Sophomore linebacker Darius Willis, as well as freshmen defensive linemen Matt Hornbuckle and Albert Sparks, have quit the football team, thus bringing the total number of nine players to leave the program since new head coach Jeff Quinn's arrival.
Although the players reportedly each left for personal reasons, the news of their departure came soon after the team's summer depth chart was released. On the chart, Willis was listed third at weakside linebacker behind senior Justin Winters and junior Fred Branch. Hornbuckle and Sparks did not appear on the chart at all.
"We are very disappointed when players quit, we all are," Quinn told The Buffalo News. "It's not what I want in our program. Here's the other thing – We will not leave this program up to the weak, timid and non-committed."
Willis was the highest-rated recruit to ever sign with the Bulls. It is not known where he or any of the other players will continue their football careers, if at all.
"I want student-athletes, players, parents and coaches to understand when you make a commitment, it's not for five days, five weeks or five months, it's for five years," Quinn said. "We have two expectations in our program—one to graduate with a degree and two win a MAC championship – and if they are not committed to doing that at Buffalo, then there's nothing else I can do."
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Photo: Courtesy of UB Athletics
