Jalen Ortiz announced a little less than a month ago that he would be leaving UCLA and seeking a transfer elsewhere. With the start of summer camps a little over a month away, the erstwhile Bruins defensive back has found himself a new FBS home.
On Twitter Wednesday, Ortiz announced that he will continue his collegiate playing career for Wyoming. As Ortiz will be transferring from one FBS institution to another, he will be forced to sit out the 2015 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. Beginning in 2016, though, he will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
It should be noted, for what it’s worth, that the Cowboys have yet to announce Ortiz’s addition to the roster.
Happy to announce that I'm headed to the University of Wyoming! Couldn't be more excited for this new opportunity! pic.twitter.com/SMyJ0GT7lW
— Jalen Ortiz (@CoachJ_Ortiz) June 24, 2015
Following up on his Twitter announcement, Ortiz explained to the Casper Star-Tribune the process leading up to his decision.
“When I announced that I was transferring, they had initial interest in me,” he said. “I did some research and we did some talking. The interest grew from there, the feeling and the relationship. ...
“I was able to talk to some of the players and get their honest opinion about the program and the new coaching staff. Everything lined up perfectly.”
A three-star member of UCLA’s 2013 recruiting class, Ortiz was rated as the No. 27 “athlete” in the country and the No. 8 player at any position in the state of Arizona.
Ortiz spent his first season with the Bruins as a wide receiver, but moved to the defensive secondary for the 2014 season. He played in 26 games the past two seasons — mainly on special teams — and caught four passes for 27 yards as a true freshman.
