Following a troubled career at Missouri, Maty Mauk hopes to jumpstart his flailing career at the FCS level. A month later, another Power Five player is hoping for a similar revival at the same program.
On his personal Twitter account, Nigel Bethel announced that he will be continuing his collegiate playing career at Eastern Kentucky. Bethel, also a standout tract athlete, had decided last month to transfer out of the Texas Tech football program.
Because EKU plays at the FCS level, Bethel will be eligible to play immediately in 2016.I have decided to transfer to Eastern Kentucky Univ. Can’t wait to start school July 5th. #EKU18 pic.twitter.com/UFTbVczKfQ
— Nigel Bethel ll (@_NigelBethel) June 21, 2016
A four-star member of Tech’s 2014 recruiting class, Bethel’s time in Lubbock was most notable for an off-field incident that had nothing to do with football.
In June prior to the start of his true freshman season, the defensive back was dismissed by Tech after he was involved in a physical altercation during a pickup basketball game. Specifically, he punched a women’s basketball star, Amber Battle, in the face, an incident that was caught on tape.
Shortly after Battle admitted to initiating the physical confrontation, it was announced that Bethel had been reinstated but would be suspended for the first three games of the 2014 season.
Bethel started seven games in 2014, then followed that up with five starts last season.