With the ever-changing landscape of college football players now have more freedom over their careers than ever before. This summer we have seen many take control and make the not-so-flashy decision to leave a power 5 schools for a smaller group of 5 schools.
Rickey Hyatt, is a three-star safety from Ohio. He spent his first two seasons playing for the University of Kentucky. Hyatt sat out as a redshirt his freshman year but received SEC academic honors. The following year he played in two games for the Wildcats but decided to part ways with the team in April. The lengthy 6-2 safety has committed to going to finish his college career with the South Alabama Jaguars.
Damien Jackson, is a 6-2 270 lbs linebacker from Las Vegas. Before playing for Nebraska Jackson served as a Navy SEAL for four years. In his first two years with the Huskers he only saw action in 1 game utilizing his redshirt status. Jackson made more of an impact playing in two games his third year and was put on scholarship for the following season. In his final season with Nebraska Jackson played 11 games and won the Armed Forces Merit Award. Jackson will now leave the team that he refers to as his, foundation, catalyst, family, and friends, using his last years of eligibility to play for the University of Buffalo.
DJ Johnson, 6-4 225 lbs, OLB and Joriell Washington, 6-2 Safety, are both from the class of 2021 and played for the University of Illinois last season. Johnson played in eight games for the fighting Illini recording four tackles. Unfortunately, Washington missed the entire season due to an injury. On June 2nd both of these players entered the transfer portal and later decided to transfer to Louisiana Tech.
Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge, 6-6 defensive end from the class of 2021. Rawlin-Kibonge didn’t play football until his junior year of high school. He originally committed to playing college basketball in the summer of 2019, however, the following summer he flipped and decided he would play football for the Oklahoma Sooners. After a year with the team, the athletic edge rusher entered the transfer portal and found his new home as a part of the South Alabama Jaguars.
