The bus out of Buffalo is getting a little crowded.
Eight UB football players — including the backup quarterback, a number of key linemen and the second-leading tackler — have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal since former UB head coach Lance Leipold left to take the Kansas job last Friday.
These players join an ever-growing list of UB football personnel who are choosing to leave the Queen City in the past week, which includes as many as seven assistants — including all three coordinators and the well-respected offensive line coach — who may reportedly join Leipold in Lawrence.
The pressure is on for UB Athletic Director Mark Alnutt to hire Leipold’s replacement as soon as possible, and for the next head coach to try to convince these departing players to stay.
Backup quarterback and West Seneca, NY native Matt Myers entered the transfer portal Thursday morning. Myers started as a freshman in 2019, before suffering an injury and losing his job to Kyle Vantrease, who has started at quarterback (and occasionally at punter) ever since.
Myers appeared in just three games and threw only two passes — both completions — during the shortened 2020 season. At 6-4, 220 lb., the 2018 Buffalo News Western New York Player of the Year is a likely FCS candidate. Without him, the Bulls would likely hold an open competition between Trevor Bycznski, Casey Case and Aaron Chase for the backup job.
Starting left guard Jacob Gall also entered the transfer portal Thursday morning. Gall started at right and left guard in his four years in Buffalo — including one as a redshirt freshman — and helped anchor a unit that only allowed one sack in 2020 and was named a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the top o-line in the FBS.
Gall joins starting center Mike Novitsky on the transfer portal. UB is already losing left tackle Kayode Awosika to the NFL, guard and tackle Ray Thomas-Ishman to graduation and position coach Scott Fuchs to Kansas, leaving a big void on the offensive line.
Cory Gross, Jr. entered the transfer portal Friday morning. The junior safety made six starts and was second on the team in tackles with 42 in 2020. After redshirting in 2019, the Rochester native appeared in 19 career games with the Bulls. UB will be without Roy Baker, a starting cornerback and reserve safety, next season, after the Miami native graduated.
Earlier this week, senior defensive tackle Eddie Wilson, junior defensive tackle Tyrece Woods, recently-committed graduate transfer defensive tackle Lamonte McDougle and senior linebacker Tim Terry all entered the transfer portal. Senior defensive tackle DeShondrick Foxworth transferred to Southern Illinois on Thursday.
Justin Weiss is the managing editor and can be reached at justin.weiss@ubspectrum.com
Justin Weiss is The Spectrum's managing editor. In his free time, he can be found hiking, playing baseball or throwing things at his TV when his sports teams aren't winning. His words have appeared in Elite Sports New York and the Long Island Herald. He can be found on Twitter @Jwmlb1.
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
