Welcome to the UAlbany Football Roster Turnover
The UAlbany football program is gearing up for a season of change following their historic 2023 season. The Great Danes had an impressive 11-4 record, secured a share of the CAA regular-season title, and made it to the semifinals of the NCAA FCS playoffs for the first time in school history.
As we look ahead to the 2024 season, The Daily Gazette will be keeping a close eye on the players who are transferring in and out of the UAlbany program.
It’s important to note that the NCAA’s first transfer portal window started on Dec. 4 and runs through Jan. 2, with the second window running from April 16-30.
WHO’S OUT
Dec. 20: Reese Poffenbarger, quarterback — UAlbany’s all-time career leader in touchdown passes with 60. A third-team All-American who led FCS with 36 touchdown passes this season and threw for a school-record 3,603 yards. (Committed to Miami on Jan. 8)
Dec. 19: Tyler Pastula, punter — Handled punting duties the last two years for the Great Danes after transferring from Delaware. Averaged 42.7 yards on 61 punts in 2023, including 16 punts downed inside the 20. (Committed to San Diego State on Dec. 30)
Dec. 18: Anton Juncaj, defensive end — A first-team FCS All-American, Juncaj led all FCS players and set a UAlbany single-season record with 15 sacks this season. He finished with 21.5 tackles for loss. (Committed to Arkansas on Jan. 5)
Dec. 18: Elijah Hills, defensive tackle — A standout on the interior, the New Jersey native recorded 31 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He recovered a team-high three fumbles, including a crucial recovery in UAlbany’s FCS quarterfinal win at Idaho. (Committed to Wisconsin on Jan. 9)
Dec. 11: Sammy Knipe, linebacker — A sophomore from State College, Pennsylvania, Knipe did not appear for the Great Danes in 2023. He appeared in eight games in 2022 and recorded five tackles.
Dec. 5: Aedan McDermott, quarterback — Stuck behind star signal-caller Reese Poffenbarger during his two years on campus, the Guilford, Connecticut native never took a snap for the Great Danes.
WHO’S IN
Jan. 9: Aaron Steinfeldt, tight end, Indiana — 6-foot-5 tight end appeared in 18 games for the Hoosiers over the past two seasons, catching seven passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Jan. 8: Myles Burkett, quarterback, Wisconsin — Completed 4 of 5 passes while appearing in two games of the Badgers in 2022. Didn’t see action in 2023. Wisconsin’s high school player of the year as a senior in 2021.
Jan. 8: Ibrahim Sanogo, linebacker/defensive end, California University of Pennsylvania — 6-foot-2, 235-pounder had 40 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks at the Division II level in 2023.
Jan. 8: Marcus Winfield, defensive end, Kent State — 6-foot-3, 250-pound pass rusher had four sacks over the last two seasons for the Golden Flashes.
Jan. 8: Dasean Dixon, defensive tackle, East Stroudsburg — A 270-pound interior lineman, Dixon excelled at the Division II level for the Warriros with 59 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2023.
Jan. 5: Alex Jreige, running back, Old Dominion — 5-foot-9, 195-pound Virginia native didn’t play in his two seasons with the Monarchs.
Disagree. It’s essential to closely monitor player movements in the transfer portal for UAlbany Football’s success and roster management.
Agree