Two Football Ducks Elect to Transfer From Program

According to the Oregonian’s James Crepea, two Ducks have elected to transfer from the program for reasons unknown as of press time.

The two players are Junior Linebacker Keith Simms and Safety Billy Gibson. Simms was a key backup at linebacker that got big time reps on special teams and on defense last season. Gibson was a reserve safety that was headed into his redshirt sophomore season with less than ideal hopes of contributing on defense but was projected to be on special teams. Simms was expected to compete for backup reps at both inside and outside linebacker this season. One can speculate that the arrivals of early enrollees Dru Mathis and Ge’Mon Eaford could have resulted in Simms’ decision to transfer.

There is no word on both of these student-athlete’s academic situations so if they so choose, they are required to sit one year at their next destination if it is not at the FCS level.

The NCAA can, however elect to grant them hardship waivers if they apply for one but it’s very unlikely one is accepted given the organization’s penchant for inconsistent decision making.

According to Crepea, the Ducks have 87 scholarships still on their roster so two more scholarship decisions must be made to get under the mandated 85 limit. These can be made in a variety of ways: undergraduate transfer, graduate transfer, outright release, conversion to walk-on status, or medical disqualification (the scholarship still exists academically for the athlete but they are no longer part of the program.)

We wish these young men the very best in their next destination, wherever it may be. Once a Duck, Always a Duck.