Lyndell Gibson, Jacob Sykes and Austin Fuller to Transfer

Frank Beamer held a press conference with the media on Monday afternoon in
preparation for spring practice, and he highlighted a number of changes. Those
changes include player transfers and position changes. Beamer also gave a quick
injury update.

Jacob Sykes, Lyndell Gibson and Austin Fuller have decided to transfer out of
the football program.

Sykes was a backup free safety and cornerback who played special teams last
season. The rising r-senior was projected to compete for the #2 free safety
position this spring. His loss hurts depth in the secondary, and also takes away
a quality special teams player.

Lyndell Gibson started at backer for most of the last two seasons. He missed
the Orange Bowl because of shoulder surgery, and was scheduled to miss the
spring as well. Gibson was arrested for a DUI back in February, his third
incident with the law since joining the program. He would have been a r-junior
this season.

Austin Fuller, a rising r-junior, was seventh on the depth chart at wide
receiver, and was not projected to receive much playing time.

Here is a quick rundown of position changes, some of which we already knew
about.

• Chris Drager moves from defensive end to tight end
• Laurence Gibson moves from offensive tackle to offensive guard
• Vinston Painter moves from offensive guard to offensive tackle
• James Hopper moves from rover to running back
• Lorenzo Williams moves from whip to rover
• Nick Dew moves from rover to whip
• Dominique Patterson moves from backer to whip
• Quillie Odom moves from mike to defensive end
• Michael Via will play offensive tackle and center
• The Mike depth chart: Bruce Taylor, Jack Tyler, Barquell Rivers
• The Backer depth chart: Tariq Edwards, Chase Williams, Telvion Clark

Beamer also gave a quick injury update on several players. As already noted,
Greg Nosal will miss the spring, and r-sophomore David Wang will take his place
with the #1 offense at right guard.

Wide receiver Dyrell Roberts will be limited after undergoing surgery for
compartment syndrome late last season. He will run routes, but Frank Beamer
seems him as being limited. Tailback Tony Gregory will also be limited after
tearing his ACL last November.

The good news is that Kwamaine Battle and Barquell Rivers are expected to be
fine for practices. Rivers missed all of last season with a quad injury, and
Kwamaine Battle tore his ACL against James Madison. The return of those two
players will be a big boost to depth at defensive tackle and linebacker.

Spring practice begins on Wednesday, March 30.