Houston Cougars lose star running back to transfer portal: 'A sad day'
Alton McCaskill IV rushed for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman
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The transfer portal in college athletics has allowed players to change their circumstances without having to sit out a year, choosing to play for a program that better suits their needs.
While it has allowed teams to rebuild and reload quickly, there is another side to every story.
Houston Cougars running back Alton McCaskill, #22, catches a touchdown pass during the Ticket Smarter Birmingham Bowl between the Auburn Tigers and the Houston Cougars on Dec. 28, 2021, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. (Chris McDill/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
On Monday, Houston Cougars running back Alton McCaskill IV informed head coach Dana Holgorsen he intends to enter the transfer portal.
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COLORADO WIDE RECEIVER ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL AFTER BIG SPRING GAME
The move came as a shock to Holgorsen, who expressed sadness over his departure.
"I appreciate his love for Houston and the University of Houston and wish him the best of luck in the future. I wish him well," Holgorsen told Fox 26 Sports in Houston.
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Houston Cougars head coach Dana Holgorsen at TDECU Stadium on Sept. 24, 2022 in Houston. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)
"It’s a sad day," Holgorsen continued. "I was a little shocked because the kid had a good spring and then all of the sudden, boom, it’s over."
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McCaskill was a star freshman in 2021, rushing for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground as the Cougars went 12-2.
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His 16 rushing touchdowns were the most by any freshman in the nation.
Houston Cougars running back Alton McCaskill, #22, carries the ball during the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl between the Houston Cougars and the Auburn Tigers on Dec. 28, 2021 at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
He missed the entire 2022 season recovering from an injured knee but was expected to be a featured running back in 2023 as the Cougars enter their first season as a member of the Big 12 Conference.
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"We’re going to be fine," Holgorsen said. "We’ve got a lot to offer. We’ve got a lot of good things happening at the University of Houston and we’ll be just fine."
Houston will begin its first year in the Big 12 for the 2023-24 academic year along with BYU, Cincinnati and Central Florida.