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Illinois adds Cal LB Hardy Nickerson as grad transfer
Hardy Nickerson is headed to the Big Ten.
Nickerson, Cal’s leading tackler in 2015, announced Thursday that he will transfer to Illinois after he graduates in the summer. At Illinois, he will join his father, Hardy Nickerson Sr., who was hired as the Illini’s defensive coordinator by new head coach Lovie Smith.
As a graduate transfer, the younger Nickerson, a linebacker, will be able to suit up immediately for the Illini in 2016.
"After much thought, prayer and numerous discussions with my parents, I have decided to graduate from Cal and pursue a post-graduate degree at the University of Illinois in the fall," Nickerson said on Twitter. "A most unique opportunity presented itself when my father joined the Illinois football staff as their new defensive coordinator just last month. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to play my final year of college football for my father and head coach Lovie Smith and it is an opportunity that I simply cannot pass up."
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Nickerson played in 35 games, including 27 starts, for Cal over the past three seasons. He totaled 246 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception during that span, including a team-leading 112 tackles in 2015. Nickerson redshirted in 2012 after playing his final two seasons of high school football at Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland, where Hardy Sr., a Cal Athletics Hall of Fame member and 16-year NFL veteran, was head coach.
“This is a unique situation where Hardy has an opportunity to play his final season of college football for his father,” Cal head coach Sonny Dykes said. “The Nickerson family is extremely tight-knit and this is something that is only happening because of their tremendous family relationship. We hate to lose Hardy for next season but wish him, his father and their entire family the best. Hardy has been a tremendous representative of our university, our football program and the Cal community both on and off the field for the past four years.”
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Added Nickerson Jr.: “I would like to thank coach Dykes and the entire coaching staff, trainers, administrative and operations staff, academic support, coach Tedford, who recruited me, Cal Athletics, and all of the alumni and fans who have given me the utmost support and inspiration. But most importantly, I want to thank my teammates, who are my family and who I will miss tremendously. My teammates are an extension of myself. We’ve been through an awful lot together and I will never forget all of the experiences that we have shared. It has been an honor to be a part of the Cal football family and I wish the team much success in the future. Go Bears!”
For Illinois, the addition of Nickerson Jr. fills the hole left when T.J. Neal decided to pursue a graduate transfer of his own. Neal, who compiled 109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and two sacks for the Illini last season, landed at Auburn.
"It's a unique and exciting situation for the Nickerson family," said Smith. "Hardy is a tremendous leader and his outstanding work ethic will help the young players on our team. I'm very happy that he will get the chance to play for Coach Nickerson in his final season as a college player.”
For more Illinois news, visit OrangeandBlueNews.com.
For more Cal news, visit GoldenBearReport.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
