Cincinnati punter Pat O'Donnell has decided to leave the program and transfer to Miami, dealing a big hit to the Bearcats' special teams for the upcoming season.
As a graduate student, he has immediate eligibility with the Hurricanes, who listed him No. 1 on their post-spring depth chart released Tuesday.
The reason for his decision remains unclear, though he is from the West Palm Beach area. O'Donnell reportedly took time away from the team this spring to deal with personal matters.
There is simply no doubting how valuable O'Donnell has been to Cincinnati throughout his career there, in which he spent three years as a starter. In 2011, he was a Big East first-team selection, averaging 43.8 yards per punt. Last season, he was a second-team selection, averaging 41.8 yards per punt. He also handled kickoff duties, and was one of the strongest players on the entire squad.
John Lloyd is presumably the next man up for the Bearcats. He has never punted in a game.
