow wrote. “I am proud to say I earned a degree from one of the greatest schools in the world and I will forever be a Trojan.”

“This is something I️ felt was best for me and my family and a decision I️ made to give my self an opportunity to play at the next level,” Bigelow added in a later tweet.

As a graduate transfer, he will be eligible to play immediately, wherever he lands.

Bigelow joined USC as a highly-touted prospect in 2013. After redshirting, his Trojan debut was delayed when he tore ligaments in his knee before the 2014 season.

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When he returned to action in 2015, it took him awhile to get up to speed, but his role increased in the latter half of the season and his future appeared bright until another season-ending knee injury put him on the sidelines once more ahead of the 2016 season.

There was hope for Bigelow to finally emerge as a key figure on the defensive line for the Trojans in 2017, but his impact as a redshirt senior was limited. He had just one tackle in six games of action and did not appear to be a favored option for USC upfront.

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After Bigelow sat out the Utah game, head coach Clay Helton announced his intention to retire.