Injured USC linebacker Breslin has sports hernia surgery

Southern California linebacker Morgan Breslin had sports hernia surgery on Tuesday, coach Ed Orgeron says.

Breslin already had been declared out for the regular season with a hip injury.

The senior played in just five games for the No. 23 Trojans (8-3, 5-2 Pac-12) this season, recording 15 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks despite never being fully healthy.

He was among the nation's top defensive linemen last season with 13 sacks and 19 1/2 tackles for loss, the most in both categories at USC since Kenechi Udeze in 2003.

J.R. Tavai has taken Breslin's starting spot for the Trojans, who have won five of six under the interim leadership of Orgeron, also their defensive line coach.

Breslin is among 12 Trojans who already had been ruled out for the season with injuries.