South Alabama safety Rickey Hyatt will enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced Monday via social media.

Hyatt went through Senior Day ceremonies prior to the Jaguars’ final regular-season game vs. Texas State on Nov. 29, so the implication was that he would not return to the team in 2025. He has one season of college eligibility remaining, however.

The 6-foot, 199-pound Hyatt started three games at Husky (nickel) safety for the Jaguars in 2024, totaling 27 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He split time with Jordan Scruggs, who started the other nine games and who has also entered the transfer portal.

Hyatt transferred to South Alabama in 2022 after two years at Kentucky, taking a COVID redshirt in 2020 and a traditional redshirt in 2021. In 34 games over three seasons with the Jaguars, he totaled 45 tackles.

Hyatt is the fifth South Alabama player from the 2024 team to enter the transfer portal, which officially opened for 20 days beginning Monday. In addition to Scruggs, running back Fluff Bothwell, kicker Laith Marjan and reserve defensive back Brian Dillard have also announced plans to explore a transfer.

South Alabama (6-6) faces Western Michigan (6-6) in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl on Saturday night in Montgomery. It is not yet clear if any of the players in the transfer portal will participate in the game, though head coach Major Applewhite left that possibility open, provided players attended all practices and team meetings this week.