Vidal Hazelton to transfer from USC
USC FOOTBALL
Trojans' top wide receiver last season had fallen on depth chart but says his decision was mainly based on family considerations.
Vidal Hazelton, USC's leading wide receiver in 2007 but a seldom used reserve this season, said Tuesday that he had requested and received a release to transfer to another school.
"A lot of things played into my decision," Hazelton, a junior from New York, said by telephone. "Football had something to do with it, but my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer and being closer to home is the main thing."
Hazelton has only one reception since catching five passes and suffering a high-ankle sprain in the season opener against Virginia. Last season, Hazelton caught 50 passes and scored four touchdowns.
"Obviously, going from the season I had last year and the big expectations to this year -- things didn't work out.," Hazleton said. "In the beginning it was injuries. But to tell you the truth, I really don't know what happened."
Coach Pete Carroll was not immediately available for comment.
Hazelton is the second player to leave the team in the last few weeks. Tailback Broderick Green, an Arkansas native, received his release and said on Saturday that he would transfer to Arkansas.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Hazelton tumbled on the depth chart as sophomore transfer Damian Williams, senior Patrick Turner and sophomore Ronald Johnson emerged as productive receivers for a team that is 10-1 heading into Saturday's game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl.
Earlier this season, Hazelton requested that he be allowed to redshirt so that he could fully heal and also mature. However, coaches told him to keep working and they played him after the third game, eliminating the possibility of redshirting.
Hazelton said he did not blame Carroll or other coaches for his situation.
"They did their job -- they didn't make me sign [a national letter of intent]," he said. "I knew it was a great program that a lot of great players wanted to play for. I'm not pointing the finger at them.
"They felt the other guys were helping them win games. You can't knock them for that."
Hazelton said he spoke with receivers coach John Morton, USC compliance officials and then Carroll regarding his intent to leave.
Hazelton said he wanted to continue practicing, but Carroll told him it would be best not to. He said he had not decided where he would transfer.
"I'm pretty wide open to everybody," he said.
Hazelton said he would not look back on his time with the Trojans with regret.
