This week’s opening of the NCAA transfer portal hit the Morgan State football team hard with three players, including redshirt freshman quarterback Raymond Moore III, announcing their intention to leave.
Moore, who was named MEAC Rookie of the Year last week, said he will transfer following a season in which he threw for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns as well as running for 414 yards—ninth best in the conference.
Moore, who is nominated for the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the top freshman in Division I FCS football, said he wanted to improve his odds to play professionally.
“I just want to put myself in the best position to where I can make it to the next level,” said Moore. “Playing at a bigger school, against bigger opponents, on a bigger stage [and] platform will help me grow and develop as an athlete.”
Besides Moore, defensive lineman Blanche Gold and running back Jason Collins Jr. also announced their intent to transfer.
Gold, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound redshirt junior, was named to the MEAC All-Conference first team, was third in the MEAC in tackles for loss (12.5) and fifth in the conference in sacks (7.5).
“This wasn’t an easy decision, but I’m excited for the next chapter and grateful for every experience that led me here,” said Gold in his statement posted to Instagram.
Meanwhile, Collins, a 5-foot-9 redshirt sophomore, missed five games and ran for 430 yards one year after he was named MEAC Rookie of the Year.
“With two years of eligibility remaining… I am excited to explore new opportunities and take the next step in my football journey,” said Collins Jr. in his Instagram statement.
Head coach Damon Wilson was unavailable for comment, according to an athletic department spokesperson.
Moore, who played at nearby Mergenthaler Vocational High, became a starter when Kobe Muasau was ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured bone in his throwing hand.
Moore, who is 6-foot-4-inches tall, was named MEAC Rookie of the Week six times. In his breakout performance against South Carolina State, Moore threw for 229 yards and three fourth quarter touchdowns as the Bears’ late comeback attempt fell short.
The Bears slipped to 4-8 this season, with just one conference win, a 35-28 victory over last place finisher Norfolk State. This marked the 11th season since Morgan State last won a MEAC title.
In Wilson’s four years as coach, Morgan has finished no higher than third place in the MEAC, though the Bears did finish 6-6 last year, the best record since 2014.
Earlier this year, the university opted in to the House vs. NCAA settlement, which allows schools to provide direct compensation to current and former athletes.
Morgan’s athletics budget mainly depends on ticket sales, contributions, student fees and school funds, with most of the funding coming from student fees.
Data reported by USA Today showed that in 2022, Morgan’s total revenue for sports was around $11 million, with $8 million being generated from student fees.
That figure lags far behind other state schools, such as Towson, which reported $28 million in total revenue in 2022, while Maryland reported $107 million for the same year, also according to USA Today.
Moore cited the discrepancy in budgets and revenues between Morgan and other schools as a factor in his decision to leave.
“It [funding gap] definitely puts the smaller schools at a disadvantage… because smaller schools don’t have that type of money,” said Moore. “Some [players] want a chance to touch that type of money to move their family out [of] their situation right now, instead of having to wait the long run.”
