Mike Bernier Contemplating Transferring From Crimson Tide
TUSCALOOSA- Mike Bernier, the former product of Bob Jones High and current punter for the Alabama Crimson Tide has officially entered the NCAA Transfer Portal for a possible move to a different school for his final year of eligibility.
The redshirt senior, who is not currently under scholarship, is in the midst of competing for the starting position for the Crimson Tide along with sophomore Skyler Long and freshman Will Reichard, but is not currently under scholarship.
The former four-year NFL Punt, Pass & Kick champion, whose recent life happenings, including his mother, Sonja, passing away in 2018 of breast cancer, is well documented, became the Tide’s starter for the final eight games of last season and averaged 38 yards per kick. He took over the spot after then starter Long was ineffective in his punting duties.
Bernier is expected to make a decision at the conclusion of spring practice, which the Crimson Tide is currently in, with the annual Crimson-White Game on Saturday, April 13 with a 1:00 p.m. start time at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Bernier became a starting punter while he was in the sixth grade and continued through Bob Jones High. In 2015, he signed an athletic scholarship with Eastern Illinois and averaged 37.7 yards per punt as a freshman. He chose to transfer to Alabama and qualified for an NCAA Hardship Waiver due to his mother’s failing health. Due to regulations, Bernier sat out a season, but regained that one year of eligibility becoming a redshirt qualifier.
Bernier joins fellow teammate and James Clemens graduate Kyriq McDonald who left the Alabama program in late February, entered the NCAA Transfer Portal and, according to recent reports, will transfer to the Cincinnati Bearcats program. McDonald played in the Tide’s secondary and on special teams.
Cincinnati plays in the America Athletic Conference and was 11-2 last season including a 35-31 victory over Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl. The 2019 schedule for the Bearcats includes games versus UCLA, Ohio State, Central Florida (UCF) and Houston. The Bearcats return 80-percent of its roster including 10 of its top 15 tacklers of a season ago.
The 5-foot-11, 197-pound McDonald completed his redshirt freshman season at Alabama where he played in 11 games. He signed with the Crimson Tide in Dec. 2016.
