CFB DeptHITS: Sunday, December 8
We're adding a 'special edition' of the HITS (usually off on Sundays); to bring you up to speed on all of the news of the day. We're also introducing you to our "Portal Tracker" and tools...
In this special edition, we’ll get you the HITS at the bottom. We will introduce you to what we think is the best “Portal Tracker” available. We’ll start with the table that includes all of the players entering the portal in 2025 with extra information - led by our player ratings. From there, we’ll be adding in another analytical tool called the “Portal Talent Churn” report. This will aggregate the incoming and outgoing players on each squad and give you a clear picture on who added (and lost) the most talent as a whole.
So, please head over to the site to check out the first tool - the Tracker (click the image):
We will launch the second tool, the “Portal Talent Churn” (PTC) to the mix later this week when we start to see more players committing to schools.
And, with that, we’ll get you some HITS for today…
Georgia ::: QB Carson Beck was injured on the final play of the first half of the SEC Championship game and did not return until overtime when he handed off to Trevor Etienne for the winning touchdown. He's getting an MRI on an "upper extremity injury" (ie: his hand/finger). He'll have a little extra time to heal up with Georgia earning a bye and Gunner Stockton appears to be capable of leading the offense if needed.
Iowa State ::: TE Benjamin Brahmer made his limited return to the field in the Big XII Championship, playing 20 snaps. He was a non-factor in the blowout loss. He appears healthy enough to return for whatever bowl game the Cyclones end up in.
Kansas ::: QB Jalon Daniels has "reached a deal" to return to Kansas for his final season. The terminology is still something to get used to; but this the world we are living in. The KU Collective has made their offer and Daniels will return. Great news for the Jayhawks and this offense for 2025.
|||||| PORTAL NAMES TO KNOW
Arkansas ::: CB Jaylon Braxton is heading out of Fayetteville for 2025. He was injured in week four and sat the rest of the season. He should garner some attention by other SEC schools in the off-season as he will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Western Kentucky ::: We like finding some of those diamonds in the rough coming up from the G5 that may garner some attention in the portal and one of those names is DT Jayden Loving from the Hilltoppers. He had a big season and if surrounded by others his caliber, he should thrive. Keep him on the watch list in the portal.
QB TJ Finley was injured in week three and never recovered. Caden Veltkamp took the job and now Finley, who transferred over from Texas State, will be on the move again. He was originally an LSU signee, who moved to Auburn before the Bobcats. He will now look for his fifth team!
Arizona ::: TE Keyan Burnett is a good one and is on the move. The now former Arizona Wildcat didn't put up huge numbers, but does rate out very well as both a receiver and blocker. He was injured late in the season and did not play since week 11. We'll keep an eye on his landing spot.
Purdue ::: TE Max Klare is heading to the portal. He should be one of the more in-demand at the tight end position this off-season. He is a receiver first and doesn't do a whole lot in the blocking game. He caught 51 passes for 684 yards and four touchdowns. The Boilermakers roster is being decimated every day that passes.
Jacksonville State ::: EDGE Reginald Hughes is heading to the portal after his run to the C-USA title with the Gamecocks. He racked up six sacks and 15 hurries this season. Hughes has one more year of eligibility remaning and he'll look to take his talents to a bigger school.
Washington State ::: CB Ethan O'Connor heads to the portal after a big breakout campaign in Pullman in 2024. The redshirt freshman became a full-time starter and the highest rated in the Cougars secondary. He finished with four interceptions. He will be in-demand.
New Mexico ::: RB Eli Sanders left Iowa State looking for more of an opportunity to be a featured back. He found that at New Mexico this past season, taking 147 carries for over 1,000 yards and nine scores for the Lobos. He's on the move again (like many of his teammates in Albuquerque) as he announces his intention to enter the portal.
USC ::: Trojans EDGE Sam Greene is entering the portal. He will have three years of eligibility remaining after being a part of a deep rotation for D'Anton Lynn's scheme in LA. The problem is that he managed under 20 snaps per game and he would like to see more.
San Diego State ::: RB Jaylon Armstead was overlooked by new coach Sean Lewis at San Diego State. He brought in Marquez Cooper from Ball State to become the bellcow there. Armstead rates well (14.2) from his past work and will enter the portal for his final year.
|||||| COACHING CAROUSEL KEEPS SPINNING
Marshall ::: Marshall identified their new head coach, NC State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Tony Gibson. He'll take over a solid roster that just won the Sun Belt Conference. Gibson was also West Virginia's defensive coordinator prior to his time in Raleigh. He has been awaiting an opportunity to take over as head coach at a program. That time has come.
Purdue ::: The Boilermakers have hired former UNLV and Missouri head coach Barry Odom to revive the program. Odom did a great job in Las Vegas and can likely bring a lot of talent with him from the Rebels to aide in a quick(er) turn around. This is no easy task though. The Boilers were one of the worst power five programs in 2024.
Southern Miss ::: In another solid hire; Southern Miss gets their guy convincing Charles Huff to head out of Marshall and take over the Eagles. Huff was not offered a new contract at Marshall despite their recent success; including a Sun Belt Championship this season. The Herd have moved on and hired NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson.
Charlotte ::: Charlotte poaches Ohio's head coach Tim Albin, fresh off a MAC Championship win over Miami (OH) on Saturday. Albin was at Ohio since 2005 (!) and was their head coach the past four seasons.
Kansas ::: A change at defensive coordinator in Lawrence as well. Brian Borland is stepping down to make way for D.K. McDonald, who spent the 2024 season as the defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator after a stint in the NFL.
UCF ::: The Knights administration went to an old name to get this thing back on track as Scott Frost has been hired to take over in Orlando. He was last a Senior Analyst in the NFL, and his time as Nebraska's head coach ('18-22) didn't go well after a great two-year run here at UCF. Prior to that, he made his name in coaching at Oregon. Can he regain the magic in Orlando? It starts with keeping some of this talent around.
Appalachian State ::: The Mountaineers have their new head man and it's South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. Known for his long-time as an NFL offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Shane Beamer took some heat for the hiring after things flamed out with the Jets in the NFL. However, Loggains showed his chops in two seasons in Columbia and will move to Boone, North Carolina to take over a rebuild at Appalachian State.
Florida International ::: The Panthers moved quickly to nab Willie Simmons as their next head coach. He comes in from Duke where he spent 2024 on Manny Diaz' staff as running backs coach. He was head coach at FAMU and Prairie View at the FCS level and had a lot of success. He'll take on the tough task of re-building this roster and getting FIU competitive.
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