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Minnesota DB, former 4-star recruit, announces he will enter transfer portal
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Minnesota is set to see its defensive backs core reduced by one as a sophomore safety announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal when it opened on Monday.
Steven Ortiz Jr. was a 4-star recruit out of the Phoenix area who signed with the Golden Gophers out of the class of 2021. However, on Tuesday, he tweeted that he was bound for the portal.
“I want to thank the University of Minnesota, Coach Fleck and the entire staff, and the people of Minneapolis for my experience as a Gopher. I am forever grateful,” he wrote. “With that being said I feel it is in my best interest as a player and a person to enter the transfer portal.”
Ortiz didn’t play as a freshman in 2021, appearing in just 1 game in 2022. He was considered the No. 27 cornerback in the country by 247Sports’ Composite Rankings of the class of 2021, as well as the No. 7 player in Arizona regardless of position.