Nevada football is losing a scholarship player from one of its deepest positions. Maurice Wilmer announced on Instagram that he is transferring to UConn after four seasons with the Wolf Pack.
“New chapter, same journey,” Wilmer posted.
Wilmer recently graduated from Nevada and will have two years of eligibility at UConn as he redshirted in 2019 and does not count towards eligibility in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. Wilmer played in 22 games for Nevada, including 21 of a possible 25 over the last two years. Started three games in 2022 and had a career-high 25 tackles, including two for a loss, with a fumble recovery. In all, he had 26 career stops at Nevada.
Wilmer was a three-star recruit out of high school who was recruited by San Jose State, UNLV, Columbia, Dartmouth and Cal Poly. He is the cousin of former Nevada star James-Michael Johnson, who played four years in the NFL.
Wilmer joins a UConn team that went 6-7 last season, its first under coach Jim Mora, making a bowl game for the first time since 2015. Wilmer would have been pushed for playing time at Nevada in the middle, receiving considering the team's two starters, Drue Watts and Naki Mateialona were returning in addition to Oregon transfer Jackson LaDuke.
Additionally, Wolf Pack quarterback Jake Barlage announced he will transfer to Northwood, a Division II school in Midland, Mich. Northwood moved to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference last season.
The Timberwolves sponsor 20 sports and went 3-8 overall and 2-6 in conference football last season. Barlage began his career at Riverside City College, completing 69 percent of his passes for 2,786 yards and 30 touchdowns with five interceptions as his team went 13-0 and won a California state championship in 2019.
He's been on Nevada's roster as a scholarship player the past three seasons, never rising above third on the depth chart, and made his Wolf Pack debut last year in a win over Texas State, rushing for 37 yards on one carry transport. He never attempted a pass for the Wolf Pack. Barlage will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at Northwood.
