Around college football: Browne leaves USC, won’t take part in a bowl

Backup quarterback Max Browne has left the USC football program and will not participate in bowl practices or a bowl game.

“Four years ago, when I signed to come play at USC, I never thought this day would come. But the time has come for me to find a new home,” Browne wrote Wednesday on Instagram.

Coach Clay Helton named Browne, a fourth-year junior, the starter before the season following a spring and fall competition with redshirt freshman Sam Darnold. But the Trojans struggled to a 1-2 start that included losses to top-ranked Alabama and Stanford and Darnold replaced Browne as the starter.

Browne can transfer to any Football Bowl Subdivision school and play immediately as a graduate transfer. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

“I walk away from USC falling short of many of my goals, but I also walk away with a full heart, lifelong relationships, and memories that will last a lifetime,” Browne wrote. “I will certainly have an assortment of feelings when I look back at my 4 years here at SC, but I will always remember the unbelievable people I encountered along my path as a Trojan.”

Browne, who was voted a team captain this season, spent his first three seasons as a backup to Cody Kessler.

Freshman Matt Fink is the only other scholarship quarterback listed on USC’s roster. He has not played this season. Third-year sophomore Jalen Greene was recruited as a quarterback but has mostly played receiver.

— Lindsey Thiry

Texas star going pro

Texas running back D’Onta Foreman said he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft after rushing for 2,028 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

A lightly regarded recruit when he signed with Texas in 2014, Foreman projects as a possible early-round draft choice and is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to college football’s top running back. His rushing total in 11 games this season — he missed a game because of a hamstring injury — was the second-best in school history, behind only Ricky Williams in 1998, when he won the Heisman Trophy.

Zaire leaving Irish

Malik Zaire, the quarterback who won the starting job at Notre Dame last year before a broken ankle ended his season, plans to graduate in December and use his final year of eligibility elsewhere next season.

University spokesman Michael Bertsch said that Zaire has been given his release. Zaire told the South Bend Tribune among the schools he is considering are Florida, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and Michigan State, an Irish opponent next season.

Notre Dame won all three games Zaire started but he was beaten out for the starter’s job this season by DeShone Kizer.

Etc.

San Francisco 49ers Coach Chip Kelly said that he has no interest in the Oregon Ducks coaching job and has not spoken to anyone associated with the program about it. Kelly was coach at Oregon from 2009 to 2012, compiling a 46-7 record. Florida Coach Jim McElwain also said that he was not interested in the Oregon job. ... Missouri wide receiver Keyon Dilosa was suspended indefinitely after he was arrested before dawn Wednesday and accused by a witness of punching a woman in the face. ... Georgia Tech’s leading rusher, Marcus Marshall, said he would transfer rather than return for his final two seasons.