Lincoln Riley reveals latest on eligibility status of DJ Wingfield

USC is waiting to learn if former Purdue offensive lineman DJ Wingfield will be eligible to play in the 2025 season. But for now, the program remains in limbo.

Coach Lincoln Riley was asked to provide an update on Wingfield’s status at the annual Big Ten Media Days on Thursday. He couldn’t give much in the way of an answer.

“No specific updates right now,” Riley said. “A process that is ongoing right now. Wish I could comment on it a little bit more, but it’s one of those that we’ve got to let it play out. But he’s been a full participant up to any limits that have been established. Looking forward to that process hopefully wrapping up here pretty quick.”

DJ Wingfield has hired attorney Darren Heitner in his battle to play during the upcoming 2025 season, On3 reported earlier this month. The offensive lineman is believed to have one season of eligibility remaining due to the NCAA waiver for players who have at least one season at a non-NCAA program.

However, the Purdue transfer has not been able to secure that waiver from the NCAA at this point. And without it, he cannot play this fall.

Wingfield has now brought in Heitner, with the expectation that he will file a suit for an injunction, which would allow him to play this fall if granted. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound offensive lineman started his career at El Camino Junior College, where he played 22 games.

Wingfield transferred to New Mexico as a junior but only appeared in one game before suffering a season-ending injury. After redshirting, Wingfield played in nine games with the Lobos as a redshirt junior before transferring to Purdue in December 2023.

The offensive lineman started 12 games in 2024 at right guard for Purdue. Wingfield finished with a 64.3 overall Pro Football Focus grade last year, including a 65.2 run-blocking grade and a 61.5 pass-block grade. He gave up 22 pressures, including five hits on the quarterback and three sacks.

He’s expected to contribute to an offensive line that lost Emmanuel Pregnon and Mason Murphy to the transfer portal. The Trojans also lost center Jonah Monheim to the NFL Draft. Wingfield brings 1,271 snaps with him from two years of play at New Mexico and Purdue.

“Really impressive, really impressive,” Riley said of Wingfield. “We obviously thought enough of him to sign him. He’s probably a little bit better than I thought he was, and I thought he was pretty good.

“He’s one of those guys, you plug him in there and even at the beginning of spring it looks like he’s been with us forever. If you came here and watched us, you wouldn’t know that he’s just getting going with us and in our system.”

On3’s Pete Nakos also contributed to this report.