It is time for the 2024 SEC Transfer Portal Review. The college football playoff expanded to 12 teams in the fall. With that, more teams have a shot at competing for a championship. The separation between teams is thinner than ever. So, acquiring a key piece or pieces in the transfer portal can help a team get over the hump. This article will review how each SEC team did in the portal.

Ole Miss Rebels

Outgoing:

• Quinshon Judkins, RB (Ohio State)
• Zakhari Franklin, WR (Illinois)
• Deantre Prince CB (NFL)
• Michael Trigg, TE (Baylor)

The Portal King Strikes Again!

If it were not for the loss of Judkins, Ole Miss would have the best class in the country, not just the SEC. Amos, Diggs, and Parrish are experienced running backs. According to the PFF, they complement the SEC’s top returning back, Ulysses Bentley IV. Nolen is the number one recruit coming out of high school. He may be the top portal addition in the SEC.

With the addition of Umanmielen, the Rebels can have one of the top defensive lines in the country. Lawrence is also a significant part of the secondary school. Ole Miss’s other losses were mainly depth pieces.

Texas Longhorns

Outgoing:

• Adonai Mitchell, WR (NFL)
• Xavier Worthy, WR (NFL)
• Bryon Murphy II, DL (NFL)
• T’Vondre Sweat, DL (NFL)
• Jonathon Brooks, RB (NFL)
• Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE (NFL)
• Christian Jones, OL (NFL)
• Jaylan Ford, LB (NFL)
• Ryan Watts, S (NFL)
• Jordan Whittington, WR (NFL)
• Maalik Murphy, QB (Duke)
• Isaiah Neyor, WR (Nebraska)
• Agiye Hall, WR (UCF)
• Jalen Catalon, S (UNLV)
• Jerrin Thompson, S (Auburn)

Texas is Back!

They made their first college football playoff berth last season. Now, the Longhorns have a bigger goal in mind: a championship. While their class is smaller than others, they fill every hole their roster has. What happened after Longhorn’s best rushers got drafted in the early rounds of this past draft? Their most significant addition is more who looks to fill the edge and defensive line void. Savea and Norton also look to add experience on the inside after the loss of Murphy II and Sweat. At receiver, Bond, Golden, Bolden, and Niblack all figure to be the next set of Ewers pass catchers to go early in next year’s draft. I also like the additions of Mukaba and Cole in the secondary. Outside of Georgia, no other team in the SEC has the talent that Texas has on their roster.

Kentucky Wildcats

Outgoing:

• Ray Davis, RB (NFL)
• Devin Leary, QB (NFL)
• Tayvion Robinson, WR (NFL)
• Andru Phillips, CB (NFL)
• Trevin Wallace, LB (NFL)
• Jeremy Flax, OL (NFL)

The Question

For the Wildcats, the biggest question is who steps in for Leary at quarterback. Once again, Kentucky chose to get a quarterback through the portal for the third time. While Leary did not work as well as former quarterback Will Levis, there is hope in Vandagriff, who brings size and a dual-threat element. Complementing Vandagriff, Trayanum, a former linebacker, may replace Davis as the power back. On defense, Dumas-Johnson immediately steps in as the defense leader.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Outgoing:

• Caleb Downs, S (Ohio State)
• J.C. Latham OT (NFL)
• Terrion Arnold CB (NFL)
• Chris Braswell LB (NFL)
• Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB (NFL)
• Dallas Turner, DE (NFL)
• Jeremiah Burton WR (NFL)
• Isaiah Bond, WR (Texas)
• Roydell Williams, RB (Florida State)
• Seth McLaughlin C (Ohio State)
• Ja’Corey Brooks WR (Louisville)
• Justin Eboigbe DT (NFL)
• Jase McClellan, RB (NFL)
• Will Reichard K (NFL)
• Trey Amos, CB (Ole Miss)
• Amari Niblack, TE (Texas)
• Julian Sayin, QB (Ohio State)

Turning the Tide

Welcome to a new era for Alabama football. Last year, Saban was able to get everything he could out of this team. The year started with an obvious quarterback answer, a young offensive line, and a loss to Texas. To Saban’s standards, the Crimson Tide turned it around. Jalen Milroe became the clear quarterback answer. Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC championship game. Alabama finished with another college football playoff berth.

Bad News / Good News

Saban and over 50 others will no longer be on that sideline following his retirement. But they got one of the winningest coaches in Kalen Deboer. He led the Washington Huskies in the season’s biggest surprise. They finished the season in the National Championship game. Deober is known for his innovative offense, especially before coming to Washington. Why? He quickly turned around Sioux Falls, Indiana, and Fresno State.

On Offense

The biggest question will be how the new team, in particular Milroe, adapts to his offense. This is Milroe’s third different offense in his four years. This is in contrast with Deboer’s last quarterback, Michael Pennix. Pennix played in his offense at Indiana before his transfer to Washington. Pennix and Milroe also play very different styles. Milroe is more mobile than Pennix and loves to throw the deep ball. Deboer will not have former coordinator Ryan Grubb. Grubb stuck around Seattle with hopes of getting the UW head coaching job. Instead, he landed with the Seahawks. There are other concerns on offense. This includes a young receiver and running back room. That is after the losses of Burton, Bond, Niblack, Brooks, McClellan, and Williams. That gets balanced out. Milroe and the offensive line should be much improved under Deboer.

On Defense

This team will likely find itself struggling this season. Down loss, to me, is the most significant loss of any team this offseason. Downs was the best player on the team as a freshman last season. He also was one of the best players in the entire country. How different the Michigan game would have been if a penalty hadn’t wiped away his interception. The loss of the best cornerback duo in the country, Arnold and McKinstry, also hurts their team. The addition of Jackson and Sabb is a clear downgrade. That is despite both players being highly touted recruits. The Crimson Tide suffered defensive line attrition after losing Turner, Braswell, and Eboigbe. New Co-defensive coordinators Kane Womack and Maurice Linguist last coached at nonpower four conferences. They have their work cut out for them.

Auburn Tigers

Outgoing:

• Cam Riley LB (Florida State)
• D.J. James, CB (NFL)
• Jaylin Simpson, S (CB)
• Nehemiah Pritchett, CB (NFL)
• Justin Rogers, DT (NFL)
• Marcus Harris, DT (NFL)
• Robby Ashford, QB (South Carolina)
• Ja’Varrius Johnson WR (UCF)
• Jay Fair, WR (USC)
• Brenton Williams DL (Liberty)
• Wesley Steiner, LB (Washington State)

Hugh Freeze

In Hugh Freeze’s second year at the helm, he looks to leave Auburn in a much better place than he found. Auburn finished with their third consecutive under .500 record. Still, Freeze was a miracle away from another victory over Nick Saban. Fortunately for Freeze, Saban is no longer in his way of the Iron Bowl and recruits. For the second year in a row, Freeze’s biggest addition to the portal is a quarterback.

What is Next?

What follows after the success of last year’s acquisition of Payton Thorne? Jackson V looks to transition from quarterback to receiver. Jackson V is unproven at the position. However, Auburn’s leading receiver had less than 400 yards last year and was a tight end. Not to mention, both of their top receivers hit the portal. So Jackson helps lead a receiver room full of young talent. On defense, the Tigers lost a ton of players on defense, most notably the secondary.

Georgia Bulldogs

Outgoing:

• Brock Bowers, TE (NFL)
• Ladd Mcconkey, WR (NFL)
• Amarius Mims, OL (NFL)
• Javon Ballard, S (NFL)
• Kamari Lassiter, CB (NFL)
• Daijun Edwards, RB (NFL)
• Kendall Milton, RB (NFL)
• Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, WR (NFL)
• Tykee Smith, CB
• Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (NFL)
• Zion Logue, DL (NFL)
• Tramel Walthour, DL (NFL)
• Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB (Kentucky)
• CJ Madden, LB (Purdue)
• Marvin Jones Jr., DE (Florida State)
• Brock Vandagriff, QB (Kentucky)
• Xavian Sorey Jr., LB (Arkansas)
• Darris Smith, DE (Missouri)
• Mekhi Mews, WR (Houston)
• Zeed Haynes, WR (Syracuse)
• Jackson Meeks, WR (Syracuse)
• De’Nylon Morrissette, WR (Purdue)
• CJ Smith, WR (Purdue)
• Tyler Williams, WR (Minnesota)
• Nyland Green, CB (Purdue)
• Andrew Paul, RB (Jax State)
• Patrick Taylor S (Jax State)

Tough Evaluation

Georgia’s portal class is challenging to evaluate. The good news is their 11 additions this year are up from four last year. They also are a team that values getting top high school prospects over players in the portal. In that, they are like Texas. Unlike Texas, the Bulldogs did not use the portal to fix the weaknesses in the roster. The Bulldogs’ priority was on the offense side of the ball. They went after experienced receivers. That included Humphreys, Young, Yurosek, and Jackson III, replacing Bowers, McConkey, and Rosemy-Jacksaint. The Bulldogs have to hope the new additions can stay healthy. Why? Bowers and McConkey both went down last season and lost a lot of depth. Etienne should take Georgia’s lead back after losing Edwards and Milton.

Problems

The problem is that Georgia’s biggest weakness last season was regressing on defense. Outside of McLeod, there were no new defensive transfer portal additions. The biggest positional loss on defense is the linebacker room. That is after Dumas-Johnson, Madden, and Sorley all left. The loss of Lassiter and Ballard is also worrisome. Then Mims and Van Pran-Grange went to the NFL. Now, they are looking for offensive linemen in the portal.

Georgia Bulldogs

Outgoing:

• Dillon Gabriel, QB (Oklahoma)
• Tyler Guyton, OL (NFL)
• Cayden Green, OL (Missouri)
• Drake Stoops, WR (NFL)
• Walter Rouse, OL, (NFL)
• Key Lawrence, S (Ole Miss)
• Marcus Major, RB (Minnesota)
• Rondell Bothroyd, DL (NFL)
• Isaiah Coe, DL (NFL)
• Andrew Raym, C (NFL)
• Austin Stogner, TE (NFL)
• Tawee Walker, RB (Wisconsin)
• McKade Mettauer, OL (NFL)
• Jonah Laulu, DT, (NFL)

Solid Portal Class

Oklahoma had a solid portal class. The Sooners are ready for the Jackson Arnold era. It led to the transfer of former quarterback Dillon Gabriel. One of the first steps was adding Deion Burks. He could be one of Arnold’s favorite targets and replace Stoops in the slot. The Sooners emphasize building through the trenches for the offensive and defensive lines. Brown, Hickman, Hatchet, and Tarquin look to help protect Arnold on offense. They are also looking to replace Guyton and Green. On defense, Williams and Woullard help offset Bothroyd as a clog in the defense. Malone at corner and Franklin at running back are other key pieces to look out for.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Outgoing:

• KJ Jefferson, QB (UCF)
• Raheim Sanders, RB ( South Carolina)
• Chris Paul Jr., LB (Ole Miss)
• Jaheim Thomas, LB (Wisconsin)
• AJ Green, RB (Oklahoma State)
• Jacolby Criswell, QB (UNC)
• Devon Manuel, OL (Florida)

Hot Seat

The hot seat for head coach Sam Pittman is hotter than a heat wave through Little Rock. To turn it around, he depends on the duo of Green and Jackson. They need to replicate what Jefferson and Sanders did a few seasons ago. Despite having a good blueprint, Green and Jackson are less proven. They bring a different type of game. Green is thinner than Jefferson. He has a strong arm but regressed last season, throwing under 2,000 yards and 9 interceptions. Jackson is one of the most versatile backs in the country. He appeared as RB, QB, and special teams on his team in Utah. A wild card for Utah is the addition of Rodney Hill from Florida State at running back. On defense, Sorey was highly touted from high school but was in a deep linebacker room at Georgia.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Outgoing:

• Jayden Daniels, QB (NFL)
• Malik Nabers, WR (NFL)
• Brian Thomas, WR (NFL)
• Logan Diggs, RB (Ole Miss)
• Duce Chestnut, CB (Syracuse)
• Jaxon Howard, DL (Minnesota)
• Jalen Brown, WR (Florida State)

A Small Portal Class

LSU brought in a small transfer portal class with only nine players. Despite the size, I trust head coach Brian Kelly. He has shown that he can develop quarterbacks and receivers at LSU. These are their most significant losses. CJ Daniels and Zavion Thomas are difference-makers. Can Daniels put up the numbers he did at Liberty on a power five level, and Thomas continues to develop? If he can, they will continue the LSU pipeline of talented receivers. The addition of Swann at QB is also significant for developmental purposes. He sits behind projected starter Garrett Nussmeier.

Concerns

The biggest concern is how you feel about Nussmeier as a quarterback. Will this be another Max Johnson situation? There was no clear starter for the future on the roster, but LSU stuck with the experienced guy. Another concern is the lack of defensive additions through the portal.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Outgoing:

• London Humpreys, WR (Georgia)
• Ethan Barr, LB (Washington)
• Nate Clifton, DL (USC)
• Savion Riley, S (Miami)
• Ken Seals, QB (TCU)
• AJ Swann, QB (LSU)
• Walter Taylor III, QB (Colorado)
• Jayden McGowan, WR (Boston College)

The Portal

I like Vanderbilt’s approach to building in the portal this off-season. Vanderbilt raided all the small school cabinets. Their hopes were to get proven players, most notably New Mexico State. What follows the success of the Jerry Kill and Tim Beck combo at New Mexico State? They want to repeat success. How? By having the Commodores as consultants and offensive coordinators. This is a good approach because Vanderbilt will never out-recruit schools in the SEC.

Biggest Additions

There are two significant additions. The first is a quarterback with Pavia. The second is Utah transfer Johnson, who is likely to compete at quarterback. Jones, Stowers, Wiley, and Losoya should help make their jobs easier. I also like the addition of Jones Jr. on defense. Despite the tough losses through the portal, I expect Vanderbilt to be better next year.

Tennessee Volunteers

Outgoing:

• Jaylen Wright, RB (NFL)
• Joe Milton, QB (NFL)
• Tamarion McDonald, S (Louisville)
• Kamal Hadden, CB (NFL)
• Wesley Walker, S (Louisville)
• Doneiko Slaughter, CB (Arkansas)
• Cristian Conyer, OL (Kentucky)
• Brandon Turnage, CB (Ole Miss)
• Warren Burrell, CB (Georgia Tech)
• Jabari Small, RB (NFL)
• Aaron Beasley, LB (NFL)
• Jaylen McCollough, DB (NFL)

The Review

Two seasons ago, the Volunteers were the top-ranked offense in the SEC. If they want to get back rolling, it will start with sophomore Nico Iamaleava. For him to be successful, he needs weapons and protection. They added Brazzell II as a receiver. That was alongside Squirrel White, Bru McCoy, and Dont’e Thornton Jr. On the offensive line, they added Heard, a highly touted lineman. The additions of McCoy, Moi, McMurray, and Thomas to the defense should help them compete.

Florida Gators

Outgoing:

• Princely Umanmielen, DL (Ole Miss)
• Trevor Etiene, RB (Georgia)
• Scooby Williams, LB (Texas A&M)
• Richie Leonard IV, OL (Florida State)
• Jaydon Hill, CB (Texas A&M)
• Jalen Kimber, CB (Penn State)
• Micah Mazzccua, OL (Nebraska)
• Jalen Farmer, OL (Kentucky)
• Chris McClellan, DL (Missouri)
• Max Brown, QB (Charlotte)

Put Up or Shut Up

It’s put up or shut up time for head coach Billy Napier. He has struggled to get the most out of his players outside quarterback. Two of Florida’s top players entered the transfer portal. They stayed in the conference with the hopes of competing for a title. Despite the losses, I like the additions at wide receiver and secondary players. Dike played with the starting quarterback, Graham Mertz (DJ Lagway is coming). That was when the two were in Wisconsin. Badger is also a top receiver. Grimsley, McClain, Bridges, and Turner should help a secondary that struggled last year. Slackman is also a force on the defensive line.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Outgoing:

• Spencer Rattler, QB (NFL)
• Xavier Legette, WR (NFL)
• Xzavier McLeod, DL (Georgia)
• Antwane Wells Jr., WR (Ole Miss)
• Mario Anderson, RB (Memphis)
• Jaylen Nichols, OL (Memphis)

Coming in Last

South Carolina will be one of the worst teams in the SEC next year. They entered the offseason with an established starter in the pivotal quarterback position. Spencer Rattler was not the best quarterback in the country. Still, he kept South Carolina in games they shouldn’t have been in. They go from Rattler to a QB competition led by LaNorris Sellers, Ashford, and Beville. None of them have shown the starter potential. Sanders is one of the best backs in the country. But he is coming off a knee injury and only played six games last season. Adway should help lighten Sanders’ load. Huggins-Bruce and Larvadain look to help replace Legette. Legette had a breakout season last year. On defense, Kamara is the critical acquisition.

Texas A&M Aggies

Outgoing:

• Evan Stewart, WR (Oregon)
• Walter Nolen, DL (Ole Miss)
• Edgerrin Cooper, LB (NFL)
• McKinnley Jackson, DL (NFL)
• Fadil Diggs, DL (Syracuse)
• LT Overton, DL (Alabama)
• Layden Robinson, OL (NFL)
• Ainias Smith, WR (NFL)
• Max Johnson, QB (UNC)
• Bryce Foster, OL (Kansas)
• Jake Johnson, TE (UNC)
• Tony Grimes, CB (UNLV)
• Naquil Betrand, OL (Alabama)
• Deuce Harmon, (SMU)
• Jardin Gilbert, S (LSU)

A Hard Hit

Texas A&M was hit the hardest in the transfer portal. They lost Stewart, Nolen, Diggs, and Overton. They were all highly touted coming out of high school. It wasn’t all bad news. They landed Scourton. He was one of Purdue’s lone bright spots last season and a highly sought-after player once he entered the portal. The most significant addition is the new coaching staff after the disaster, the Jimbo Fisher era. Head coach Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Colin Klein may be the best new coaching duo. They let each other focus on what they are good at.

Conner Weigman’s Team

After the departure of Johnson as quarterback, this is clearly Conner Weigman’s team. Klein’s offense should continue to help Weigman develop as a quarterback. The question is, who Weighman will be throwing to after the loss of Stewart, Smith, and Johnson? With Elko, expect a strong defense. Despite the 31 losses, this is a new era for the Aggies, and Elko and Klein proved they can do more with less.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Outgoing:

• Will Rogers, QB (Washington)
• Woody Marks, RB (USC)
• Zavion Thomas, WR (LSU)
• DeCarlos Nicholson, CB (USC)
• Percy Lewis, OL (Auburn)

Rebuilding

Mississippi State will find itself rebuilding next year. Head coach Jeff Lebby is one of the most creative play-callers. Unfortunately, he loses most of his talent on offense. After entering the portal, Rogers, Marks, and Thomas were highly sought. Shapen and Coleman have talent but will struggle to replicate who they are replacing.