Multiple Southern Methodist University (SMU) football players will sit out the rest of the season so that they can enter the transfer portal, according to an On3 report.
Sophomore wide receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. and senior safety Chace Cromartie will be leaving the team, multiple SMU staff members confirmed to The Dallas Morning News.
Two other players, sophomore safety Isaiah Nwokobia and sophomore wide receiver Jayleen Record, were also mentioned in On3′s report. However, SMU staff members said those two had not yet communicated an intent to transfer.
The timing of the news is understandable as college players who have not exceeded four games played can redshirt a season to preserve a season of eligibility.
The SMU Mustangs will play their fifth game of the season at the University of Central Florida (UCF) on Wednesday after the game was delayed by Hurricane Ian.
With new NCAA rules establishing dedicated transfer windows, the players will not officially be able to enter the portal until the season ends. The new transfer portal window will last 45 days, starting the first day after the national championship.
Three of the four players transferring have been significant contributors to the Mustangs football team.
Nwokobia has received significant playing time after signing as the second-highest-rated player in SMU’s 2021 recruiting class.
Daniels was a rotational player as a freshman in 2021 but has played in every game this season, though he has recorded only two catches, both in the season-opener. SMU added multiple transfer wide receivers this offseason.
Cromartie has played in every game since he arrived at SMU in 2019, including all four this year. He had 17 starts at safety before the start of this season.
However, Cromartie’s playing time has diminished this season amid safety transfers Nick Roberts and Chris Adimora emerging and returning starters Bryan Massey and Brandon Crossley.
Jayleen Record has rarely seen the field for the Mustangs.
Deciding to sit out midseason so that players can enter the transfer portal is becoming more commonplace.
Recently, Boise State starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier chose to sit out the remainder of the season with the intent to transfer after the Broncos’ disappointing 2-2 start. Former Lewisville quarterback Taylen Green has since taken over as the starting quarterback for the Broncos.
Last season, Utah’s starting quarterback Charlie Brewer left after a 1-2 start to preserve a season of eligibility. He transferred to Liberty and was named starting quarterback entering this season.
One of the most notable cases was former Houston quarterback D’Eriq King choosing to sit out the 2019 season and transfer to Miami, ironically joining SMU first-year head coach Rhett Lashlee, who was the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator at the time.
SMU has played well early in the first season of the Lashlee era, with its two losses coming in one-score games against Power Five opponents Maryland and TCU.
In recent years SMU has aggressively used the transfer portal to bolster its roster with great success. The Mustangs brought in 17 transfers with their 2022 recruiting class, good for the 14th ranked transfer football class in the nation, according to 247Sports.
Now, the Mustangs are feeling the other side of the transfer portal.