Kentucky football QB Nik Scalzo, star of Netflix show QB1, enters transfer portal again
LEXINGTON - Kentucky football third-string quarterback Nik Scalzo is considering a transfer again.
Scalzo, one of three quarterbacks featured on season three of the Netflix show “QB1: Beyond the Lights,” has placed his name in the transfer portal for the second consecutive offseason. Scalzo also entered the transfer portal last January before deciding to return to Kentucky.
The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native has battled injuries for much of his UK career but did finally make his college debut late in the Wildcats' November blowout of New Mexico State.
Scalzo’s season of QB1 ends with him missing the final games of his high school career at Cardinal Gibbons in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida after tearing his ACL. The day after season three of QB1 debuted in August 2019, Scalzo tore the same knee ligaments for a second time during his first preseason camp at Kentucky. He spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons working his way back to full health.
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Before the season, Scalzo credited the reality show with helping him work through his rehab.
“I really wasn’t on a pedestal before that,” Scalzo said at Kentucky’s media day before the start of his third preseason camp. “I was really eye opening to see how many people have gone through the things I’ve gone through. Especially with two tears of the knee, I didn’t realize that was an every-day thing.
“After the show, I would be getting (messages) from people about, ‘I see what you’ve gone through. I’ve gone through the same things.’ It’s awesome comparing them. Honestly, a lot of those DMs are the only reason why I’m here today. When I had those bad days, I would look at those and it kept me going. I’m very thankful for the show, very thankful.”
Scalzo did not attempt a pass in his one series at quarterback against New Mexico State.
Thanks to the extra year of eligibility granted all players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Scalzo has three years of eligibility remaining.
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With the regular season finished, multiple Kentucky players are expected to enter the transfer portal this week in search of more playing time else where. UK sophomore offensive tackle Jake Pope, who has not appeared in a game in three years as a Wildcat, also entered the portal Monday morning.
Email Jon Hale at jahale@courier-journal.com; follow him on Twitter at @JonHale_CJ.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Nik Scalzo: Kentucky QB, QB1 star enters transfer portal
