Pitt tight end Tyler Sear officially announced that he intends to transfer from the university on Tuesday, one week after he stepped away from the team for what the school call personal reasons.
Sear wrote on his personal Twitter account that he took a leave of absence to focus on his mental health and that he has decided to “pursue a fresh start and transfer.”
A 6-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore from Neshannock High School near New Castle, Sear had three catches for 19 yards in his first two seasons with the Panthers and had assumed the starting tight end role this spring.
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Sear was rated as a three-star recruit coming out of high school and picked Pitt over offers from Akron, Cincinnati, Kent State, LSU, Temple and Toledo.
He was replaced on Saturday against Notre Dame by converted offensive tackle Carson Van Lynn. Will Gragg, Grant Carrigan and Jim Medure also saw playing time while fullback George Aston and physical receiver Aaron Mathews assumed some of the roles of the tight end in Pitt’s offense.
During the game, Sear tweeted in support of Pitt and afterward said that he “didn’t leave the team” and “wasn’t even at practice on Tuesday.” Pittsburgh Sports Now had reported that Sear’s departure stemmed from an altercation during practice on Tuesday of that week.
If Sear transfers to another FBS school, he will have to sit out the 2019 season and then will have two more seasons of eligibility.
