UTEP football is set to lose another player to Ye Olde Portal.
According to 247Sports.com, Tiano Tialavea has taken the first step in leaving the UTEP football team by entering the NCAA transfer database. A UTEP football official subsequently confirmed that the defensive tackle is in the portal.
The lineman has also confirmed his intentions on Twitter.
“First off I want to thank GOD for guiding me to this point,” Tialavea wrote. “I also want to thank all my family, friends and coaches who have supported me throughout my football career.
“I want to thank Coach Sean Kugler for pulling a young kid from Seattle and giving him an opportunity of a lifetime. I also want to thank Coach Dana Dimel for supporting me and being in my corner.
“After many sleepless nights and multiple talks with my family, I have decided to enter myself into the Transfer Portal as a Graduate Transfer with a year of eligibility remaining. With that being said, my recruitment is 100% open.
” I am excited to see what GOD has in store for me in this next chapter of my life. Always and forever #PicksUp.”
El Paso I LOVE YALL pic.twitter.com/LPndzGRPPT
— TT™️ (@ttlowkey23) April 28, 2020
As alluded to in the tweet, Tialavea is moving on as a grad transfer. The upcoming season will serve as his final year of eligibility.
Now, for what’s seemingly becoming a daily disclaimer when it comes to transfers.
As we’ve stated myriad times in the past, a player can remove his name from the portal and remain at the same school. At this point, though, other programs are permitted to contact a player without receiving permission from his current football program.
NCAA bylaws also permit schools to pull a portal entrant’s scholarship at the end of the semester in which he entered it.
Tialavea was a two-star member of the UTEP football Class of 2016. After redshirting as a true freshman, the Seattle native moved from offensive to defensive line. The past two seasons, the 6-3, 335-pound lineman played in 18 games.