USC's Bear Alexander has decided to take a redshirt year after having a diminished role on the No. 13 Trojans’ defense over the first three games of this season.

USC football head coach Lincoln Riley isn't very interested in talking about Bear Alexander's redshirt decision.

Business as usual,” Riley says for the Trojans’ defensive line after seemingly severing ties with the defensive tackle, but a host of questions remain.

USC DT Bear Alexander, who'd expressed displeasure with his playing time after three games, is taking a redshirt season in 2024 and will have two years remaining.

The former five-star prospect did not start any of the Trojans' first three games but did play significant snaps against LSU and Michigan.

USC coach Lincoln Riley says Alexander is a key contributor, and improving, and that he likes his defensive line play, brushing off social media comments as emotions running high after a loss.

The defensive tackle has seen his snaps dwindle in 2024 after a promising sophomore season in 2023, prompting a suggestive tweet from Alexander on Monday.

USC defensive lineman Bear Alexander is planning to redshirt, according to his guardian Tony Jones. "He's taking the shirt," Jones said in a text. Alexander was not at practice Wednesday after practicing Tuesday.

Former top-10 prospect Bear Alexander doesn’t want to use a year of eligibility this season. The USC defensive tackle is set to redshirt for the rest of the 2024 season after he didn’t play a major role on USC’s defense through the first three games of the season.