The USC Trojans have a special player in linebacker Eric Gentry. He plays with more passion than just about every player in college football, and his unique size and skill set make him one of the top LBs in the Big Ten Conference.
After a standout performance against the Purdue Boilermakers, Gentry earned the honor of being named the Bednarik Player of the Week.
balled out in our Big Ten opener 😤@IamEricGentry has been named the Bednarik Player of the Week‼️ pic.twitter.com/BVqvLmDRI3
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 16, 2025
USC Trojans LB Eric Gentry Named Bednarik Player Of The Week
Gentry was all over the place on Saturday, wreaking havoc on Purdue’s offense.
He finished the game with 8 tackles (all solo), including 3 for loss, and 2 sacks. He also forced 2 fumbles. His 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles were all single-game career highs.
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He could have also added an interception to his stat sheet as he read a trick play perfectly and was in position to flip the field, but had the ball bounce off his hands.
He had another play where he read a screen perfectly and was like glue to the Purdue receiver. He almost swatted the ball away, but kept the offensive player from gaining any yards.
Eric Gentry has been a special player since he joined the USC Trojans. His only crutch has been his ability to stay healthy. When he is on the field, he is one of the most impactful players in all of college football.
The Trojans’ linebacker play has been a topic of criticism over the first three weeks, but it has been a unit that has improved. Outside of Gentry, it is a room with very little experience, so we knew that there would be some growing pains.
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Gentry has been a steady presence in the room and one of the most important leaders on defense. His continued play will help determine the growth and dominance of that side of the ball.
The USC Trojans host the Michigan State Spartans at the Coliseum this Saturday at 8:00 PM PT. They will need a great game out of Eric Gentry if they hope to remain undefeated on the season.