WR Collin Lisa, TE Steve Pickren will return to UAB
Two familiar faces are set to return to UAB’s roster.
Both wide receiver Collin Lisa and tight end Steve Pickren will transfer back to UAB to compete for the Blazers upon the program’s return to the field in 2017. Lisa and Pickren left UAB when the university announced it would disband the program in December 2014. The school then reinstated football six months later and will resume FBS play in 2017.
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Lisa spent his sophomore season at Buffalo and put up solid numbers, registering 31 receptions for 325 yards and two touchdowns. The Alpharetta, Ga., native will be a redshirt junior for the Blazers in 2017.
He told Al.com that he will start classes on June 5.
“I definitely feel like I could have had a big year this year, but when I heard it was coming back, it crossed my mind now and then,” Lisa said. “I really liked the city of Birmingham. That’s where I wanted to play originally. I can’t even emphasize how much I wanted to play for coach (Bill) Clark.”
Lisa saw action in two games for UAB as a freshman in 2014 and caught one pass for nine yards.
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Pickren spent the 2015 season at Tennessee-Chattanooga, playing in all 13 games with eight starts for the Southern Conference champions. He spent three seasons at UAB, seeing action in 15 games in 2013 and 2014 at tight end and offensive line. He redshirted the 2012 season.
Like Lisa, Pickren is eager to return to Birmingham.
“UAB gave me my first and only offer out of high school and I accepted the same day they offered,” Pickren told Al.com. “I really felt like UAB was home and I missed my brother and family who couldn’t visit as much in Chattanooga. I’m thankful for the year that UTC gave me and grateful to be a part of the SoCon 2016 champs. It was fun to win a ring there and now I want to win one at UAB.”
The Pell City, Ala., native will have one season remaining.
Lisa and Pickren are the fourth and fifth players to return to UAB after spending the season elsewhere, joining kicker Nick Vogel (Southern Miss), offensive lineman Lee Dufour (South Alabama) and wide receiver Quincy Perdue (Kansas). Cornerback Jordan Petty also returned to UAB after a brief stint at Old Dominion.
For more UAB news, visit BlazerSportsReport.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
