Pitt safety Bricen Garner has entered the NCAA transfer portal and intends to transfer from Pitt, he confirmed to Pittsburgh Sports Now.
Garner, a redshirt junior from Central Catholic and a Pittsburgh native, will have one season of eligibility remaining after his transfer. News of him being in the transfer portal was first reported by 247 Sports.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety played mostly as a reserve and on special teams over the last three seasons.
He played most extensively in 2017, when he had 30 total tackles and two passes defended, but had been passed for playing time at safety by Paris Ford and Erick Hallett in 2019, when he made just five total tackles.
With Garner’s departure, Pitt will have five safeties under scholarship this spring. Returning starters Ford and Damar Hamlin will be joined by Hallett, Brandon Hill and early enrollee freshman Buddy Mack.
Former Penn State safety John Petrishen, who played extensively on special teams as a walk-on after transferring in 2019, could also be in line for playing time in 2020.
Pitt now stands at 84 scholarships with one vacancy as national letter of intent signing day approaches on Feb. 5.
Garner is the fifth player to leave Pitt with eligibility remaining since the start of the 2019 season, joining linebacker Elias Reynolds, wide receiver Cameron O’Neil and defensive back Therran Coleman in the transfer portal. Additionally, offensive lineman Brandon Ford is graduating and will not use his final season of eligibility.
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