LOS ANGELES — USC offensive lineman DJ Wingfield’s battle with the NCAA to earn eligibility has yet to be resolved. He wasn’t seen around the Trojans’ practice facility during the first week of fall training camp and, according to head coach Lincoln Riley, the stress of the situation is taking a toll.
“He’s not doing very good,” Riley told reporters Friday. “I’m not supposed to comment on these things, but what’s happening with that and not just DJ, but across the country, just isn’t right.”
Wingfield filed a legal complaint against the NCAA in late June, alleging he has one more year of athletic eligibility remaining because of a waiver issued by the NCAA in December that granted athletes who competed for a non-NCAA school – such as a junior college – another year of eligibility.
Neither Jaqay Carlyle nor Plummer Carlyle Williams, who are representing Wingfield, responded to SCNG’s requests for comment.
El Camino College confirmed to SCNG that Winfield was on the team roster during 2019 and enrolled in classes during the fall, but was not at the school in 2020. El Camino did not field a team that year due to the pandemic and Winfield was not enrolled in classes in the fall of 2020.
Wingfield, who is still listed on USC’s 2025 roster, enrolled at New Mexico after completing two seasons of junior college football but redshirted as a result of a season-ending injury. He completed one full season at New Mexico when fully healed, then one full season at Purdue before transferring to USC for the 2024-45 season.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in all my years of coaching, and I’ve been a part of a lot of different, unique situations that come up,” Riley said. “There’s guys all over the country that are just in absolute limbo right now.
“Watching the kid push through, it is amazing because what he’s going through, I can’t even begin to imagine. We’re trying to support him the best we can. But yeah, it’s not easy. It’s not a good situation. I probably honestly said more than they want me to say, but oh well.”
The complaint also states that if Wingfield misses this season, it will “deprive him of a once-in-a-lifetime name, image and likeness (NIL) contract worth $210,000.”
If Wingfield gains eligibility, he will compete to play at right guard on an experienced offensive line.
“I know it’s complicated,” Riley said. “And I’m not throwing huge shade at anyone. It’s just sometimes, you’ve got to do the right thing. That’s I think all that we’re all asking for. There’s situations like this all over the country. Nobody’s trying to pull anything on anyone. These are extremely legitimate.”
Making contact
The Trojans were aggressive in the trenches on Friday, which was the first practice that allowed for contact in shoulder pads and helmets.
“Just because we’re not going full speed doesn’t mean we’re not taking advantage of what play is being called and what’s going on,” defensive end Kameryn Fountain told reporters. “Everybody’s still gotta lock in and do what they got to do.”
The offensive line is taking leadership cues from left tackle Elijah Paige as less-experienced players like Alani Noa, Kaylon Miller, Micah Banuelos, Hayden Treter and Makai Sana battle for playing time at the guard spots.
J’Onre Reed is competing for the starting spot at center.
“First day of pads today, so excited to get in there and watch the tape,” Riley said, “but I know we have some power in that group. The ability to move people, have some competitive depth. We’ll be looking for consistency to decide who we end up going with.”
The defensive line can benefit from the size and physicality of tackle Jamaal Jarrett, a 6-foot-5, 360-pound transfer from Georgia.
“It’s great,” Fountain said. “I ain’t gotta take on no double-team or nothing. A big man like him, that’s his job. Man, it’s great having him around, and he can do a lot more things than that. I love having him on the field.”
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