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Darren Carrington, the father of former University of Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington II, confirmed in an email to The Salt Lake Tribune that Carrington II visited the University of Utah campus this week as he explores transfer options for his final season of collegiate playing eligibility.
The Oregonian first reported earlier this week that Carrington II had been on the Utah campus.
The elder Carrington, who played eight seasons in the NFL, confirmed Saturday night that the family was in the process of weighing options and that his son had received interest from Pac-12 schools as well as other schools. He also wrote that his son's decision will be happening "very soon" with the start of camps around the corner.
Utes fans will recall Carrington II, a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2015, hauled in the game-winning 17-yard touchdown pass for Oregon at Rice-Eccles Stadium in November with two seconds left. The catch gave Oregon a 30-28 win and, along with a Colorado win later that day, put the Utes out of contention for the Pac-12 South Division title.
Oregon dismissed Carrington II, who accumulated 1,919 receiving yards and 112 receptions in his career, from the program earlier this month following an arrest on misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants. The Oregonian reported that Carrington II pled not guilty earlier this week.
His family released a statement to the Oregonian earlier this week saying, in part, that Carrington II was disappointed in being dismissed from the Oregon program and he has "taken full responsibility for his actions."
Having already earned his degree, Carrington II is eligible to play immediately as a graduate transfer.
Carrington II led Oregon in receiving yards (606) and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (five) in 2016. He also starred in the program's annual Spring Game with a team-high 116 receiving yards on four receptions (three touchdowns).
Carrington II missed the 2015 College Football Playoff national championship game due to a suspension, reportedly for failing an NCAA drug test. He also got cited for an open container violation in September 2015. This past fall, the Oregonian reported that he'd been accused of breaking the arm of a Oregon alumni but was never charged by Eugene police.
This week, the Utes added JUCO transfer Josh Nurse to a receiving unit that lost three of its top four receivers from last season and which averaged 216.7 passing yards per game.
— Lynn Worthy