All we can say is thank you for your time as a Wildcat. Good luck going forward. Personally, I would stay. Granted, I'm sure someone is passing sweet nothings into their (especially Kelly's) ears about NIL deals, etc. To me, taking this chance should all depend on the athlete's ultimate goal.
Looking at the guys who transferred last year, only Heckard improved his professional chances. Also, if he was wise, he earned some good NIL money and finished a chunk of a graduate degree (shocking: he is the big winner). I would argue that all the other guys would have had "bigger" more productive years at Weber.
*Eichorn saw limited mins at the Y and the OL coach just got canned. He might not have a spot next year, for sure a new coach who will want his guys.
*Garrett played a lot of mins for the Y, but went backwards. If he wants a shot at the pros, going to the Y hurt it. Yes, he played against better competition, but he had the chance to be All-Conference and an All-American at Weber. He got a uniform in a picture frame and a lei.
*Barron played in a couple of games. Got shellacked at Ohio State and never saw the field again. I think it is fair to say, his career is over (Western Kentucky).
*McMillian played in a couple of games, mostly returning kickoffs. Yes, Bankston would have been the #1, but he would have been the #2 and would have been the guy (to me this is the saddest loss). With McMillian Weber wins two games. He did nothing at Eastern Michigan.
*Sellesin is a walkon at the Y and wasted a year of eligibility. He would have been a contributor on the DL at Weber and will only get garbage mins.
So...like I said, it is all about goals. If the aforementioned guys wanted to go to the "league" only one has a chance. If it was to earn a "better" degree, transferring doesn't help; especially to a private religious school or out-of-state. If it was about playing time? Ha! All failed. Finally, if it was too make money or get NIL rewards, once again, only one really saw life-changing profits as a college student. Not enough to survive on after college. NIL ENDS.
I will admit that Jack Kelly has great closing speed and sees the field well. If I were him, I would stick around for another year and build off of what I accomplished as a sophomore. Two years would get him more opportunities than one. Kelly reminds me a lot of another Wildcat LB who left after a stellar freshman season. very similar body types and playing style. He went to the U and was never heard from again. Sure Kelly might get something from NIL from a bigger school ($1500 a month, a lease on a car [who pays insurance], and hubris of telling everyone I played FBS football), but everything else is a huge if. I wish him the best, but if I were him, I'd stay around another year. At Weber, he knows he is the starter, he knows the competition, can be part of a team that has a chance of pursuing a national title and has a chance of being an All-American next year, if not the DPOY for the Sky. Jack, give it another year at Weber. Finish a degree, pad your stats and then make your move. Too early bud.