Cal’s Hardy Nickerson to transfer to Illinois

Cal linebacker Hardy Nickerson announced Thursday afternoon that he will use his final season of eligibility at Illinois, where his father is the defensive coordinator.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play my final year of college football for my father,” Nickerson said in a statement he posted to Twitter.

Hardy, as his defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

The elder Nickerson, also a Cal linebacker and five-time Pro Bowl selection, had coached under Smith with the Chicago Bears (2007) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15).

Over the past three seasons, he totaled 246 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and three fumble recoveries.

“This is a unique situation where Hardy has an opportunity to play his final season of college football for his father,” Cal head coach Sonny Dykes said in a news release.

To build depth, coaches moved defensive backs Derron Brown and A.J. Greathouse to linebacker for spring ball.