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Two key members of the University of Northern Colorado football offense from last year are in the NCAA transfer portal to leave the Bears’ program ahead of the 2024 season.
Offensive lineman Austin Lawrence and wide receiver Jamarii Robinson announced their entry into the portal this month on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Former quarterback Shea Kuykendall, who started three games late last season, also announced his transfer last week.
The transfer portal is an NCAA database of athletes who’ve indicated an interest in leaving a program for another college or university. The NCAA launched the portal in 2018. Division I football has two transfer windows for athletes. The first was early December to early January. The current window, the spring window, opened April 16 and closes April 30.
UNC is wrapping up spring practice and will host its spring game Saturday at Nottingham Field. Game time is 2 p.m.
Robinson played in 11 games last season, and Lawrence played in 10 games in 2023, which ended with the Bears finishing 0-11 for the first time since 2011.
Lawrence, listed at 6-foot-5, 296 pounds, is a redshirt junior, according to the Bears’ 2024 roster. His X post said he has two years of eligibility remaining and maybe three years.
Lawrence is from Puyallup, Washington, south of Seattle, and came to UNC in 2021 under then-head coach Ed McCaffrey. Lawrence used 2021 as his redshirt season and appeared in one game in 2022, according to UNC.
Robinson, a 6-1 and 187-pound junior, will be a senior in the fall. Robinson said he has a redshirt year open to him if he opts to use it.
Redshirt is a move used by college athletes to delay their play in games for a specific season. During a redshirt year, an athlete may practice and train with the team and receive financial aid. The redshirt also allows the athlete an extra year of eligibility.
Robinson was one of the leading receivers for the Bears last season, with 42 catches for 490 yards. These statistics both ranked second on the team in those categories — behind Blake Haggerty, who entered the transfer portal in December.
Robinson also tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns with two, matching Haggerty and tight end Kyle Helbig.
Robinson said it’s time for him to make a move. Robinson said he’s looking for a bigger role in another program, and that he’s leaving UNC with “no bad energy.”
He came into the program last year through former offensive coordinator Blair Peterson and former wide receivers coach Michah Simon. Both coaches left UNC after the 2023 season.
Robinson, who is from Boston, played two seasons at Monroe College near New York City before joining the Bears.
“I love the coaches,” Robinson said, adding he’s talked with and consulted with head coach Ed Lamb while Robinson has been in the program.
He said it was a “very tough decision” to leave UNC and the move was not made over playing time.
“It’s not even playing time. I was going to play in the games,” he said. “This is my last year, and I want to make the best of it. I want to shine at the next level.”
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