USC football: Daniel Imatorbhebhe reportedly enters transfer portal

USC football is set to lose the services of TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe once again.

The much-awaited USC football return of tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe turned out to be a short-lived one.

The redshirt senior tight end is reportedly set to enter the transfer portal in search of a new college football home.

Imatorbhebhe’s transfer plan was first reported by Jason Butt of UGASports.com.

Soon after, Scott Schrader of USC Scoop tweeted a message from Imatorbhebhe.

“I love this university, coaching staff and my brothers/team,” Imatorbhebhe wrote. “I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had at USC and want to thank everyone for all they have done over the years making my experience here special. As a kid, If you would have told me that I would not only be able to go to my dream school but that I would be a part of Rose Bowl and Pac-12 Championship winning teams while building lifelong friendships and completing my undergraduate and masters degrees at Marshall, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. The love and support I’ve received has been unmatched. I have so much love for the Trojan Family and will always bleed cardinal and gold.

“I have decided to explore my options heading into the upcoming season and will go in another direction for my final year of eligibility. I’m sad to leave but excited for the future. I will forever be a Trojan and again want to thank everyone. God bless and Fight On.”

Daniel Imatorbhebhe’s USC football career came down to a “what if.”

Thus, apparently, ends one of the more frustrating injury sagas in recent USC history.

Imatorbhebhe came to USC via transfer after one semester with Florida. Despite the early transfer, he had to sit out his first season while taking a redshirt. When he was unleashed as a redshirt freshman in 2016, it was magical.

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Forging a connection with Sam Darnold at the tail end of the season, Imatorbhebhe managed 250 yards and four touchdowns on 17 receptions. His five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown were critical in USC’s upset victory over Washington.

Unfortunately, that turned out to be the highlight of Imatorbhebhe’s career. With Mackey Award buzz surrounding him coming into 2017, a nagging injury kept him out of practice for much Fall Camp. He played in just one of USC’s first six games of the season and appeared limited for most of the remaining games.

Hopes of him getting back to form in 2018 were squashed when the same hip-area injury kept him on the sidelines for the entire year. By 2019 he was still unable to play and left the team.

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In early 2020, word arrived that Imatorbhebhe had been granted a sixth year of eligibility and was set to return to the Trojans for one last go around. That plan is no more. He’ll finish out his college career elsewhere.