Senior linebacker K’Vaughan Pope, dismissed from Ohio State on Sunday, entered the NCAA transfer portal Monday, ESPN reported.
He was booted from the program after an incident in the second quarter of Sunday’s 59-7 win over Akron. Pope tried to enter the game but was waved off by a teammate. Instead of simply returning to the sideline, Pope headed toward the Ohio State locker room before a member of the coaching staff intercepted him and brought him back.
Ohio State-focused website Lettermen Row reported that Pope removed his gloves, threw them into the stands and tried to remove his jersey while on the sideline as well. A few coaches spoke with Pope before someone led him to the locker room.
Before the game ended, Pope tweeted “f– Ohio State” but then deleted the tweet. He tweeted a separate message, saying, “good lucc to my teammates.”
“K’Vaughan will continue to have the use of programs that benefit our student-athletes, such as our Student-Athlete Support Services Office, and we will support him with his progress toward graduation,” head coach Ryan Day said in a news release. “He will remain on scholarship through the duration of this semester.”
Pope tweeted an apology on Sunday, saying he needed to “take this time to reflect and work on my mental well-being.”
Pope has 19 tackles and two interceptions in 34 games with Ohio State over parts of four seasons. He has three stops this season.