Rocky Hinds to transfer from USC

LOS ANGELES, June 8 (UPI) -- Southern California quarterback Rocky Hinds has decided to transfer.

Hinds, who was red-shirted last season as a freshman, had a meeting Tuesday with Coach Pete Carroll and informed Carroll of his plans.

"Rocky came to me and said he wants to transfer," Carroll told the Los Angeles Daily News. "He's a great kid, and I'm disappointed. I was excited about him, because he had a good chance to compete for the quarterback job here in the future.

"But he didn't see it that way. He said he wants to go somewhere where he thinks he'll have a better opportunity to play."

Various reports have said the 6-4, 225-pound Hinds, a native of Los Angeles, is transferring to UNLV. He finished spring practice as the Trojans' third-string signal-caller behind Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart and red-shirt sophomore John David Booty.

Hinds was a Super Prep All-American while at St. Bernard High School in Playa Del Rey in suburban Los Angeles.