CFB DeptHITS: Monday, January 6
We're doing a full-on #PortalMonday post today to get you caught up on the biggest news from the portal over the last 48 hours and start a positional portal "check in" starting with quarterbacks...
Today, with a break in the action and the transfer portal heating back up, we’ll focus our updates on a look at each position group in the craziness that is the portal to this point. As always, you can head over to our “Portal Tracker” at the site and filter/sort away to anything you want to see. Remember, each of the 2,712 players we are tracking in the portal as of publishing have their very own weighted player rating to help determine who is really “winning” (and losing) here in the portal as we reach 39% of the players committed. Over the next week or so, we’ll do a spotlight on each position group to get you caught up on where we stand. We will hit the quarterbacks today. More team insights coming your way shortly…
|||||| QUARTERBACK
Total QBs: 219
Total QBs Committed: 81 (37% committed)
Top 10 Players:
As you can see, all ten of our top-rated QBs have signed on with their new schools for 2025. Reminder that “YER” column is “Years of Eligibility Remaining” to help determine who may stick around a little longer at their new school.
Top 10 Uncommitted:
Former Miami (FL) and Wisconsin signal caller, Tyler Van Dyke, tops the list of those without a home for next season. He earned an additional year of eligibility due to the injury suffered this season with the Badgers. The latest rumor is that he is visiting SMU. That would be an interesting landing spot as he looks to play one more season. One would think it would take a lot to unseat Kevin Jennings from that role. We’ll keep an eye on it.
Tulane’s Ty Thompson may have hurt his stock a bit by playing in their Green Wave’s bowl game (it did not go well). Regardless of that one-game sample, Thompson has pedigree and has shown flashes of reaching that full potential after signing with Oregon as a high 4-star recruit in 2021 out of Gilbert, AZ. We haven’t heard much about visits for Thompson, but will keep an eye out for his whereabouts because there is potential there to be unlocked.
As we were writing this article, we noticed that Malachi Nelson, the former 5-star recruit out of USC, who went to Boise but lost out of the starting job to Maddux Madsen, has signed with UTEP. It will be good to see him on the field with a chance to play a full season.
Here is the latest QB portal news:
Wake Forest ::: QB Robby Ashford [15.1] has joined his fourth school and we really hope this is the stop that he gets to see the field for an extended period of time. Jake Dickert lands his quarterback in Winston-Salem. Of course, assuming he doens't get banged up or passed on the depth chart. He has talent and he's shown it before. We will see if he can bring it all together for the Deacs in 2025.
California ::: QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele [11.9], a four-star recruit in this upcoming 2025 class has flipped his commitment to California from Oregon. The reasoning for the flip is likely two-fold. The Bears Collective came up with some cash and he sees a quicker path to playing time. He could potentially start as a true freshman. This is technically a transfer portal move since he did enroll at Oregon for a few days before making this move.
Western Kentucky ::: QB Maverick McIvor [14.0] is making his way back to the FBS level, joining the Hilltoppers and is in a good situation to continue the success he had at Abilene Christian in 2024. He threw for over 3,800 yards, 30 touchdowns (to just seven interceptions) for the Wildcats. It was a good move to join the FCS program to show what he can do and now will do so in Bowling Green, KY.
Miami (OH) ::: QB Dequan Finn [13.3] left Toledo after three solid seasons as their starter in search of a bigger role at a bigger school. He went to Baylor and some injuries derailed that and he only attempted 43 passes. Apparently, he was able to retain a year of eligibility claiming injury this year would warrant a medical waiver and now he joins Miami (OH), back in the MAC, to lead the RedHawks in 2025, replacing the now graduating Brett Gabbert.
West Virginia ::: Former Texas A&M and Fresno State QB Jaylen Henderson [11.9] is headed to Morgantown to join the Mountaineers. Head coach Rich Rodriguez is going to need a new quarterback as Garrett Greene is out of eligibility. They already have a highly touted but unproven QB in Nicco Marichol [12.4] and these two will likely engage in a battle leading up to the 2024 season for the coveted role in this likely to be improved offense.
|||||| NEWS FROM OTHER POSITIONS
Washington State ::: New head coach in Pullman, Jimmy Rogers is pulling some of his former South Dakota State Jackrabbits with him to their new FBS home. He brings RBs Angel Johnson [13.6] and Kirby Vorhees [7.2] to help boost the running back room. Johnson is the one most likely to crack the rotation and make an impact. He ran 91 times this past season for 646 yards and three touchdowns. Amar Johnson was the lead back for the Rabbits but he is out of eligibility after running for just under 3,000 yards in his career there.
Fresno State ::: RB Rayshon "Speedy" Luke [12.1] is headed to Fresno to continue his career. While his numbers certainly don't jump off of the page from his time in Tucson, he was a four-star recruit and battled injuries. A new home and a bigger role could catapult him onto the national scene. With Elijah Gilliam and Malik Sherrod both moving on from the program in the portal, that opportunity could be there and it's worth following.
Florida State ::: WR Squirrel White [12.8] is heading to Talahassee, joining a contingent of new players sent to revive this program. He joins USC transfer Duce Robinson as a wide receiver portal addition. White will operate in the slot with Robinson manning the outside. Both should have an impact in 2025, assuming health for both. The rebuild is fully underway.
Georgia ::: WR Zachariah Branch [13.5] is headed to Athens, Georgia from USC. The electric wide receiver and kick returner will join the Bulldogs and bring a needed playmaker for this offense in 2025.
Indiana ::: WR Tyler Morris [12.1] is moving Big Ten schools, joining Indiana from Michigan. He didn't have a huge role for the Wolverines in a more limited passing attack, but heads to Indiana to work with new quarterback Fernando Mendoza (Cal) in hopes of a breakout. Another solid, high upside pick-up for Curt Cignetti and company in Bloomington.
Northwestern ::: The Wildcats get a big FCS transfer-in as WR Griffin Wilde [13.0] commits to Northwestern from South Dakota State, where he caught 70 passes for 1,147 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. He has a knack for the end zone, as he turned 20 catches into 399 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman in 2023. He has two years of eligibility remaining and could likely become the top option in this passing attack right away.
UNLV ::: TE Var'Keyes Gumms [10.9] heads back to the group of five by joining the Rebels of UNLV. This one may sneak under the radar due to Gumms' lack of on-field production at Arkansas. However, don't lose sight of the numbers he put up at North Texas before his first move via the portal. In 2022, he put up 34 catches for 458 yards and five touchdowns, showing great promise. Now, that ceiling may be reached in Vegas.
Ohio State ::: OT George Fitzpatrick [14.4] entered the portal and should be a name to watch going forward. He played a part-time/replacement role at both tackle spots for the Buckeyes and performed well. Unsure he'd get a starting spot next year has led him to check out his options. Somebody will get a good one with Fitzpatrick and we'll let you know where he lands.
Wake Forest ::: The Deacs grab two offensive tackles in the portal, including Temple transfer T Melvin Siani [12.1] and Washington State transfer Fa'alili Fa'amoe [11.5]. New head coach Jake Dickert is trying to build up the trenches for his new program early in the portal cycle.
Indiana ::: We've seen this a couple of times now with players having FOMO and returning to Bloomington after transferring out. Now, it's OL Kahlil Benson [12.7] heading back to join the Hoosiers after a season at Colorado. Benson moved around the offensive line in Boulder, playing primarily right guard (318 snaps) but also chipping in at right guard and right tackle. That versatility will help him find a full-time role on this offensive line.
Kentucky ::: Big-time pick-up on defense for the Wildcats as Washington State transfer DT David Gusta [16.4] is headed to Lexington. He chose not to follow his former head coach Jake Dickert to the ACC and Wake Forest, instead opting for the SEC and Kentucky. He will slot right in as a top force on the defensive line for Mark Stoops' unit.
Wake Forest ::: A couple of solid pickups on the defensive side of the ball for Jake Dickert, who is moving quickly in the portal at his new home. WKU transfer DT Jayden Loving [13.6] and UConn EDGE Langston Hardy [13.3] join the Deacons for 2025.
Florida State ::: Another big portal pick-up for the Seminoles defense as they lure in EDGE Jayson Jenkins [15.5] from Tennessee. He didn't get the snaps he was looking for in Knoxville and this could be a huge gain in Talahassee. He'll have to earn snaps in another (now) loaded defensive line room. New DC Tony White has plenty to work with to get this turned around very quickly.
Houston ::: The Cougars and Willie Fritz must have come up with some NIL money to convince DL Joshua Donald [12.4] to flip his commitment from UTSA to Houston for the 2025 season. The former Appalachian State defensive lineman gives some solid depth and a potential difference maker in the trenches for the Cougs - who need it.
Virginia ::: LB Fisher Camac [14.0] is heading to Virginia after making a name for himself at UNLV. He adds a potential replacement and even upgrade over Dorian Jones, who graduates.
Ohio State ::: LB/DL Mitchell Melton [15.1] is headed out of Columbus for his sixth and final season. He is very talented and slightly buried in that crazy deep Buckeyes defensive line. Somebody will be getting a really good one and it will be fun to see what he can do with an increased role. We'll track his whereabouts for 2025.
Nebraska ::: The Huskers defense gets a jolt as Georgia Southern LB Marques Watson-Trent [14.8] has committed to joining the middle of this defense in 2025. There were quite a few programs after him following a season that saw him rack up 55 tackles and 33 stops on defense for the Eagles.
Florida ::: The Gators have been a little slower to the portal mix, but did grab a solid level-up defensive back as Adrian Maddox [13.6] joins the Gators from UAB. As a safety, he chipped in on both run defense and pass coverage this season and it's enough to get him to the SEC and he should play a rotational role for Florida. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Georgia ::: S Zion Branch [13.6] is heading to Athens with this brother, Zachariah, after both left the USC program, vowing to the Dawgs for the 2025 and possibly 2026 if they decide to stick around. A nice two-for-one for Kirby Smart and company.
Washington ::: Here is a name to track as he looks for a new home. CB Thaddeus Dixon [15.0] is leaving Washington in search of a new home. He was one of the better cover cornerbacks in the Big Ten and will play elsewhere in 2025. He retains two years of eligibility.
Miami (FL) ::: Washington State's CB Ethan O'Connor [15.6] is/was one of the top cover cornerbacks in the portal. He announced his intention to sign with the Hurricanes, giving this unit another solid secondary pickup, joining Jacksonville State S Zechariah Poyser [14.6] in the unit for 2025.
Missouri ::: CB Stephen Hall [14.8] became a top cover corner (along with the aforementioned O'Connor) for the Cougars. He's now headed to Mizzou to join a secondary that is being rebuilt utilizing the portal.
In other Mizzou news for this secondary is safety Jalen Catalon [14.0] not following his head coach to Purdue, instead goes to his former head coaches' former employer for his final season of eligibility. Catalon has been at both Arkansas and UNLV with Barry Odom, but will head to Columbia to finish up his collegiate career.
Texas A&M ::: CB Jordan Shaw [13.8] is heading to Texas A&M. After a season at Indiana then then this past one at Washington, he heads to the SEC to join the Aggies to provide a solid presense in what should be a solid rotational role for him in College Station.
That’s our (portal) show for today. As always, thank you for following along and would appreciate any recommendations to your inner circles. More insights on the way…