Hardy Nickerson Jr. Transferring to Illinois: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

Just over a month after his father, Hardy Nickerson, was named Lovie Smith’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Illinois, Hardy Nickerson Jr. announced that he will transfer to the Big Ten school after graduating from the University of California this spring.

The 6'0", 225-pound linebacker explained the reasons that fueled his decision on Thursday in a message on Twitter:  

The former 3-star recruit was a steady presence at the second level for the Golden Bears throughout his three seasons in Berkeley, and his production peaked during the team’s 8-5 2015 campaign.

After posting 64 total tackles as a freshman and 69 as a sophomore, Nickerson Jr. led Cal with 111 total tackles—39 more than the team’s next-closest defender. All told, Nickerson Jr. finished the 2015 season ranked third among Pac-12 players in total tackles.

Now that he’ll be playing for his father, who was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro at linebacker over the course of 16 NFL seasons, Nickerson Jr. has a chance to build on that success with the Illini as he closes out his college career.

"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, per an official statement. "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."

The newest member of an Illinois team that’s looking to secure its first winning season since 2011, Nickerson Jr. will be tasked with playing the role of veteran leader as he and his father help play a part in stabilizing one of the Big Ten’s shakier programs.

Star ranking courtesy of 247Sports.