CFB DeptHITS: Monday, April 14
The DeptHITS are here to provide you with the need-to-knows in the world of college football. Includes depth chart updates, portal movement, coaching carousel and more.
In addition to the Nico Iamaleava news that dominated the cycle, there are a lot of impact players announcing intentions to enter the portal. We’ll get you the ones you’ll want to know. There was a coach firing that was some time in the making, but finally made official. We are also starting to see some post-spring and pre-spring portal window depth chart projections that we’d suggest you check out. Plenty happening. Don’t fall behind!
Note: [ The number in the brackets is our CFBDepth overall player rating, out of 20 ]
|||||| THE HITS
The most pertinent player-related information that directly impact depth charts and on-field performance.
Tennessee ::: The Nico Iamaleava [15.6] saga unraveled quickly. The star quarterback missed a practice in a "holdout" attempt to earn more NIL dollars from the Vols. He then submitted his paperwork to enter the portal, and Tennessee is moving on. This is the result of bad advice from an agent that got greedy. Picking representation is going to be crucial in this new age of college football and with the pool widening, there are some bad apples out there. Nico is sure to find a home, but it won’t be in the optimal system and setup for his future progression.
Colorado ::: A big pickup for the Buffaloes as former Memphis/LSU OL Xavier Hill [14.9] is joining Coach Prime in Boulder. Hill is a versatile player who grades out as a surefire starter at either guard or tackle. He has played over 2,000 snaps in his career and has one year left.
FCS-level standout WR Sincere Brown [12.0] is joining the Colorado wide receivers room for 2025. Brown started his career at USF and leveled down to show what he could do. That was a 61-catch, 1,000+ yard and 12 touchdown season for the Camels. He should work his way into the Buffaloes rotation and get looks. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
In other Buffs news, now former running back Isaiah Augustave [14.4] and leading rusher from 2024 is no longer with the Buffaloes program. He was absent from spring practices and it was originally thought it was due to injury. Instead, word broke that he is not here and likely enters the portal come the spring window.
California ::: A top tight end is going on the market in the spring portal as Cal TE Jack Endries [16.1] is planning to enter. He is both an impact receiver -- catching 91 passes over the past two seasons -- and also a very good pass blocker when needed. He will demand top dollar in the market for some of the biggest programs.
Iowa ::: The quarterback "battle" in Iowa City may have already been settled with incumbent Brendan Sullivan [11.5] announcing his intention to enter the spring portal. South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski looks like a perfect fit to run Tim Lester's offense and is definitely the front-runner. Auburn transfer Hank Brown is still in the running. ;
Cincinnati ::: A big loss for the Bearcats secondary as Jordan Robinson [14.7] is heading back to the portal after one season in Cincy. He came from Kentucky after starting his career at Division II Livingstone College (NC). He's risen to a high level but did not see the playing time he hoped, with just 22.8 snaps per game. That number was very likely to rise in '25, but he's moving on.
Missouri ::: LB Mikai Gbayor [14.3] re-enters the portal after checking out Mizzou this spring. He came to the Tigers from Nebraska in December but apparently did not enjoy his time enough to stick around. Once again, he'll see what options are in the portal. He retains two years of eligibility and will be a nice pick-up for somebody in the spring window.
SMU ::: RB LJ Johnson [13.8] is no longer with the SMU program. The former Texas A&M Aggie battled injuries and a revolving door at the position, earning 74 carries for 303 yards and five scores in 2024. He likely saw a lot of competition for carries in a crowded backfield and will look for somewhere where he can be featured more. He's very likely to enter the portal when the window opens in a few days.
North Carolina State ::: RB Kendrick Raphael [13.0] announced intentions to enter the portal. He was in line to share carries again with Hollywood Smothers for the Wolfpack, but instead, he will look to head elsewhere. This is further confirmation that Smothers may be in line for more of a lead back role in Raleigh in 2025.
South Carolina ::: EDGE Demon Clowney [12.9] checked out Louisville this spring and re-entered the portal following his stop at Charlotte in 2024. He now heads to Columbia, SC, and will join the Gamecocks. He is the cousin of former Gamecock great Jadeveon Clowney.
UTEP ::: Safety Landon Hullaby [12.7] is leaving the Miners when the portal window opens. He played in eight games in 2024, averaging just over 18 snaps/game. He started his career at Texas Tech in the class of 2022. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Oklahoma State ::: WR Cameron Abshire [12.5], the Emory & Henry (D2) transfer, is heading to Oklahoma State. After a big season at the lower levels in 2024, he signed on with the Cowboys. He joins a host of players vying to replace a lot of lost talent from the receiving room in Stillwater.
Texas State ::: Kicker Mason Shipley [15.5] enters the portal after two seasons as the starter for Bobcats. After going a perfect 15/15 in 2023, he followed up with four misses in 19 attempts in 2024, but with two from over 50 yards and included a 60-yard field goal. The original Oklahoma State signee in the class of '20 has one season of eligibility remaining.
Stanford ::: The Cardinal was thought to have landed a solid secondary recruit from the portal when Julian Neal [12.8] signed on from Fresno State earlier in the cycle. After the coaching change, Neal is re-evaluating his options and is said to head back to the portal. He is reportedly taking a visit to Syracuse in the near future.
Michigan ::: CB Amorion Walker [11.1] is heading back to a familiar place -- the portal. The class of '22 signee left once for Ole Miss, only to head back to Ann Arbor for 2024. Now, he re-enters and looks for a place to get on the field. Likely, a level down would do the trick, and we can see what he can do.
Appalachian State ::: The Mountaineers will lose an offensive lineman as starting LT Markell Samuel [10.5] announced he'll enter the portal when it opens. He was a full-time contributor, but his player-level numbers don't have him as a difference maker any levels up. After coming in as a 3-star in the 2020 class, he has one year of eligibility.
Kent State ::: It's official. Kenni Burns is done at Kent State. He was fired following an internal investigation. The administration names offensive coordinator Mark Carney as the interim for the 2025 season before launching a national search for the new head coach. Carney will be considered, but the state of this roster is in shambles, and achieving even a matching one-win from the past two seasons would be a feat.
A wave of Kent State players got a jump on entering the portal after the Burns news was made official and opened the 30-day window. Quite a few players entered, including a few impact defensive players DL Stephen Daley [14.8], LB Rocco Nicholl [11.9], and DL Oliver Billote [11.9].
|||||| QUICK HITS
More information on the periphery, including coaching changes, less impactful (but still important) player movement, and more.
North Texas WR Miles Coleman [12.7] is making waves in spring practice following a solid close to the ‘24 season. He is likely to move into the slot role for the Mean Green and could see heavy volume. This earns him VolumePigs status.
Auburn S Terrance Love [11.7] will enter the portal in search of more playing time. The 2023 4-star recruit received just 34 snaps in 2024.
Ferris State (D2) QB Trinidad Chambliss [11.6] is entering the portal after leading the Bulldogs to the Division II National Championship. He is said to be garnering interest from several power five schools.
Wagner WR Jaylen Bonelli [11.6] is entering the fray to move up and impact the FBS level in 2025. This, after a 53-catch, 802 yard, six touchdown campaign for the FCS-level Seahawks.
Southern Miss hires Eric Mathies away from Eastern Kentucky where he served as defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator in 2024. Prior to that, he was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at FCS Long Island University. He will hold the title of defensive line coach for the Golden Eagles.
South Carolina State EDGE Ashaad Hall [11.4] will enter the portal looking for a new home for his final season in 2025.
California RB Justin Williams-Thomas [11.1] is going to enter the portal when it opens on Wednesday. He did not play in 2024 for the Bears and transferred there already once from Tennessee. He was a 4-star recruit in 2022 and looks for a place to find the field.
2024 4-star WR Freddie Dubose [10.7] is leaving Texas via the portal. He’s blocked by a load of talent ahead of him for the Longhorns. He retains all four years of eligibility.
Ohio LB Kadin Schmitz [10.7] is entering the portal after a season that saw him play about 1/2 snaps (329 total) for the Bobcats.
Florida State backup QB Trever Jackson [10.5] will look for a new home after spending 2024 on the Seminoles roster but buried behind others. He was a 4-star recruit in the ‘24 class.
Sacred Heart DL Nate Chandler [10.2] is entering the portal. He managed 5.5 sacks in his first real playing playing time and retains three years of eligibility.
Wisconsin OL Derek Jensen [10.0] spent just one season in Madison. He will enter the portal with no sign of immediate playing time in his near future with the Badgers.
Eastern Washington S Derek Ganter Jr. [10.3] is entering the portal and looking to level up for 2025.
West Virginia WR Brandon Rehmann [9.8] is looking for a new home after spending his first season with the Mountaineers. A consensus 3-star recruit in the ‘24 class did not see the field.
UTSA RB Brandon High [9.6] is entering he portal. He has received just six carries since his 2023 recruitment. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
California is hiring former Oregon State defensive coordinator Keith Hayward as their new secondary coach.
Kent State QB JD Sherrod [8.7] has entered the portal.
Chattanooga EDGE Chris Victor [12.0] is generating a lot of interest from group of five schools. Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennesse and Appalachian State are the latest to join the fray.
|||||| SUGGESTED FURTHER READING
We can’t do it all. Others can get in-depth on other topics around college football, and we encourage you to broaden your knowledge base by reading further.
Nico Saga. Get the latest on the fallout from the saga involving star quarterback Nico Iamaleava and his sudden departure from Knoxville. This particular article focuses on the ‘bad advice’ received that sparked this whole debacle. From the SportingNews »
Projected Alabama Depth Chart. Check out 247Sports’ Bama247 post-spring and pre-spring portal window depth chart projection. We are tracking closely as this is one of the most reliable and tied in sources for Crimson Tide information. Check it out on Bama247 »
Projected Vanderbilt Depth Chart. Robbie Weinstein at Vandy247 is another of the best sources of information surrounding the Commodores. He released his post-spring depth chart projection that features some notable changes. This will most certainly impact our 2025 depth chart projection later this summer. Check it out here »
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