Shock as Colorado WR Montana Lemonious-Craig joins college football transfer portal exodus
Colorado wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig introduced himself to the college football universe with a huge showing in the Buffaloes' spring game, but not long after he announced he won't be with the school this season, instead electing to enter the transfer portal in the spring 2023 cycle.
That decision comes as four other Colorado players elected to move on after the spring scrimmage, including safety Tyrin Taylor, wide receiver Chase Sowell, linebacker Shakaun Bowser, and offensive lineman Jackson Anderson. Lemonius-Craig and Taylor were projected starters.
In all, 17 players have left Colorado for the transfer portal since the opening of the spring window on April 15.
The wideout caught three passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in Colorado's highly-anticipated spring football game, the first showcase of how the team was coming together under first-year head coach Deion Sanders.
One of his touchdowns went for 98 yards when he caught a pass from transfer quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the coach's son.
"I am writing to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the entire University of Colorado community for the incredible opportunity I have had attending this esteemed institution in Boulder, Colorado," Lemonious-Craig said on Twitter.
"During the course of my time at the University of Colorado, I have been fortunate to cross paths with many remarkable individuals who have played a significant role in my journey," he added.
The native of Inglewood, Calif. was second on the Colorado team last season with 23 receptions for 359 yards and three touchdowns, including a 119-yard effort with a touchdown in the Buffaloes' win over Cal.
College football transfer portal
The NCAA Transfer Portal is a private database that includes the names of student-athletes in every sport at the Division I, II, and III levels. The full list of names is not available to the public.
A player can enter their name into the transfer portal through their school's compliance office. Once a player gives written notification of their intent to transfer, the office puts the player's name into the database, and they officially become a transfer.
The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player's request and NCAA rules forbid anyone from refusing that request.
The database includes the player's name, contact information, info on whether the player was on scholarship, and if he is a graduate student.
Once a player's name appears in the transfer portal database, other schools are free to contact the player, who can change his mind at any point in the process and withdraw from the transfer portal.
Notably, once a player enters the portal, his school no longer has to honor the athletic scholarship it gave him. And if that player decides to leave the portal and return to his original school, the school doesn't have to give him another scholarship.
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