Wisconsin safety Reggie Pearson (5-10/180), who didn’t play in 2020, has transferred to Texas Tech. According to Wisconsin State Journal’s Colten Bartholomew Pearson was not cleared medically despite the fact that he was cleared by two independent medical professionals:
“To everyone who does not know, I have been exempted from my sport by the University of Wisconsin due to medical issues,” Pearson wrote in a social media post. “However, I have been cleared by the second and third opinions of outside medical professionals.
“First I would like to thank my support staff, family and friends for being there for me through my ups and downs. Most importantly, I would like to thank God for giving me another opportunity to live and achieve my childhood dreams. To the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I thank all the fans, teammates, coaches and staff for a fine two years of my college experience.”
Not to gloss over those medical issues, but I’m hoping those are resolved. I know there’s an Athletic article that delves into that, but I don’t have a subscription. Without having read it, I’m guessing it is from Pearson’s point of view as Wisconsin doesn’t have the ability to discuss the situation without consent and that’s probably a difficult thing to resolve. Regardless, Pearson was cleared by two medical doctors outside of the university and I’m guessing that Texas Tech’s staff would have to do the same with the information given to them from Wisconsin.
Pearson talked with RedRaiderSports’ Ben Golan regarding his commitment:
“I would say they like my versatility of being a tackling safety as well as coverage. I’m excited to display more of my talents and abilities on the field. Also developing me as a man and as a better football player.
I feel like I fit perfectly. It was hard for me to display my coverage ability in the Big Ten, but now getting this chance I’ll get to show a lot of people, NFL scouts but just people in general that I can play in the slot as well. Just as a nickel or corner would.”
Without a doubt, Pearson is talented, earning 5 tackles in 2018 as a true freshman and then in 2019 as a sophomore where Pearson started all but one game he had 60 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 4 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles.
As a high schooler, Pearson was a hard-hitting safety, a 3-star player coming out of Michigan.
Pearson would be eligible immediately and have three years of eligibility remaining. Pearson joins Rayshad Williams, Marquis Waters, and Malik Dunlap as transfers into the program with Waters and Williams receiving very positive reviews coming out of the spring. The secondary is getting re-worked and that’s a good thing I think. If it were me, I’d still be scouring the portal for a high-end offensive lineman if one is available.