USC football: Kyle Prater transfers to Northwestern

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Former USC receiver Kyle Prater has transferred to Northwestern, as the Chicago Tribune reported in this story.

He received his release from USC this month and also was reportedly considering Wisconsin and Illinois.

Prater, who attended high school in Illinois, must sit out the 2012 season under NCAA transfer rules. He will be eligible for the Wildcats in 2013 and have two years of eligibility remaining.

‘This is one of the best days in my life for me and my family and I’m just happy to be back close to home, my family and my support group,’ Prater said in a news release. ‘I’d like to thank USC and their administration for my release. I have the utmost respect for USC and the coaching staff, players, fans and everybody I was in touch with there. This Northwestern degree will take me far and help me become a better person. The dynamics of the school and the team have shown me a lot and I’m just happy to be a Wildcat.’

The 6-foot-5 Prater was regarded as one of the top prospects in USC’s 2010 recruiting class. He graduated from high school early and enrolled in January 2010 so that he could get a head start on his college career.

But Prater struggled through a series of injuries and redshirted in 2010. Last season he mostly played late in games and caught only one pass, while freshman Marqise Lee emerged as a star alongside sophomore Robert Woods.

More later at latimes.com/sports.

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