Georgia receiver Nitro Tuggle commits to Purdue out of NCAA transfer portal

Georgia receiver Nitro Tuggle has committed to Purdue out of the NCAA transfer portal, he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Tuggle spent only a few days in the portal.

He entered the portal amid a backdrop of legal trouble. The talented wideout was arrested on misdemeanor charges for reckless driving and speeding in mid-March. His driving arrest was one in a string of related incidents for the Bulldogs over the last couple years.

Tuggle had previously entered the transfer portal in the winter window, only to later have a change of heart and return to the program. After the spring, he reconsidered and opted to head out for good.

A four-star prospect out of Indiana, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Nitro Tuggle enrolled at Georgia in the spring and played in seven games for the Bulldogs. He recorded three catches in total, with two for 25 yards in UGA’s win over Tennessee, finishing as the third-highest graded offensive player in the big Bulldogs victory.

Tuggle played a part last season in Georgia’s receiver rotation, especially toward the end. Rara Thomas’ preseason dismissal hurt the Dawgs’ depth at the big-bodied, X-receiver position. So too did Colbie Young’s ongoing legal issues.

Both pass catchers were expected to be counted on, and their absence forced Dillon Bell out of position. When Bell got banged up, it was the 6-foot-1 Nitro Tuggle that got turned to.

“Nitro’s responded well. He’s worked hard. He had a good practice today,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said after the Tennessee game. “I think he gained some confidence from that because he went against a really good defense and he did some nice things. But, I mean, he goes against a good defense every day in practice, and there’s times that he’s been frustrated. I mean, he would tell you openly that he wants to play. He wants to help. All freshmen want to play.”

Teammates also raved about Nitro Tuggle. His ability was never really in question.

“He’s a real good player. He really is a fun player to compete against. He probably has one of the best releases, so that also helps me because I know what to look for and try to stay patient,” Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette added about the freshman pass catcher. “Iron sharpening iron, he’s getting better, I’m getting better. It’s just fun to go against him. And I see him, he’s getting better, just like I said earlier. Everybody’s getting better.”

Tuggle was highly rated as a recruit. He checked in as a four-star prospect and the No. 127 overall recruit in the country in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ratings.

He also checked in as the No. 23 receiver in the class. He was the third-rated player in the state of Indiana, hailing from South Bend (IN) NorthWood.

On3’s Palmer Thombs also contributed to this report.