By Cody Soto
Sports Writer
Junior running back Silas Nacita will be making his return on the football field this fall, but he will not be wearing a Baylor uniform. Nacita released a statement via Twitter Thursday afternoon that he will attend and play college football for Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie.
Nacita wrote in his Twitter statement:
“It was a very difficult decision to leave such an amazing place, but I’m just not ready to give up the game. I’d like to thank Coach Briles and the coaching staff, my team, and the rest of the Baylor community for being so welcoming. It has been one of the greatest years of my life and I will never forget it.”
Nacita was ruled ineligible in February after receiving improper benefits and violating NCAA policy. The Bakersfield, Calif., native was homeless in Waco before accepting housing arrangements from an outside source. After being permanently being ruled ineligible in April, Nacita looked elsewhere to play football.
“Well, it’s obviously not Baylor or anything close, but football is football whether I’m playing in front of 1,000 or 100,000 [people],” Nacita said. “I’ve worked my whole life for this and I want to see it through to the end. SAGU is an opportunity for me to do that.”
With football being the ultimate factor in his transfer, Nacita selected SAGU. He isn’t abandoning his fellow Baylor fans though. The distance from Waxahachie to Waco is only 65 miles.
“Football was the first thing. If it wasn’t for football, I wouldn’t leave Baylor,” Nacita said. “I love it too much. The second biggest thing was location. Since it’s only about an hour away, I can visit and maybe even make a game to support my team.”
During the 2014 season, Nacita rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns as the Bears earned their second Big 12 championship and an appearance in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is an NAIA school and competes in the Central States Football League. The SAGU Lions open their season on Sept. 5 versus Westminster College in Waxahachie.
