UAB defensive tackle Tony Fair on Monday entered the transfer portal, but he doesn’t plan to stay there long.
Fair, an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection in 2019, plans to announce his next stop soon.
“I’m planning on making my decision by Wednesday or Thursday of next week,” Fair said. “Next weekend at the latest. I need time to think. Offers are pouring in right now.”
He’s right. Fair has received offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa and Indiana. Oregon and others have started showing interest and could join the mix soon.
“It’s been crazy,” Fair said.
One school that has been making a big push is Auburn, which offered on Wednesday. Fair has talked with defensive line coach Nick Eason and defensive coordinator Derek Mason.
“I talk to dang-near the whole defensive coaching staff,” Fair said. “It’s real with them. They gave me the offer. They extended their hands. It’s up to me to grab it.”
Fair is strongly considering it. He’s familiar with Auburn, with the SEC and with Eason.
“Everything is too perfect with Auburn,” Fair said. “It’s picture perfect. Auburn is weighing really heavily on me right now, very heavily. Coach Eason knows what he’s doing. His resume speaks for itself. He has it going on. He’s creating some monsters over there.”
Fair, who is 6-foot-3 and 345 pounds, was a redshirt senior in 2020. He is a graduate transfer, meaning he will be immediately eligible with one year left to play.
“I will leave Birmingham and go straight to my next school,” Fair said.
In 2020, Fair played in all nine games at UAB and finished with 21 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. In 2019, Fair was named honorable mention All-Conference USA after totaling 36 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, a sack, two forced fumbles and two quarterback-pressures.
According to his UAB profile, Fair "was a monster in the run game at nose tackle and helped UAB finish 8th nationally in total defense."
