Memphis football starting safety Tahj Ra-El will leave the program and enter the transfer portal, he announced Wednesday afternoon.

A program spokesman confirmed that Ra-El was no longer on the team.

Ra-El posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that he was going to enter the portal. The transfer from Old Dominion played in four games this season and could have a redshirt season available.

Ra-El initially said in the summer that he would leave the team and enter the transfer portal, but then returned to the Tigers just before the first week of the season. He did not play in Memphis' opener against North Alabama.

He made his debut against Troy and then played a significant role in the Tigers' next three games against Florida State, Navy and Middle Tennessee State. He had an interception against the Seminoles and was fourth on the defense in snaps against the Blue Raiders.

Though Ra-El was Memphis' starting safety, he was never listed on the Tigers' depth chart. An'Darius Coffey had started the season at that position and figures to play a more significant role with Ra-El's departure.

Ra-El has one season of eligibility left, assuming he uses this season as a redshirt year. He played three seasons at Old Dominion before transferring to Memphis.

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis football starting safety Tahj Ra-El to enter transfer portal