BYU DL Darius McFarland Enters NCAA Transfer Portal
Dec 14, 2020, 8:38 PM | Updated: 8:41 pm
Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Darius McFarland (48) plays catch with young fan Afton Norman during warm-ups in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – BYU football defensive lineman Darius McFarland has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.
The former Box Elder High standout in the class of 2016 has been off the BYU roster since midway through fall camp this past August. On Monday McFarland made an announcement on his Instagram stories feed that he was in the Transfer Portal.
“After a lot of consideration and prayer, and wanting to continue to grow and become the best football player and person that I can be, I made the decision to enter the transfer portal. I am grateful for my time in Provo and wouldn’t change a second of being a part of the BYU football program. Moving forward with faith during these uncertain times and looking forward to whatever the next chapter brings!”
Darius McFarland career snapshot at BYU
McFarland was on the BYU football roster for two full seasons as a scholarship athlete. In 2018, he started his BYU career at defensive line then early in the season he switched to a tight end/fullback role. McFarland appeared in one game in 2018.
Last season, McFarland switched back to the defensive side of the ball where he was a third-string outside edge defender. He appeared in five games primarily on the kickoff unit for special teams.
McFarland is married to BYU softball star Rylee Jensen-McFarland, who will be one of the top players in the Cougars rotation for the upcoming 2021 season.
Tidbits on the Transfer Portal
Student-athletes that enter the NCAA Transfer Portal have the option to return back to the school they are transferring from. BYU has had players return exit the Portal and return to the Cougars in the past such as Payton Wilgar, Hirkley Latu, Kuj Tapusoa.
In a study done by 247Sports this past spring analyzing portal entries from 2018-19, only 45.7 percent of three-star prospects or better who enter the Transfer Portal, remained in FBS football.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.
