ULM football: Warhawks continue losing players to transfer and opt-outs

UPDATE: Running back Javin Myers has returned to the ULM football team. 

Louisiana-Monroe is proving why 2020 is the wrong year to have a bad season.

The Warhawks have lost 14 players to coronavirus-related opt-outs, the transfer portal and other departures since spring practice ended. ULM fell to a program-worst 0-7 overall record and 0-4 in the Sun Belt Conference following a 31-13 loss to Appalachian State on Saturday.

“Those are all new things obviously that have added to it, coupled with the fact we’re not playing well,” ULM head coach Matt Viator said. “We still have plenty of guys to play, but it’s affected the way we practice. Numbers always do that, whether it’s injuries, quits or opt-outs.”

Wide receiver Zach Jackson and defensive end Ivin White Jr. placed their names in the transfer portal last week, joining running back Kayin White, offensive lineman Chance Billington, cornerback Tajhnick Bishop, linebacker Rashaad Harding, safety Logan Wilson and cornerback Jordan Oliver.

Harding, Wilson, wide receiver Brandius Batiste and defensive tackle Ed Haralson opted out of playing this season due to COVID-19. Running back Jakyle Holmes, wide receiver C.J. Fletcher, defensive end Brandon Nettles and defensive tackle Dayonte Roberts are no longer on the team.

ULM suspended all football activities for 10 days in August after a spike in COVID-19 cases. Defensive coordinator Mike Collins resigned 10 days prior to the season opener at Army.

Viator said playing time contributed to the exodus.

“The big issue is not playing,” Viator said. “We’ve had our shares of struggles both on and off the field with the way we’ve practiced pertaining to the virus and everything. The transfer deal has affected everybody, but when you’re not having a good year, it gives some guys a way out.”

In August, the NCAA Division I Council voted to give all fall sports athletes an extra year of eligibility, regardless of whether they played during the 2020 season. The move was made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A proposal introduced in October would allow a one-time transfer waiver to all NCAA athletes. The Division I Council is expected to vote on the proposal in January.

If passed, it’s unclear how the transfer waiver will affect Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. APR measures the eligibility and retention of athletes. Penalties imposed by the NCAA for low APR scores include scholarship losses and postseason bans.

The Division I Committee on Academic recommended two-year suspension of APR penalties during an October meeting. 

Viator’s contract contains a clause that allows ULM to replace it with a one-year deal if the football team’s APR falls below a one-year average of 940. In this scenario, Viator is prohibited from receiving an extension or any incentive pay.

ULM signed Viator to an extension in June through the 2022 season.

The NCAA restricts FBS schools to 25 “initial” signees (high school, junior college, transfers) per academic year if it doesn’t exceed the 85-scholarship limit, regardless of attrition.

“It used to be you had to graduate if you didn’t want to go down to FCS,” Viator said. “There are some different things going on that will affect everyone and for us it’s a bad time to have it.”

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