LOS ANGELES — Southern California redshirt freshman tailback Broderick Green said he is leaving the program to return to Little Rock, Ark. to be with his ailing grandmother.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Green did not play against California on Saturday and will officially transfer after the fall semester.

"Because of unforeseen family health issues with my maternal grandmother who raised me and my mother, I have asked the University of Southern California to grant me a scholarship release at the end of the semester," Green said in a statement posted on coach Pete Carroll's Web site. "Over the last few weeks, as I have tried to maintain the desire to be a part of the USC football family, a stronger desire to be closer to family in this time of need has emerged."

Green ran for three touchdowns and 168 yards this season, 121 against Washington State on Oct. 18. He was fifth on the depth chart for the tailback-heavy Trojans.

"Broderick's been a great kid in our program and we're going to miss him," Carroll said on his site. "We wish him the best and look forward to seeing him get settled in wherever he ends up in the future."

Carroll said playing time was also a factor for Green.

"I think the number of guys he's battling against was a concern," Carroll told the Los Angeles Times. "Somewhere in there, that was one of his concerns, but he has a lot of things that are weighing on him."