Washington Safety Vince Nunley Enters Transfer Portal

The defensive back becomes the first Husky to leave in search of a new team.

The Washington Huskies are going to be very active in the transfer portal over the month of December, but that means players will be leaving the program in search of a new home, as well. On Tuesday, coach Kalen DeBoer's team had its first player enter the portal in sophomore safety Vince Nunley.

Nunley's decision to enter the portal is not surprising after his struggles to stay on the field this season for what DeBoer simply described as "personal reasons." 

After playing well to open the season, while earning his first career start against Michigan State and playing the best game of his Husky career against the Arizona Wildcats, Nunley missed six of the team's last eight games. 

He sat out three following Washington's trip to Arizona, returned for Husky matchups against USC and Utah, but didn't play again after his team's 35-27 victory over the Utes. He was one of four players who started at free safety.

The former 3-star recruit from Freedom High School in Oakland, California, will have three years of eligibility remaining at whichever school he chooses. 

Nunley suffered a season-ending injury on special teams during Washington's first game in 2022 against Kent State and didn't play again, which would make him eligible for a medical redshirt.

This frees up a scholarship spot at a position in which DeBoer's staff probably will need to address manpower needs through the transfer portal. Washington will lose senior safety Dominique Hampton after the season and could also see the departure of senior Asa Turner, who has eligibility remaining, leave the team thin in the back row of the secondary.

While true freshmen Vincent Holmes and Diesel Gordon appear to show some promise, and 2024 commits Peyton Waters and Joshua Lair are players with high upside, the group has very little experience overall.

Adding a safety through the portal would provide  experience to the position group and a veteran player who could help mentor some of the younger players, much like Oklahoma State transfer Jabbar Muhammad has done with the cornerbacks this season.

Nunley's departure also could mean Washington's coaching staff will make a stronger push for 4-star safety Paul Mencke Jr. from Samuel Clemons High School in Cibolo, Texas. 

Mencke, currently committed to Duke, took an unofficial visit to Washington for the Apple Cup and is a candidate to take an official visit before the early signing period opens on Dec. 20.

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