Antonio Alfano announces he's entering the transfer portal

BOUDLER — Colorado defensive lineman Antonio Alfano announced Wednesday that he is entering the transfer portal.

Thank you #buff nation. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LIf2o0cMWE

— Antonio Alfano (@Antonioalfano99) March 10, 2021

Alfano joined the Buffaloes in November 2019 when he transferred from Alabama. The former-five-star recruit was nearing the end of his freshman season.

Since then, Alfano hasn’t been able to get on the field. He struggled with a seizure disorder that was later diagnosed as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. He said the seizures began in February 2020 and were so severe that he couldn’t drive a car and worried when he was left home alone.

Alfano also said that the epilepsy tests he needed for the diagnosis had been delayed due to COVID-19 and that the Colorado’s football program failed to reach out to him to help him reschedule those tests. Head coach Karl Dorrell later said that people from within the program had attempted to contact Alfano but that “a lot of communication has to be two ways.”

Alfano was also arrested in January for harassment and resisting arrest.

My Year. pic.twitter.com/tkQCObc5eb

— Antonio Alfano (@Antonioalfano99) December 14, 2020

Regardless, Alfano eventually found his answers following a meeting with athletic director Rick George, which occurred the day after Alfano sent the above tweet. He later hiked with associate athletic director for football administration Lance Carl, as seen below:

Chautauqua hike w/ ⁦@Antonioalfano99⁩ ! #boulderlife #CUlture pic.twitter.com/8wt3VvJGAC

— Lance S.Carl (@buffs4life2) January 30, 2021

Alfano was once the top-rated recruit in the country, according to 247Sports’ rankings. He lost that title late in the recruiting process, but his combination of size, strength and athleticism left evaluators drooling.

But Alfano never found his footing at Alabama leading Nick Saban to say that Alfano “basically quit” playing football,” according to 247Sports. Saban said that Alfano had stopped going to classes as well. By October, Alfano had entered the transfer portal and in November he committed to Colorado.

If he can find his way back onto the field, Alfano could still have plenty to offer a college football program.