Just over a month after his father, Hardy Nickerson, was named Lovie Smith’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Illinois, Hardy Nickerson Jr. announced that he will transfer to the Big Ten school after graduating from the University of California this spring.

The 6'0", 225-pound linebacker explained the reasons that fueled his decision on Thursday in a message on Twitter:  

The former Bleacher Report - College Football
Article is property of BleacherReport.com