Fairly fresh off spring practice, UAB is looking for another safety after starter Jaylen Key entered the transfer portal. Jeremy Mack, a safety, is looking for a new home after getting caught up in the mass exodus in Deion Sanders' Colorado program.
Welcome to the transfer portal world of college athletics.
This is not a commitment story. Mack is still working toward that. The Clinton, Mississippi native and former player at East Mississippi Community College received an offer from UAB coaches on Monday. He said he's working on setting a visit date to UAB. The Blazers are heavily in the mix for the 6-foot, 190-pound Mack, one of Colorado's top defensive players last season.
"I grew up in Mississippi, so I know about UAB," said Mack, who played at EMCC with current UAB defensive lineman Drew Tuazama and former UAB reserve quarterback Damon Stewart. "I also have a few teammates that play college ball there. UAB was one of the first to hit me up."
Mack estimates that he's had more than 20 programs reach out to him since entering the portal last Sunday. He said he had one visit planned but declined to name the school. He also said he got calls from some other schools in Alabama but wasn't specific about those schools. The only updates he mentioned on social media were offers from UAB and UNLV.
Right now, he's finishing up classes at Colorado while preparing for his next move.
"I told (the UAB coaches), if I was to come to UAB, I wanted to be there when all the players come back for the summer program," Mack said.
Mack didn't choose this move on his own. He expected to return after finishing last season with 48 tackles, including 32 solo stops. His plan was to return for another year.
"With me, for the most part, my position coaches told me they wanted to keep me," Mack said. "Coach Prime wanted to go a different route."
Colorado had more than 30 players leave the program since the transfer portal reopened on April 15. More than 40 players left overall since Sanders took over the program. Mack said he doesn't carry any bitterness with him.
"Not really, because I know it was out of my control," Mack said. "During the spring, I was doing everything I was supposed to be doing. I left (with a) good reputation. Like I said, my coach wanted me to stay. It was out of my control, as long as I left with a good reputation. Now I got to find my next home. When I go to my next home, I'll do what I'm supposed to do."
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