North Dakota State will open spring practice later this month, but it is likely its top defensive player will not be there.

Senior to be linebacker Jabril Cox announced on Monday that he has put his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal, with the hope of fulfilling a dream of playing at an FBS school.

Cox has been a star player for NDSU shortly after he took the field in 2017, named the Missouri Valley Newcomer and Freshman of the Year in 2017, followed by the Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. He finished fourth in the Buck Buchanan Award voting this fall, which goes to the top defensive player in the country.