Highly-Sought After Transfer Portal DB Picks UNI

As of Monday morning, the UNI Panther football squad has added another talented player to its roster via the transfer portal. Former Central Connecticut State defensive back Jonathan Cabral-Martin announced his commitment to Northern Iowa via Twitter and Instagram.

Listed as a safety on the Blue Devils' Athletics website, the Lynbrook, New York native posted 114 tackles, eight TFLs, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and 12 pass breakups in his two years of play. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

With the graduation of three starting defensive backs from the 2022 defense in Benny Sapp III, Korby Sander, and Jevon Brekke, Cabral-Martin's commitment comes at a perfect time. The 5'9, 197-pounder will be expected to fill one of the defensive back positions that will be open in 2023.

That, and he'll bring some much-needed experience to the table that few in the DB room will have next season. Of the five starting defensive backs from last year, only second-team all-conference cornerback Woo Governor returns after Stefan Black II entered the portal two weeks ago.

You can watch some of Cabral-Martin's highlights from his time at CCSU here:

Out of the portal, the safety received offers from Southern Illinois, Missouri State, Murray State, Eastern Kentucky, Elon, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Wofford, North Carolina A&T, Bryant, Norfolk State, Sacred Hart, and Rhode Island.

Of all the options presented to him, Northern Iowa came out on top for a couple of reasons according to the newest Panther.

"It ultimately came down to the football town feel I got from UNI," Cabral-Martin said. "Everyone there was invested in the team. The campus runs on football. The facilities were also beautiful."

UNI's campus boasts the Dome, which will soon be getting renovations as part of the Our Tomorrow campaign, and the athlete weight room is among the best in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

The former CCSU defensive back is joined by wide receivers D.J. Hart and Mason Pierre-Antoine as players that have committed to UNI out of the transfer portal.