The transfer portal officially opened Dec. 9 and we've been keeping tabs on all the movement here.

Eventually, we'll also track USC additions in this space, but for now here is the running list of announced transfer departures.

USC's defensive tackle depth took another hit Tuesday when Elijah Hughes entered the transfer portal, as reported by On3.com.

The Trojans are already losing starters Nate Clifton and Gavin Meyer, who are out of eligibility, and of course lost Bear Alexander when he quit the team early in the season.

Hughes could have factored more heavily into the DT rotation next year along with fellow experienced players Devan Thompkins and Kobe Pepe, but it's also not a surprise he would look to go elsewhere after being sparsely used most of this season.

After having some promising moments as a freshman in 2023 and looking like a key rotation piece heading into this season, Hughes played in just one of the Trojans' first seven games (11 snaps) before his role grew down the stretch. He ended up playing 126 defensive snaps in all, finishing with 6 tackles and 1 sack.

The former three-star prospect from Virginia has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reports that wide receiver Zachariah Branch and safety Zion Branch are entering the transfer portal.

The Branch brothers didn't yet deliver on the top-end expectations expected when they signed with USC, as Zachariah Branch was a five-star prospect, the No. 2-ranked WR in and No. 7 overall recruit in the 2023 class, while Zion Branch was the No. 64-ranked prospect in the 2022 class.

A pair of knee injuries, including a torn ACL that cost him his freshman season in 2022, limited Zion Branch to 21 games in three years at USC, mostly in a reserve role, as he totaled 41 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 pass breakups and a forced fumble. He played 217 defensive snaps this season -- including 25 or more in four games -- but he played just 18 snaps over the final three games when the Trojans' secondary was healthy.

USC could be losing both starting safeties if Kamari Ramsey declares for the NFL draft (he has not commented on that decision yet), while Akili Arnold is out of eligibility. With veteran backup Bryson Shaw also moving on, Branch would have had a good shot at competing for a starting role.

Meanwhile, Zachariah Branch is coming off a season in which he tied for the team lead with 47 receptions and was second with 503 receiving yards but scored just 1 TD and was taken off kickoff return duties after early struggles (while remaining as the team's punt returner).

Branch's struggles on special teams were a surprise this year after he excelled in the return roles as a freshman, scoring touchdown on both kickoff and punt returns and becoming USC's first-ever true freshman First Team All-American after being named a USA Today First Team All-American as a returner, a PFF First Team All-American as a return specialist and a Sporting News First Team All-American as a punt returner. Additionally, he won the Jet Award, which is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding return specialist.

He averaged 18.4 yards on 24 kickoff returns last season (including a 96-yard touchdown) and 30.8 yards on 16 punt returns (including a 75-yard touchdown). This year, Branch averaged 21 yards on kickoff returns with a long of 46 yards, but he attempted just 5 returns while looking more hesitant to bring the ball out. Eventually, Makai Lemon took over the role and gave a jolt to the return game. On punt returns, Branch averaged just 5.69 yards on 13 attempts with a long of 20.

In two seasons at USC, Zachariah Branch totaled 78 receptions for 823 yards and 3 TDs, plus 87 yards and 1 TD rushing and the 2 special teams TDs.

With his departure, USC has now lost four of its top six receivers with Kyron Hudson and Duce Robinson also transferring out and Kyle Ford out of eligibility.

There was every reason to think the best was still ahead for both Branch brothers at USC, but instead they'll look to realize that potential elsewhere.

Both rank among the Trojans' biggest transfer losses so far.

When Raesjon Davis decided in September to sit out the rest of the season and take a redshirt to protect his final year of eligibility, the intention at the time, his father said, was to stay at USC and benefit from another year of development under linebackers coach Matt Entz with the hopes of earning a larger role next season.

Well, Entz left USC last week to become the head coach at Fresno State and now Davis departs as well.

Davis had 31 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in 37 games played for USC the last four years. He played just 9 defensive snaps this season over four games (plus 30 special teams snaps). He played a career-high 210 defensive snaps last year but never found a consistent role on the defense.

Davis was a Rivals100 prospect out of Mater Dei High School in the 2021 class. He, five-star CB Domani Jackson (also from Mater Dei) and fifive-star DE Korey Foreman (Corona Centennial HS) headlined USC's big recruiting wins on the defensive side in that class, but it didn't quite work out as envisioned with Foreman never materializing and transferring last offseason to Fresno State and Jackson leaving for Alabama after two years.

With Davis' departure and USC also losing starting linebackers Mason Cobb and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, who both exhausted their eligibility, USC will need to add LB help through the portal.

Eric Gentry will return after sitting out the bulk of this season to protect his redshirt following multiple concussions early in the season, and rising sophomore Desman Stephens II would be a favorite to land a starting job after getting significant experience as a true freshman.

That's about all the experience the Trojans bring back at linebacker, though. Incoming four-star freshman Matai Tagoa'i will join second-year LBs Elijah Newby and Jadyn Walker and untested redshirt junior Garrison Madden as the other options for the Trojans.

Kalolo Ta'aga is the fourth Trojans offensive lineman to enter the portal since the end of the season.

A three-star prospect from the 2024 recruiting class out of San Francisco, Ta'aga was viewed as a recruit who would need a couple years of development before making any impact on the field. That will now have to happen elsewhere as he departs USC after one season, in which he saw no game action.

In one of the least surprising transfer departures, defensive end DJ Peevy entered the portal Tuesday after two injury-plagued seasons at USC in which he did not see the field.

The three-star from San Diego would have been stuck behind a deep crop of defensive ends next season.

He has three years of eligibility remaining

On Day 2 of the winter portal window, Duce Robinson became the latest significant blow for the Trojans with his decision to enter the portal. The multi-sport athlete arrived on campus with the Trojans as one of the marquee signees in the 2023 class following a battle with several other programs for Lincoln Riley's staff.

Robinson quickly emerged as a pass-catching threat and finished with 351 yards receiving on 16 catches to go with 2 touchdowns as a freshman. The 6-foot-6 Arizona native reached a new level as a threat in the red zone this year leading to 7 touchdown grabs on 23 catches for 396 yards receiving for the Trojans.

In all this season, Robinson made five starts and played 332 snaps as part of the rotation at receiver for the Trojans. His best showing came against Nebraska with Robinson catching 4 passes for 90 yards, which included a 48-yard touchdown grab, in the Nov. 16 win over the Cornhuskers.

However, despite averaging 17.2 yards per catch and being second in receiving touchdowns this season, Robinson was targeted 46 times putting him sixth on the team in that category.

He is third pass catcher to enter the portal for USC up to this point joining tight end Kade Eldridge and receiver Kyron Hudson.

Robinson, a former five-star recruit who was rated No. 25 overall in the 2023 class, will have two seasons of remaining eligibility at his next stop.

There is no way around how big of a blow losing a running back the caliber of Quinten Joyner will be for the Trojans. Though Lincoln Riley and the coaching staff opted to mostly stick with Woody Marks throughout the season, Joyner showcased his ability to make an impact when given the opportunity during his two seasons at USC.

The Paige, Texas, native averaged 7.4 yards per carry in 19 games with the Trojans, including a Big Ten-best 7.6 YPC this season. He rushed for 478 yards and 3 touchdowns on 63 rush attempts across 12 games this year.

Despite that, he never got more than 10 carries in a game -- even in the finale vs. Notre Dame when Marks missed the final three quarters due to injury, Joyner only carried it 10 times despite rushing for 83 yards and hauling in a 13-yard reception. In 10 out of 12 games, he carried it 7 times or less (usually 4 or fewer).

To be frank, it was a consistent criticism of Riley all season that he didn't use the run game more or use Joyner hardly at all despite the results. Questions about Joyner's pass protection and a costly early-season fumble worked against him, but his performance with the ball in his hand merited more opportunity and some sign of commitment that he could be the featured guy next year.

Instead, he is out the door. The former four-star recruit and Rivals100 prospect will have three years and two seasons of remaining eligibility at his next school.

Meanwhile, the Trojans now lose their top two running backs and, for the moment, are left with Bryan Jackson (who rushed 20 times for 122 yards as a true freshman), A'Marion Peterson (who will be a redshirt sophomore with minimal game experience) and incoming three-star freshman early enrollees Riley Wormley and Harry Dalton.

Look for Riley and Co. to add a veteran running back through the portal once again.

Mason Murphy has been a staple of the USC offensive line in recent years, and he played a career-high 817 snaps as a redshirt junior this season. The Riverside native started all 12 games for the Trojans at right tackle this season, while drawing reps/starts at right guard and right tackle last year and some work at both tackle spots in 2022.

Losing a player with that much experience is certainly a blow as Murphy has played over 1,700 snaps in the last three seasons according to PFF.

The former Rivals250 prospect made 22 starts in the last three seasons with the Trojans and will have one season of remaining eligibility.

His departure isn't a total surprise, though, as he chose to be honored at senior day before USC's game with Notre Dame.

The Trojans are losing three starting offensive linemen, along with center Jonah Monheim and left guard Emmanuel Pregnon (as well as their two top reserve guards in Gino Quinones and Amos Talalele, who are both transferring out as well) and will surely need to add reinforcements from the transfer portal.

Rising redshirt sophomore Tobias Raymond, who played 78 snaps at right tackle and 4 at left guard this season, is the most experienced non-starting lineman returning for USC. He and walk-on center Kilian O'Connor are really the only ones on that depth chart with any experience, for that matter.

USC has some major questions up front.

Alexander quit the Trojans back in September after just three games to preserve his redshirt, so this was merely a formality of officially entering the transfer portal.

He has not been a part of the program for months.

Kade Eldridge emerged as a valuable tight end for USC as a redshirt freshman, playing 234 snaps while serving mostly as a blocking asset in pass protection and the run game. His blocking ability is what got him on the field ahead of the Trojans' other young tight ends. He had just 3 catches for 19 yards in 12 games.

He ended playing less than true freshman Walker Lyons, however, as both were behind veteran starter Lake McRee when healthy.

McRee has another year of eligibility but also walked for senior day before the Trojans' game vs. Notre Dame, so there is some question about his future.

Regardless, USC has loaded up at tight end in recent seasons.

If McRee returns, he and Lyons would be the clear 1-2 at the position while former four-stars Walter Matthews and Joey Olsen will be looking for bigger roles as redshirt freshmen and USC just signed three-star tight end Nela Tupou as well.

Eldridge, a three-star prospect in the 2023 class out of Bellingham, Washington, has three years of eligibility remaining.

Given the way he was utilized down the stretch of this season, it seemed like Sam Greene might have a chance to earn a significant role for the Trojans in 2025.

The redshirt freshman played between 22 and 35 defensive snaps in each of the final six games, racking up 3 tackles for loss and a sack with 9 total pressures.

USC just signed five-star defensive end Jahkeem Stewart, who could carve out an immediate role, but the Trojans' defensive ends as a unit have plenty to prove after combining for just 7 sacks as a group this year.

It figured that Anthony Lucas, Braylan Shelby, Greene, Kameryn Fountain and Stewart would all be top candidates for roles in the rotation on the edge.

Instead, Greene will have three years of eligibility at his next school.

Kyron Hudson finished as USC's third-leading receiver in 2024 with 38 catches for 462 yards and 3 touchdowns.

One catch will be remembered most, though, as Hudson's full-extension one-handed grab vs. LSU was SportsCenter's No. 1 play that night and an indelible memory from one of the highlights of this past season.

Hudson, who more than doubled his previous career-highs this season, finishes his four-year USC career with 72 catches for 807 yards and 8 touchdowns.

He led all USC receivers in snaps (544) -- 54 more than any other receiver -- and was second in targets with 64.

He has one year of eligibility remaining.

"From the moment I set foot on campus, it felt like home -- a place where dreams were within reach and bonds were forged for a lifetime," Hudson posted on Twitter. "Wearing the cardinal and gold has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I will always carry that pride with me. ... With that, after much reflection, I've decided to enter the transfer portal as a grad transfer with one year of eligibility remaining. This decision is not made lightly, but I am confidence that God has an exciting plan for me in this next chapter. I step forward with gratitude for my team at USC and anticipation for what lies ahead."

Jensen spent three seasons at USC as a third-string quarterback after transferring in from junior college. He did not attempt a pass with the Trojans and carried the ball twice for 0 yards, including once in the loss to Notre Dame last weekend.

Jensen walked for senior day before that game, so this is not a surprise. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

With Miller Moss also transferring out, USC is down to two scholarship quarterbacks with Jayden Maiava and incoming freshman Husan Longstreet.

Denis Lynch spent two seasons as USC's starting kicker, going from walk-on to scholarship, but he lost the job this year to incoming transfer Michael Lantz. Even with Lantz out of eligibility, Lynch will move on.

In 2023, Lynch went 65-of-66 (98.4%) on extra points and 10-of-14 (71.4%) on field goals with a career-long was a 53-yarder against Arizona State.

In 2022, he ranked 10th in the nation for total points scored (119), going 74-of-74 on extra points and 15-of-22 (68.1%) on field goals.

He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Quinones made two starts for USC in 2022 and was part of the contingent that joined QB Caleb Williams in New York City for his Heisman Trophy ceremony, but a knee injury limited Quinones to two games in 2023 and a setback sidelined him for all of this past season.

He could have been in the mix to replace departing left guard Emmanuel Pregnon next season, but he'll instead look to finish his collegiate career elsewhere.

He has at least one season of eligibility remaining but potentially two if he receives a medical hardship waiver.

The most surprising of USC's early transfer departures is second-year offensive guard Amos Talalele.

The redshirt freshman was in competition for the right guard job through the early part of the season, logging 92 offensive snaps and playing in a timeshare in the Trojans' second, third and fourth games before Alani Noa locked down the starting job.

The former three-star prospect from Santa Clara has three years of eligibility remaining. He was briefly committed to Cal in high school before flipping his commitment to USC.

No surprise here. The moment Moss lost the starting job late in the season, it was expected he would transfer out for his final year of eligibility.

Moss passed for 2,555 yards, 18 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in nine games before USC coach Lincoln Riley announced a quarterback change going into the Trojans' second bye week, installing Jayden Maiava as the starter for the final three games.

"Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine. Putting on the cardinal and gold and competing on behalf of my teammates and school is something I will forever take pride in. I poured everything I have into this -- body, heart, mind and soul -- and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished and fought tooth and nail for," Moss wrote.

"... I could not be more grateful for the support from my coaches. The guidance that I have received will last me far beyond my days of playing football. To Gavin Morris, Bennie Wylie, Lincoln Riley and Kliff Kingsbury, your mentorship has been and will continue to be invaluable.

"To my teammates and closest friends: It is the people that make the place, and you guys are what truly made my experience special. I have always felt the goals and accomplishments are less meaningful without relationships to share them with, and the past few years at USC are a testament to that belief.

"Looking towards the future, I'm unwaveringly committed to becoming an even better quarterback and leader, and to achieving this at the next level. In order to realize these goals, I am entering the transfer portal as a graduate student."

Read more on Moss' departure here