By: Jeff Doke

The SouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Jordan Triplett knows a thing or two about making moves on the football field. Now, he’s making a big one off the field.

The Class of 2024 Frederica Academy alum is transferring to Cornell University.

Triplett entered the NCAA Transfer Portal earlier in the month after spending his first year in college at Air Force Academy.

While he was impressive in practice and dressed for several games, Jordan did not take the field for a single down in the regular season.

While disappointing, this was not surprising, considering AFA Head Coach Troy Calhoun hasn’t used a freshman in-game since his second year at the helm in 2007.

Contributing to his decision to enter the portal was the speculation that he would still be at best 3rd string in the Falcon’s Running Back room, leaving him with only two years at best to make his case with the NFL.

At Cornell, Triplett is expected to contribute on the field immediately and will still have 4 years of eligibility remaining.

Located in Ithica, New York, Cornell University plays in the Ivy League Conference and is one of the oldest football programs in the country. Known as “The Big Red,” Cornell claims five National Championships – the most recent in 1939 – and three Conference Championships in 1971, 1988, and 1990.

Triplett joins the team for the second season under Head Coach Dan Swanstrom. While the team went 4-6 in his first year at the helm, Swanstrom does have an impressive all time head coaching record of 36-17, including three conference championships while leading the Ithica College Bombers of the D-III Liberty League.

While in the portal, Jordan received offers from seven other schools including Carson Newman, San Diego, Marist, Stetson, Elon, and Idaho State.

The final decision came down to Cornell and the 2023 D-II National Champion Harding University Bisons, who offered Triplett a full scholarship as well as an NIL package. The decision between the two was not an easy one according to Jordan’s father Mark Triplett.

“If Jordan would have went to Harding, he would be able to compete for a National Championship,” said the elder Triplett.

“Harding is a good school academically but Jordan has always looked for schools with strong academics. He wanted to play in the Ivy League because he knows that an education from there would set him up for life.  He strongly considered Columbia before he went to Air Force, but there was so much going on in NYC at the time he reconsidered.”

While recommendations from Frederica’s Head Coach Brandon Derrick and his staff – as well as Glynn Academy Head Coach Rocky Hidalgo – helped to get the conversation with Cornell started, the chemistry has been easily established.

“(Jordan) met the RB coach (Assistant Coach Terry Ursin) in person and has spoken with the head coach and offensive coordinators a lot over the last couple of weeks,” explains Mark.

“He knows he has to compete, but (Cornell’s) offensive system is more suited for him than playing Fullback at Air Force. Harding has a similar offense as Air Force, and Jordan wanted to play RB in a more traditional way”

Jordan Triplett is the All-time High School Rushing Leader in the state of Georgia. In his four years at Frederica, he rushed for 9,028 yards and is the only player in Georgia history to eclipse the 9,000-yard mark.

He also tied the all-time Georgia single season rushing record 3,172 yards, is #3 on the all-time touchdown list with 115, and is the only player in Georgia high school history with multiple 400-yard rushing performances (3).

Cornell opens their 2025 campaign on the road at University at Albany (NY) on September 20 and has their home opener against Colgate on October 4.