Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman made a rather stunning announcement on Monday. Freeman said that junior cornerback Jaden Mickey will redshirt, and also intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal this offseason.
“Marcus Freeman announces that Jaden Mickey will redshirt the rest of the season with plans to transfer out of Notre Dame after the season,” Fighting Irish writer Pete Sampson wrote on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.
“Mickey had been the third corner in the defensive rotation,” he added.
Marcus Freeman announces that Jaden Mickey will red shirt the rest of this season with plans to transfer out of Notre Dame after the season. Mickey had been the third corner in the defensive rotation.
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) September 23, 2024
Mickey later confirmed the news with a post of his own. He quoted Bible verse Mark 9:23 and wrote a caption out as well.
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
Mark 9:23 @ballerselite @NmickNilka
🦋💜✝️ pic.twitter.com/A7eXAB0Z9o— JadenMickey (@jadenmickey_) September 23, 2024
“Notre Dame Nation,” he addressed the message. “Coaches, teammates, staff members, and supporters: I can’t put into words how grateful I am for how you have loved me and my family. Every up and down was worth it and all that my younger self could have asked for.
“With a heavy heart, I will be redshirting this year with plans on transferring after I graduate in the spring,” he announced. “This isn’t risk, this is faith!” he declared.
Mickey will leave the Irish with 28 career games played in three seasons. He registered 23 total tackles, one interception last season that went back for a pick-six, and three passes defended.