USC Football: After Seeing Writing on the Wall, Blake Ayles Transfers To Miami

Call it a case of unfulfilled promise.

It was announced earlier today that senior tight end Blake Ayles will transfer to Miami.

There he will be reunited with former Trojans coach Brennan Carroll, who coached him at USC before being let go by Lane Kiffin last year.

After signing with USC out of Orange Lutheran High School in 2008, Ayles was expected to be a fixture at the tight end position for the remainder of his college career.

Sadly for Ayles, this was not the case

Battling injuries throughout his Trojan career, Ayles was relegated to a backup position. After saying that "football was no longer fun at USC," he decided to make the change and take advantage of the NCAA ruling that allows juniors and seniors to transfer without having to sit out a season. 

This ruling was in response to the sanctions placed on USC in the Reggie Bush scandal.

To those more skeptical, Ayles transfer might also be looked upon as his realization that there may have been little playing time ahead of him for the Trojans.

Besides returning veteran tight end Rhett Ellison, the Trojans had signed three of the top five prep tight ends in the nation after the 2009 season.

In addition to Xavier Grimble, thought of as the top prep tight end in the country, USC also brought in Randall Telfair and Christian Thomas who are both highly regarded in their own right.

All three of the young tight ends are expected to make significant contributions for the Trojans in 2011.

Though injuries certainly played a large part in stunting Ayles career, he failed to live up to his billing even when healthy.

Specifically, a litany of dropped passes haunted Ayles throughout his Trojan career and played a large part in Ayles diminished playing time.

So USC bids adieu to Blake Ayles.

I'm sure Trojan head coach Lane Kiffin and all Trojan fans wish him well.

Perhaps he will realize the promise missing at USC as he "takes his talents to South Beach."

Certainly all fans of the Hurricanes hope so.