USC Adds Another Blue Shirt

Does USC really need another blue shirt player, which takes a scholarship away from the following recruiting class? Today, the Trojans added punter Chris Tilbey from San Francisco City College. Tilbey is from Australia and uses the Aussie-style for punting.

But that now means five players are “blue shirts.” Is it more important to have those players now than signing a four-or-five star prospect in February? I think it depends on each case but if USC misses out on a big-time prospect because it did not have a scholarship, that’s an issue.

Here’s more on Tilbey:

 

No.       Name                                         Pos.          Hgt.       Wgt.      Birthday      Cl.(Ath/Ac)    Exp.       Hometown(HighSchool/JC/College)

36         Chris Tilbey                               P                6-5         220        12/31/93      So./So.           JC           Melbourne, Australia (Sandringham/San Francisco CC)

2015:  Tilbey, who has a background in Australian Rules Football, will compete for playing time as a sophomore punter in 2015 after transferring to USC in the fall of 2015 from a junior college.  He was awarded a scholarship by virtue of an NCAA rule known as “blueshirting” (it allows a non-recruited student-athlete to receive athletic financial aid after beginning practice and have that student-athlete count towards the next year’s signing class if the school has reached its NCAA-maximum aid limit for the current year).

JUNIOR COLLEGE:  He was a punter and tight end as a 2014 freshman at San Francisco (Calif.) City College.  He averaged 39.4 yards on 54 punts in 2014, with 19 pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line, 9 being fair caught and 3 touchbacks.

HIGH SCHOOL:  He attended Sandringham School, located in a coastal town near Melbourne, Australia.  He played Australian Rules Football in 2011 and 2012 for the Beaumaris Football Club, as well as cricket for the Beaumaris Cricket Club.  He also played basketball.  He spent 2013 training to punt with ProKick Australia.

PERSONAL:  If he letters at USC, he will be the only Trojan letterman ever from Australia.

 b

59 thoughts on “USC Adds Another Blue Shirt

  1. Wolfie, please stay out of trying to pretend you know how to put a recruiting class together for USC. Really, don’t make me laugh!

    • Tilbey has been practicing since last week..The story about him for at least 4 days out. But hey, TMZ reported type stories come first.. The statement we may loose on a multi star 4/5 because of blue shirt is idiotic.. The recruiting portion of the staff has been brilliant. They are using rules to build up depth chart so needed.
      Tilbey has the potential to be a weapon on punting, we grabbed him perfect time.
      The blue shirt plan has been brilliant_

      • We’ve been talking about this for a few days now on Wolfs blog. We’re out reporting him and we don’t even try.

        • So true..His Cam Smith starting post should come in next 48 hrs…The way Blue shirting works has been great for us..My guess is you can do it for as long as you want until you reach 85 total.. We lost, what 2 this year Browne ,and DB ?
          Saw last week on R—–s
          That a few of our recruits had big jumps in ratings. Jones also became 4 star..but it jumped us to #3 overall… SW will post it by Halloween.

          • Sark made a comment a few weeks ago that SC won’t have the luxury of Blueshirting in the next few years because they will use alot of them now.
            Good to see Velus Jones get that 4th Star, he really impressed at the USC rising stars camp. And here’s a puzzler. Theo Howard from Westlake another 4Star receiver is said to be leaning towards USC and his offer still stands. We already have 5 WR commits. Sidney is also a good Cornerback, but I’d like to know what Sark and Tee Martin have up their sleeve.

          • I believe all the receivers rose spots in rankings.Sidney big time along with jones .Something’s
            happening, 6 is a lot..One thing with Tee and Sark in recruiting, there’s a plan.

          • I don’t know SF City College is usually the top team in the state and I would think they don’t punt that much. He had over 15 or 20 inside the 20 yardline

  2. Hey this blue shirt can solve 2 problem with one scholarship. As much punting that southern cal will do, this guy is essential and he plays TE, since southern cal is running thin at TE, this kid will be great…just make sure he is not a dummy or an alleged rapist/sexual batterer.

  3. Blueshirting makes a lot of sense right now. great way to get the roster up close to 85 without having to wait. essentially we just keep borrowing from future years scholies now. there will be a point, maybe in 2017, where we can no longer take the max 25 anyway.

    • Yes , until the 2015 class I knew little about Blue Shirts.But including the blue shirts, we added what 28/29 for 2015!! Look at this class potential to be one of ,if not the best in years. I guess we can keep adding blue shirts each
      year until we are at 85.We lost two that I know of Browne and the db , plus with TE ineligible , our total probably low 70’s

  4. It’s a valid concern Scooter. On recruiting I think we can trust this staff. They have proven capible recruiters.

        • Garry Klein or Garry Pasqauitz? But to answer your question USC does to a certain degree. But Paul Hackett wasn’t a bad recruiter but Bob Toledo was getting the better recruiting classes during those days.

          • Very true, no argument there. But Toledo had the #1 class also with Freddie Mitchell, Deshaun Foster, JP Losman,Ricky Manning Jr., etc. He was getting the players. Foster was the #1 RB and SC had no chance at him.

  5. Off Topic, I can’t help b I T wonder what is on that phone that makes it worth taking by force.

  6. If he’s needed now it makes sense. A bird in the hand is always better than one in the bush.

  7. Would never want to follow you into battle, Scottie – you go weak in the knees far too often.

    • It’s actually the opposite. He’s the only one challenging the coaches and administrators.

  8. Chris Alvarado is a senior. We need a punter next year. The Aussie’s scholarship counts against next year’s class. Net gain/loss = 0/ The added bonus? He’s on campus for fall and spring practice. So, yes, Scott, it makes sense? DO you–for the love of God–ever think before you type?

  9. Off topic:
    Tom Luginbill-ASU
    Kevin Carter-Arizona
    Mike Bellotti-USC
    Ryan McGee-Arizona

    All 4 ESPN analysts picked at least one PAC 12 team to be in the playoffs. The South is well represented.

  10. Check out Darren Bennett’s career with the Chargers. He was a weapon with the Aussie kicking style. Tilbey will be a great addition. Wolf you are an idiot.

  11. I’m surprised nobody pointed out that O.J. Simpson came from the same JC. But hey I hear this guy kills his kicks.

  12. Boermeister , a bueshirt last season has not worked out so well beaten out by Alex Wood for the kicking position. ucla knows how to find kickers almost yearly. Why not go down South to recruit a real punter for 2016. Hopefully very little punting done by the offense this season, maybe pooch by Kessler inside the fifty.

Comments are closed.