When it comes to its linebacking corps, the transfer portal hasn’t been kind to Syracuse football of late.
In mid-May Juan Wallace announced on Twitter that he has entered the NCAA transfer database. On the same social media service, teammate and fellow Orange linebacker Kadeem Trotter announced that he has taken the plunge into the portal as well.
It appears that Trotter will be leaving the Syracuse football program as a graduate transfer.
“I would like to thank Syracuse University for everything,” Trotter wrote. “I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.”
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.
Trotter was a three-star member of the Syracuse football Class of 2017. The Canton, Ohio, product was the No. 48 player in the Buckeye State regardless of position. Boston College and Iowa State were his only other Power Five offers.
As a true freshman, Trotter took a redshirt. Then, in 2018, he didn’t appear in any games. This past season, the 6-2, 226-pound redshirt sophomore played in six games. All of that action came on special teams, the kick coverage unit specifically.
It was expected that Trotter would’ve seen his role expanded to include snaps on defense prior to his decision.