USC football may be short one linebacker this fall with a new report from Chris Trevino of USCFootball.com that redshirt freshman Tayler Katoa plans to leave for his Mormon mission.
Members of the Church of Latter-day Saints encouraged to take a mission once they reach adulthood. If the report is true, Katoa is following in the footsteps of many other players who have put their football careers on hold to spend two years in service as a missionary.
Katoa redshirted last season after suffering a knee injury during Spring Camp. He had been one of a handful of early enrollees hoping to impress enough to receive early playing time.