Nitro Tuggle indicates change of heart after plans to enter portal: 'I'm not going nowhere'
ATHENS, Ga. — Just a day after Georgia receiver Nitro Tuggle announced plans to enter the transfer portal, it appears he has changed his mind. The freshman from Indiana shared on social media a post insinuating his decision not to leave the Bulldogs after all.
A four-star prospect out Northwood High School in the South Bend area, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound 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 Bulldog victory.
Tuggle has played a part this season in Georgia’s receiver rotation, especially as of late. Rara Thomas’ preseason dismissal hurt the Dawgs’ depth at the big-bodied, X-receiver position. So too has 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 Tuggle the Bulldogs turned to.
“Nitro’s responded well. He’s worked hard. He had a good practice today,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said when asked about Tuggle and how he handled a taste of game action versus the Volunteers. “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.
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“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 isn’t the first Georgia player to announce plans to enter the transfer portal and end up changing their mind. Just last offseason Julian Humphrey, Daniel Harris and Christen Miller all did so. Humphrey did however enter the transfer portal this year, doing so before the SEC Championship and joined in entering by Michael Jackson III less than a week later.
Georgia takes on either Notre Dame or Indiana in the Allstate Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals January 1st in New Orleans. Tuggle’s return to the team would give the Bulldogs eight scholarship receivers available (Arian Smith, Dominic Lovett, Dillon Bell, London Humphreys, Anthony Evans, Cole Speer, Sacovie White and Tuggle).
