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Illinois linebacker, who started 10 games last season, reportedly enters transfer portal

Keith Farner

By Keith Farner

Published:

Illinois linebacker Calvin Hart Jr. reportedly entered the transfer portal on Wednesday after he started 10 games last season and had 22 tackles.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker is the second Illini to enter the transfer portal this month after backup outside linebacker Shammond Cooper, Jeremy Werner reported. Hart will be immediately eligible at his new program after he transferred from NC State following the 2020 season.

He made an immediately splash and won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in his Illini debut in the 2021 season opener against Nebraska, with 6 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown. But he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the win.

Hart last season started 10 of 12 games and tattled 22 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.

Injuries appeared to hamper his contributions, as Hart also suffered another minor knee injury and missed the open spring practice last week.

Keith Farner

Keith Farner has written about college football for newspapers and web sites since 2005.