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Trojans add a wide receiver

Former Miami wide receiver Thearon Collier has decided to head west and become a USC Trojan. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound junior receiver from Booker T. Washington in Miami can help USC as a pass catcher and a returner.
Rumors regarding Collier's transfer proved to be true Saturday as Collier arrived on campus and has been have been accepted by USC admissions. He will start his fall semester as a scholarship player with the rest of the team on Monday after being medically cleared.
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The former return specialist at Miami "has been through a lot," USC Coach Lane Kiffin said after Saturday's scrimmage attended by Collier, the first transfer in for USC after six transfers out following NCAA sanctions.
"He's had a very tough life so far," Kiffin said. "This is something very good for him. He needs to get away from home."
Collier will not be eligible to play football during the 2010 season, however. Collier will sit out a year and redshirt and then become eligible for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Last season Collier played in 12 games and started for Miami against Virginia Tech. He finished the season with 18 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns, including one against Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl.
Collier was the first Hurricane to notch multiple punt returns for a touchdown in a season since 2004 when Devin Hester recorded three and Roscoe Parrish had two. He finished with 11 punt returns for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
During his freshmen season Collier played in 12 games as well, starting three of them. Collier was the team's second-leading receiver with 26 grabs for 324 yards and a touchdown.
During his senior season at Booker T. Washington, Collier caught 33 passes for 711 yards and seven touchdowns. His junior year he caught 34 passes for 791 yards and nine touchdowns. Rivals.com ranked Collier the No. 82 player in the country for the class of 2008.
Collier was dismissed from the Miami football team earlier this month for team violations according to the Palm Beach Post. He did not participate during the latter part of Miami's spring football and did not play in the spring game.
"He wanted a fresh start," Kiffin said, and is the result of USC research into possible transfers who could help in light of the players USC was losing to transfer.
When asked if the Miami transfer amounts to a one-for-one trade with Miami, which gained USC signee Seantrel Henderson earlier in the summer, Kiffin smiled, saying, "You mean, the player to be named later?"
Stay tuned to USCFootball.com for more on the story of Collier's transfer to USC.
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