After signing with Washington almost one year ago to the date, Germie Bernard is a Dawg once again, and now for good.
Bernard, a former four-star recruit out of Liberty High School who entered the transfer portal on Monday after one season at Michigan State, announced Saturday he will transfer to UW.
The 6-foot, 200-pound freshman played in all but one game for the Spartans this season and finished with seven receptions for 128 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions.
Bernard was only targeted 13 times, the seventh fewest of any MSU player. He is expected to be a key feature in Ryan Grubb’s offense for at least the next two seasons.
When Bernard signed with UW during the early signing period he did so with the belief that Junior Adams would be his position coach.
Three weeks after Bernard signed Adams accepted a position at Oregon as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, leaving him with a decision to make.
Kalen DeBoer granted his release two days after Adams’ hire was made official, but did so in a way that left the bridge intact if Bernard so chose.
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Before UW hosted MSU in mid-September DeBoer was asked about Bernard’s decision.
“He’s a great kid and it was a crazy time that he was going through,” DeBoer said.
“He was an early enrollee and I’m going to wish him nothing but the best. Except for this week, right (laughs). He’s a great kid, he’s a great football player and I really enjoyed getting to know him and he’s already made some plays for them.
“There was a lot going on, coaching staff changes, not just with myself but with position coach changes. He was trying to figure out where to go and it was a short amount of time and it was all happening really fast.”
Bernard started against UW but only had one target despite playing 53 snaps, the most he had in a single game this season.
What it means
While no public decision has been made by Jalen McMillan or Rome Odunze as to whether or not either will declare for the 2023 NFL Draft or return for a fourth year it’s expected that one of the two will turn pro, if not both.
UW doesn’t have a scholarship senior, with the exception of Giles Jackson – although he is classified as a junior due to the Covid season.
The Huskies also hold a verbal commitment from three receivers in the 2023 recruiting class, including Taeshaun Lyons, a four-star out of Hayward (Calif.) Tennyson, who announced his pledge on Friday.
Fellow four-star Rashid Williams out of Pittsburg High School (Pittsburg, Calif.) and three-star Keith Reynolds (Adelanto, Calif.) round out the position group for the cycle.
Bernard has three seasons of eligibility left in addition to a redshirt year.
