Anthony Folkerts

Tight end Anthony Folkerts is transferring from Rutgers. (Courtesy photo)

Tight end Anthony Folkerts will be the first player to transfer from Rutgers this spring, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The redshirt freshman from Ray City, Ga., is expected to transfer closer to home. Folkerts' departure was first reported in a message board post on the recruiting website Scout.com.

A three-star recruit, Folkerts appeared in one game last season as a true freshman. Folkerts suffered a hamstring injury in the first practice this spring and had been limited throughout spring practice. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder was missing from the portion of practice open to the media last Thursday.

NJ Advance Media followed up on a rumor that Folkerts was considering a transfer in the winter. But Folkerts' high school coach at Valwood (Ga.) High, Ashley Henderson, said in February that his former player "loves" new coach Chris Ash and was "fired up" about the changes within the program.

Folkerts' transfer shouldn't impact the tight depth chart this season, as senior Nick Arcidiacono, redshirt junior Matt Flanagan and junior Charles Scarff are established as the top three options. Rutgers has two other scholarship tight ends on the roster in redshirt sophomore George Behr and redshirt freshman Nakia Griffin-Stewart. Additionally, Rutgers is in good position to land Miami transfer Jerome Washington, an Elizabeth native who will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2016 season.

There is no word yet on where Folkerts will transfer. Folkerts chose Rutgers over offers from Central Florida, Southern Miss, Air Force and Division 1-AA schools.

Folkerts is technically the second transfer during Ash's tenure, although freshman defensive end Marques Ford was already on his way out before Ash took over as head coach in early December. A Riverview, Fla., native, Ford is currently enrolled at Jones County Junior College in Mississippi. The former four-star recruit has been offered by Mississippi, Mississippi State and California.

It's unlikely that Folkerts will be the only defection, as players typically reevaluate their standing on the depth chart at the end of spring practice. The spring game is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.