BOWLING GREEN — For the second straight day, Bowling Green State University’s football team lost one of its best players to the transfer portal.

Ta’ron Keith, one of the top pass-catching running backs in the country, entered the portal, according to multiple reports on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior will be entering as a graduate transfer.

Keith tallied 457 yards and three touchdowns on 44 receptions, as well as 390 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 66 carries, this season. Both yardage marks ranked second on the team.

Keith’s receiving yardage and receptions total both ranked third in the nation among running backs, according to Pro Football Focus. His 59 targets were first, and his receiving grade of 87.3 was seventh.

The Falcons’ standout tallied 103 rushing yards on nine carries and 130 receiving yards on eight receptions in a 49-19 win at Kent State on Nov. 8 in becoming the first player in BGSU history with at least 100 rushing and 100 receiving yards in the same game.

During the 2022 season, Keith had three game-winning touchdowns, including a 42-yard touchdown catch with nine seconds remaining to give BGSU a 42-35 win over rival Toledo. Keith also had a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against New Mexico State in last season’s Quick Lane Bowl.

In four years at BGSU, Keith finished with 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns on 104 receptions. He also had 693 rushing yards and five scores on 151 carries.

Keith joined first-team Mid-American Conference cornerback Jalen Huskey, cornerback Deshawn Jones, Jr., and quarterback Hayden Timosciek as BGSU players to enter the transfer portal since it opened on Monday.

First Published December 5, 2023, 8:54 p.m.