Mercyhurst corner back Rafiyq Cromwell has been granted his release papers and will be transferring from Mercyhurst in the spring, as confirmed by Mercyhurst assistant athletic directior Lauren Parker-Webster.
“I have spoken with Rafiyq and he’s requested permission to speak with other institutions and we have granted that,” said Webster.
Cromwell, a Pittsburgh native, plans to transfer to Slippery Rock in the spring.
He transferred to Mercyhurst from junior college to be closer to his family, and now will make the move to Slippery Rock for mostly that reason.
“The biggest influences on transferring is family and football. It was a tough decision to make but it was one that had to be made,” Cromwell said. “My decisions to transfer out of Mercyhurst University was a product of some family situations going on back home. This called for me to be closer to home.”
One other personal reason that Cromwell chose to make the move was to further pursue his goal of making it to the NFL.
“Transferring to Slippery Rock will give me a better shot I believe in reaching the NFL because of the attention that they get and the past history of people that they have put into the NFL,” said Cromwell. “Every school is a opportunity to achieve your dreams, I just believe in their program and what they have to offer.”
Slippery Rock won the PSAC West title this season and lost to Bloomsburg in the PSAC championship game. They also received a No. 5 seed in the NCAA DII football playoffs that begin this weekend.
At Slippery Rock, Cromwell hopes to be a part of a secondary that produced 15 interceptions this past season.
Cromwell said he’ll be playing corner back with the possibility of moving to safety for The Rock.
The move will not cost him any seasons in eligibility and will be able to participate in spring workouts.
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