Editor’s note: this story has been updated to reflect the correct eligibility of Bardo for his senior year.
The top college football prospect in the South Bend area will be playing for a new high school in his senior year.
Tayshon Bardo, who spent the last three years at Penn, announced on social media Wednesday, July 16 that he will play his senior year at Elkhart. Bardo is a consensus 3-star wide receiver prospect who verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin in the spring.
Bardo becomes the third high-profile player to transfer to Elkhart in the last two summers. Last year, both Carmine Orozco (Miami of Ohio commit) and Novell Miller (Saint Francis commit) departed Mishawaka for the Lions for their senior seasons.
Despite the IHSAA adopting a new one-time transfer rule that began June 1, Bardo will still have to miss some time. Under the new rule, anyone can transfer without appeal one time before the end of their junior year. Since Bardo already finished three years (six semesters) at Penn, though, he will have to sit out 30 days from the first contest date, which would mean missing the first four games of Elkhart’s season.
Bardo could play sooner if a “bona fide” change of residence is proven. Per an IndyStar article from June, that would also involve needing to meet other eligibility parameters.
Orozco and Miller both missed Elkhart’s season opener last year as they went through the appeal process. They were approved to play the following week, helping Elkhart finish 8-2 and a perfect 7-0 in the Northern Indiana Conference, winning the NIC for the first time since 2020. They lost in an IHSAA Class 6A sectional semifinal to Fort Wayne Snider.
Bardo was named to the South Bend Tribune All-Area Team last year after recording 36 catches for 581 yards and eight touchdowns. The Kingsmen went 8-3, losing in a Class 6A sectional championship game to Crown Point.
Penn has also benefited from the new transfer rule this summer, as former Saint Joseph standout Brayson Hurley announced June 9 he will be joining the Kingsmen. The incoming junior had been the Huskies’ top receiving threat the last two years, including 42 receptions, 625 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
Elkhart hosts Penn Oct. 3, which is week seven of the upcoming season. Like last year, it is a game that will likely decide the NIC champion. The Lions won, 7-3, last season.
Austin Hough is a sports editor within the Center for Community Journalism at Gannett. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @AustinRHough. Hough can be emailed at ahough@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Top South Bend area high school football college prospect announces transfer to new school
Reporting by Austin Hough, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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