Utes add former USC receiver from transfer portal

SALT LAKE CITY — A day after the NCAA lifted its recruiting dead period that has been in place since March 13, 2020, due to the pandemic, the University of Utah football team was busy at work looking to sign its next batch of recruits for the 2022 season.

But on Wednesday night, the football program received the commitment from another wide receiver from the transfer portal. Former USC receiver Munir McClain, a San Juan Capistrano, California, native, announced on Twitter his intention of playing for the Utes.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound receiver was a three star recruit out of J Serra Catholic when he committed to the hometown Trojans for the 2019 recruiting class. In his freshman season he played in five games but only accounted for 19 yards on three receptions before he tore a ligament in his knee against Arizona.

In fall 2020, McClain was suspended as the NCAA investigated a federal probe into an unemployment fraud claim on campus, according to the Los Angeles Times. McClain, who claimed he did nothing wrong and that "his due process rights were being violated by USC," decided to enter his name in the transfer portal in May.

McClain struggled with injuries in high school as well, including a torn ACL, but has the talent to make an impact on a roster that was depleted with Bryan Thompson and Samson Nacua transferring from the program in the offseason. McClain is expected to enter the 2021 season as a sophomore.

In May, Utah added a former Oklahoma receiver in Theo Howard, who as a senior has one season left to play as a result of the NCAA ruling an extra year of eligibility for all athletes due to the pandemic.

Utah has added several athletes from the transfer portal this offseason, including a pair of quarterbacks and running backs that should compete for the starting job in fall.

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