Arizona defensive end Justin Belknap enters transfer portal

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Will petition NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility after getting injured early in 2018

When Justin Belknap participated in Senior Day prior to the Arizona Wildcats’ home finale against Utah on Nov. 23, it was a sign that his college career was nearing the end.

Turns out Belknap isn’t ready to call it quits, and he’s hoping to finish things up somewhere else.

Belknap announced Monday that he was planning to apply to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, while at the same time entering the transfer portal.

View this post on Instagram

There’s lots I can say about my last 4 years at The Universoty of Arizona. I can talk to you for hours about all the good and bad times i’ve had at this great place. I just want to say thank you to my coaches and teammates who pushed me everyday to become the player and man I am today. Also I want to thank my friends and trainers of the medical staff for helping me through a tough time dealing with injury. Lastly I want to thank my past coaches and trainers who believed in me since day 1. With lots of concideration and thought, I have decided to apply for a 6th year and enter the transfer portal continuing my college career elsewhere. Thank you again to Arizona who gave a 0 star skinny outside linebacker a chance to play Defensive End at such a high level and live out his dreams of college football. Thank You

A post shared by Justin Belknap (@justinbelknap) on Jan 13, 2020 at 12:15pm PST

A former walk-on linebacker, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Belknap started 26 games at defensive end for Arizona including twice during the 2019 season, when he registered nine tackles and a sack. He started the first two games in 2018 before suffering a season-ending foot injury, but since he’d redshirted in 2015 he would have needed to apply for a medical waiver in order to gain back that year of eligibility.

Though already considered a departure, Belknap counts as the sixth Arizona player to enter the transfer portal since the summer. The others are wide receiver Thomas Marcus Jr., tight end Jake Peters, safety Chacho Ulloa, linebacker Day Day Coleman and safety Maurice Gaines.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/2t5kQqw
via IFTTT