Darren Anders, Bowling Green Football News: Draft Scout Player News

02/03/23 - OLB Darren Anders, rSr/2024, Bowling Green

When Bowling Green State University's football team opened spring practice this week, a familiar face flew around the middle of the Falcons' defense. For a short stretch earlier this month, that wasn't going to be the case. But a change of heart brought back BGSU's best tackler over the past three seasons. Darren Anders, a 6-foot, 230-pound inside linebacker, withdrew his name from the transfer portal a week after entering it around Jan. 1. The Falcons' standout is excited to be finishing his career at BGSU, where he is hoping to lead his team to a Mid-American Conference title. "I got my degree, I graduated, so I was just thinking that possibly see what other options are out there," Anders said. "I think I was in the portal for six days or something, and I really just came to the decision that I didn't want to leave BG. This is the place that I want to spend my last year at, and I want to win a championship. "I don't think anything would be more sweet than winning the championship and turning this program around."

Anders' decision to return is rare in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but something the Falcons have certainly embraced. Head coach Scot Loeffler simply said "I'm jacked that Darren's back" in a recent interview with The Blade. According to the NCAA, only five percent of FBS student athletes withdrew or removed their name from the transfer portal in 2020 and 2021. Fifty-four percent reported to have enrolled at a new NCAA member school, while 41 percent were still active, may have transferred to a non-NCAA school, or may have left their sport. "To have him back on that defense, it means a lot," BGSU senior wide receiver Odieu Hiliare said. "The transfer portal, a lot of players leaving and we're bringing in new people. With him being a leader and knowing the system, he'll be able to bring guys up and tell guys what to do, so that's great having Darren back." - Toledo Blade

rSr/2024