CFB DeptHITS: Thursday, December 19
Plenty of portal news, including some dominoes at the top of the rankings falling to their new schools. Two head coaching vacancies now and other coaching movement and another bowl game tonight...
Welp, the news cycle is quite overwhelming right now. Weeding through what actually matters is the tough part. That’s why we are here. We’ll get you caught up on some more NFL draft commitments/bowl game opt outs. Then, we’ll hit that portal, which is now seeing a 20% commitment rate already. Some big names finding their 2025 homes. We’ll finish up with a new head coach in Winston Salem and a preview for tonight’s New Orleans Bowl…
|||||| PLAYER AVAILABILITY / WAIVER NEWS
Vanderbilt ::: The Commodores were planning to find their 2025 quarterback after Diego Pavia’s eligibility ran out on him following this year. They found their guy. And, it’s…Diego Pavia. That's right. He wins his appeal for an extra year of eligibility and will return to Nashville for one more go at it.
Texas Tech ::: The Tech wide receivers corps will be a shell of itself come their Liberty Bowl appearance. Top receiver Josh Kelly is going to sit it out to prepare for the NFL draft. They also have four more contributors who are in the portal and unlikely to play.
TCU ::: The Horned Frogs will be without two playmakers with both Savion Williams and Jack Bech announced to be sitting the bowl game. Both are injured and can not go.
Alabama ::: The Crimson Tide will be without CB Malachi Moore in the bowl game as he needs surgery and will prepare for the NFL Draft as he is out of eligibility.
Virginia Tech ::: QB Kyron Drones has multiple ailments that leave him doubtful to play in the bowl game for the Hokies. Backup Collin Schlee is also banged up from the wear-and-tear of the season and if he is unable to go, they will turn to William Watson III like they did in the season finale.
Missouri ::: TE Brett Norfleet needs surgery and will miss the Tigers' bowl game against Iowa. Norfleet typically saw just under 12% of the looks in the passing game and will be missed. Jordon Harris and Tyler Stephens will get some time.
|||||| TRANSFER PORTAL NEWS
As mentioned earlier, we are tracking over 1,760 players currently in the portal. We have reached the 20% committed mark yesterday as we are already starting to see the pendulum shift towards more signings than those entering. Getting in early is the new way of the world and there are plenty of players and schools getting set in order to get enrolled and with their new squads in time for next semester. This window ends on December 28th (with five extra days for the 12 teams competing in the Playoff).
We will be putting out much more analysis on the “talent churn” we are seeing from all 136 (yes, Delaware and Missouri State will be included) FBS schools for 2025 here shortly on the site. Stay tuned and more to come…
Here’s the HITS you’ll want to know:
Oregon ::: The Ducks were busy on Wednesday in the portal…
First, they identified their replacement for the all-important tight end position in their offense. Louisville transfer Jamari Johnson was expected to land in Eugene since he entered the portal and it sure does make a lot of sense. He will help replace the duo of Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert. This is a big get as Johnson rates out as one of the top players in all of the portal thus far.
On the offensive line, LT Isaiah World is the top pass protecting lineman in the portal and he's headed to Eugene. After extensive experience developed at Nevada, he's heading to the Ducks as its likely one or both starting tackles (Ajani Cornelius and Josh Conerly) will announce for the NFL draft following the playoff run.
Also, Texas State transfer OL Alex Harkey is headed to Eugene to level up to the Ducks for the final year of eligibility. He started at right tackle (moving to right guard sparingly) and projects as a starter quality player who may move to guard if the two tackles choose to return for their final years (unlikely).
Oklahoma ::: The Sooners have their quarterback for 2025. John Mateer committed to the Sooners and brings his video game numbers with him from Pullman and will try to rejuvenate the flat lining Oklahoma offense. He put up over 4,100 total yards and 44 total touchdowns (29 passing, 15 rushing) for the Cougars last year. This will be a different test heading to the SEC, but this is no doubt an upgrade in Norman.
Also, much was made of the wide receiver injuries that struck the Sooners room in 2024. They add a weapon for their new quarterback by signing Arkansas-Pine Bluff WR Javonnie Gibson. Gibson put up big numbers at the FCS level - 70 catches, 1,209 yards and nine touchdowns - and looks to translate that in Norman next season.
Colorado ::: Coach Prime has his next quarterback and it's Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter. With Shedeur Sanders moving to the NFL next year, the Buffaloes need another dynamic signal caller and they get one in Salter. He has a similar dual-threat capability to Sanders but is not the same throwing the ball - though, few are.
Missouri ::: Eli Drinkwitz gets a big landing of RB Ahmad Hardy to join the backfield, replacing the departed Kewan Lacy, who left for Ole Miss a couple of days ago. The combination of Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll certainly got the job done in 2024. With Noel moving on, Hardy is a very worthy replacement. The ULM transfer comes in as the top running back and fourth overall on our portal tracker.
Georgia Tech ::: WR Eric Rivers [15.3] chooses Georgia Tech. A big offensive pickup for the Yellow Jackets as Rivers comes in as the second-highest rated wide receiver in a crowded group (over 275 entered) of pass catchers. They needed an outside threat to replace Eric Singleton Jr. who hit the portal earlier. Rivers teams up with slot receiver Malik Rutherford to provide a balanced threat of receivers in the passing game.
Rutgers ::: WR DT Sheffield is headed to Piscataway to replace Dyere Miller in the slot for the Scarlet Knights. Sheffield comes in from North Texas (via Washington State) and fills a would-be need for this passing attack.
Utah ::: WR Joseph Williams may fly a bit under the radar with so many big name wide outs in the portal. A day after QB Isaac Wilson retracted his portal entry, he gets a weapon coming in from Tulsa. Williams had 30 grabs for 588 yards and five scores a year ago and joins Mississippi State transfer Creed Whittamore in Salt Lake.
Miami (FL) ::: The Hurricanes land a top wide receiver target as CJ Daniels is coming to Miami from LSU (via Liberty) and provides a threat in the passing game, assuming he can stay healthy in 2025. This is a need as the 'Canes are likely to be without their top three options from 2024 as Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George and Isaiah Horton (portal) are moving on.
Arizona ::: Brent Brennan is quietly building up the receiving corps for QB Noah Fifita, who recently re-affirmed his commtment to staying at Arizona. After losing their top guy Tetairoa McMillan to the NFL, they have added Luke Wysong from New Mexico to run the slot and now Kris Huston from Washington State, who can move around the field. Two solid pick-ups.
Alabama ::: The Crimson Tide land a big-time cornerback as Cameron Calhoun is moving from Utah to Tuscaloosa for 2025. He started his career at Michigan and has grown into a highly-rated all-around defensive back. A solid pickup for the Tide defense.
Vanderbilt ::: The quarterback story isn't the only good news the Vandy program received on Wednesday. One that may be a bit more under-the-radar is the pick up of OL Jordan White from Liberty. He plays left guard and grades out as one of the best run blockers in the game. He'll be asked to play both guard positions in Nashville (as all are) and we're sure he can handle that.
Texas Tech ::: The Red Raiders continue their assault on the early portal by grabbing a solid contributor on the offensive line, signing Howard Sampson from North Carolina. Sampson started at left tackle for the Heels and played just about every snap, offering very good pass protection [14.3].
Wake Forest ::: Somebody will be adding a solid offensive lineman as Luke Petitbon has entered the portal amidst the coaching change in Winston Salem. Maybe Jake Dickert can convince him to stay, but for now, he entered. He is the full-time starting center and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Virginia ::: Here is a name to know from the FCS to FBS ranks...RB J'Mari Taylor. He put up 1,128 yards and 15 scores at NC Central this past season and now will join the Cavaliers backfield. Xavier Brown likely returns, but Taylor brings another solid backup to play alongside the dynamic Brown and having multiple backs is necessary these days. A solid under-the-radar pickup.
USC ::: The Trojans have identified at least one of the replacements for Woody Marks and it will be Eli Sanders, coming in from New Mexico (via Iowa State). Sanders is a dynamic back who can get involved similarly on the ground and in the air to what Marks brought in 2024.
Kennesaw State ::: Put us in the category of looking forward to seeing a healthy Dexter Williams II on the field in 2025. He signed on with Kennesaw State and will be in the running to take the reigns of Jerry Mack's squad. He showed some of that capability in a short stint at Indiana before injury befell him. He then was stuck behind a very good JC French at Georgia Southern this season.
|||||| DICKERT TO LEAD THE DEACS
There is a new sheriff in town for the Demon Deacons as the administration at Wake Forest moved swiftly to identify next head football coach and they lure Jake Dickert away from Washington State. His background is in defense, but he has overseen some pretty dynamic offenses in his time with the Cougars. He will work quickly to try to keep the roster in tact and bring over some of his better players from Pullman.
|||||| NEW ORLEANS BOWL PREVIEW
The bowl season rolls along as we have the New Orleans Bowl tonight featuring the Eagles of Georgia Southern and the Sam Houston Bearkats. Get the ‘quick preview’ and full ‘Game Card’ over at the site by clicking on this image:
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