SI

Engaged Georgia Football, Volleyball Players Announce Transfer to Mississippi State

A 2023 college sports love story to make Nicholas Sparks blush.

Patrick Andres

In this story:

It's the stuff great love stories are made of: two college athletes meet, fall in love, get engaged, and — in a thoroughly 2023 twist of fate — enter the transfer portal together.

This is not the plot of a Nicholas Sparks novel, but something that happened in real life on Monday evening. Georgia tight end Ryland Goede and setter Alexa Fortin announced their joint transfer to Mississippi State, with Fortin displaying an engagement ring as the happy couple donned maroon Bulldogs jerseys.

"2 for 1," Goede wrote. "The future Goedes are staying dogs."

Goede, a four-year player for the Bulldogs, appeared in nine games for coach Kirby Smart's team as Georgia won its second straight national championship in 2022. Fortin, also a four-year player, registered six double-doubles for a team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

There is no word on whether Mississippi State's NIL package included a contribution to the couple's registry.

Published
Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

Home/College