CFB DeptHITS: Thursday, December 5
The news is flowing in and we are getting you what you need to know from the Conference Championship week previews, to the transfer portal buzz and coaching movement. It's all here.
Today we have another jam-packed edition of the HITS. We’ll get you caught up on the Conference Championship week previews. We’ll get you the more impactful names expected to hit the portal later this week. Finally, the coaching carousel is well underway. We’ll deal with that Class of 2025 signing day a little later (once these dudes stop flipping)…
|||||| CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK PREVIEWS
We have nine Conference Championships set to start kicking off tomorrow (Friday) and we’ll rolling out previews and ‘Game Cards’ for each of them. You can see them all - as they are posted - by clicking this button:
Before we get to the links to the five previews we have posted thus far; we wanted to get you up to speed on the updates from the SEC Availability report put out for the SEC Championship game:
Georgia ::: RB Trevor Etienne remains questionable to play in the SEC Championship game as he continues to work back from injury. Fellow RBs Branson Robinson and Chauncey Bowens, along with DL Christen Miller are also questionable to play.
Texas ::: Both QB Quinn Ewers and RB Jaydon Blue are good to go for the SEC Championship. Each was slowed with injuires and we were tracking; but were not included in the first availability report released on Wednesday. Meanwhile, LT Kelvin Banks Jr. is questionable as he works back from an injury against A&M last week.
We are going to sprinkle in these preview links throughout this edition of the HITS - just click on the image to be taken to the full preview and ‘Game Card’ …
The other four will be up later today…
|||||| TRANSFER PORTAL UPDATES
Players are announcing their intentions to enter the transfer portal as high rate of speed, as expected. The portal window opens on Sunday (12/9) and we’ll be ready. We are preparing the launch of a “Portal Hub” that will get you everything you need to know about who is winning and losing from all of the crazy movement.
We are tracking over 300 players already expected to enter the portal (and six commitments to new squads).
Here are some of the ones you’ll want to know:
Kentucky ::: WR Dane Key put up 47 catches for 715 yards and two scores for the Wildcats in 2024. He dominated the target share and moved his PR to 15.8. He'll be yet another in demand wide receiver heading into his final year of eligibility.
UCF ::: RB Waymond Jordan is a top JUCO running back in this upcoming class. He narrowed down his list to the Knights, Mizzou and South Florida. He chose UCF after putting up over 1,300 yards and 18 scores for Hutchinson Community College in 2024. He burst on the scene after playing seven games in 2023, getting just 27 carries. He'll have two full years of eligibility. He did this without knowing who the head coach will be for the Knights. That’s interesting. Good news.
Bad news. True freshman corner back Chasen Johnson had a great first year on campus in Orlando. He played a lot but didn't put up huge numbers. Just three tackles, a 12.0 rating and no interceptions. He enters the portal looking for a new home. He was a 3-star recruit out of Sanford, FL (Seminole HS) and may choose to stay in Florida.
Oklahoma ::: QB Jackson Arnold heads to the portal. He entered 2024 as one of the bright, young stars of college football and was supposed to take a big step forward. Instead, the entire Sooners offense stalled (aided by some major wide receiver injuries) and he was eventually benched. He'll look for a fresh start in a new program in 2025.
Sam Houston State ::: Caleb Weaver (15.9) was one of the best G5 defensive players for the Bearkats in 2024. He's entering the portal and will be on the target list for a lot of big-time programs in need of secondary help.
Miami (FL) ::: QB Reese Poffenbarger, other than having a cool name, is a relatively highly touted player who spent time at ODU and then made a name for himself at FCS Albany. He went to Miami last year, hoping to start, before they added a guy named Cam Ward. He now enters the Portal with one year of eligibiilty apparently. A name to watch for group of five schools in need of a quarterback.
Purdue ::: DB Dillon Thieneman was one of the few bright spots on a really poor Purdue defense this year and he's going ot be on the move. He played a full-time role in the secondary and put up some impressive numbers and the player-level data suggests he could start just about anywhere. He'll be in demand this portal season.
Bowling Green ::: RB Terion Stewart is headed to the Portal. He ran for 895 yards this season and is a talented back likely looking for more exposure (or NIL dollars) at a bigger school. He has one year of eligibility remaning and is a non-factor in the passing game.
Tulsa ::: RB Viron Ellison Jr. may sneak under the radar in the portal circles, but he is somebody to keep an eye on. In his true freshman season at Tulsa, he entered into a co-starter situation with Anthony Watkins and averaged 5.7 yards per carry wiht those 62 attempts. He will look for a new program for 2025.
Northwestern ::: CB Devin Turner was one of the Big Ten's best cornerbacks and rates very highly by our ratings (15.2 overall; and solid across the board). This is an impact member of the secondary and we'll track his whereabouts for the 2025 season.
Also, starting RG Josh Thompson is heading to the Portal. He started every game for the Wildcats and built his rating up to 14.0 overall. He's at 15.6 as a pass blocker and has one year of eligibility remaining. Another blow to the Northwestern roster.
Iowa ::: QB Cade McNamara is entering the portal. Yes, he has eligibility remaining (somehow). He had an injury-riddled and performance challenged time in Iowa City. Now that the Hawkeyes are moving on with Brendan Sullivan, McNamara will search for a new home in 2025.
Temple ::: CB Jamel Johnson is headed to the portal after really showing out this season coming in from Charleston Southern. He became the top cover corner on the team and managed two interceptions and four pass breakups on the season. He will look for a new home in 2025, his final season of eligibility.
Fresno State ::: WR Raylen Sharpe is back in the portal (for a third time). After starting his career at Houston, he made a name for himself at FCS Missouri State. He was highly sought after in last years portal class and landed at Fresno. This year he joined Mac Dalena and Jalen Moss as the top three options in the Bulldogs passing attack. He reeled in 51 passes for 524 yards and three touchdowns.
Later in the day, fellow WR Jalen Moss announced he will also be entering the portal. He finished with 48 catches (on 72 targets) for 564 yards and four touchdowns.
Appalachian State ::: The Mountaineers fired their head coach and their roster will look at lot different. They already will be down two key defensive players in DE Shawn Collins and DT Joshua Donald. Both announced they would be entering the portal.
Central Michigan ::: Starting RB Brady Ploucha is going to enter the Portal. He played a key role on the Chips offensive line and his loss will be felt.
More names in the ‘Sicko Section’ below…
|||||| COACHING CAROUSEL UPDATES
Schools are jockeying for position to try to get the next big head coach hire. Also, head coaches are shuffling things up to improve their staffs in preparation of 2025. Here are the updates you’ll want to know:
Massachusetts ::: Joe Harasymiak is named the new head coach at UMass. He served as defensive coordinator the last three seasons at Rutgers under Greg Schiano. He lead a top-45 unit despite injuries and gets his second head coaching job. The 38-year old was the youngest head coach is Division I history when named the head man at FCS Maine back in 2016. He made the leap to FCS coaching under Joe Rossi at Minnesota and now gets another chance to lead a program.
Fresno State ::: Fresno State is moving forward with Matt Entz as their new head coach. He comes to Fresno from USC where he was the linebackers coach this season, but is better known for his dominating run at the FCS level at North Dakota State. In five years, he made the playoffs every year and won two National titles. He followed Chris Kleiman to the helm of the Bison after his departure for Kansas State. A splash hire for the Bulldogs. However, it remains to be seen how he will do having to build a roster after being handed a championship-caliber squad in his past head coaching life.
Ball State ::: The Cardinals are hiring Mike Uremovich to a five-year deal to become the next head coach at Ball State. He compiled a 23-11 record at FCS Butler and looks to bring stability to the program that is in need of if following the Mike Neu era.
Oklahoma State ::: After his worst season at Oklahoma State in 2024, Mike Gundy is overhauling his assistant coaching staff heading into 2025. He has parted ways with both defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo and offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn.
Houston ::: Slade Nagel has is reunited with his long-time boss Willie Fritz at Houston. After one year serving as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at LSU, Nagel heads to Houston to replace Kevin Barbay (fired earlier this year) as the offensive coordinator.
UAB ::: Trent Dilfer was given another year to make things happen at UAB. That comes with some added pressure to do things a bit differently. The first change is the firing of defensive coordinator Sione Fa'ufo'ou. Dilfer will look for a new leader of his defense for the 2025 season.
That’s our primary show for today. If you are a true ‘sicko’ you can continue reading below for more transfer portal buzz. Thanks for following along. Please consider sharing this publication and CFBDepth.com with your friends. It really fuels the work we do.
|||||| SICKO SECTION
Bowling Green K Alan Anaya (14.3) entered portal.
UNC QB Conner Harrell (12.3) entered portal.
Defensive line coach Terrance Knighton is leaving Nebraska, along with DC Tony White to head to Tallahassee to join the FSU staff in the same role.
Texas A&M TE Jaden Platt is entering the portal. He was a 4-star recruit in the 2023 class and played just 7 snaps this season for A&M.
Michigan OL Raheem Anderson is entering the portal. He’s a former 4-star recruit back in 2021. He has played very sparingly over his time at Michigan. He’ll be a target for a number of smaller P5 or a lot of G5 schools for 2025. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Tennessee RB Khalifa Keith will enter the portal. He is buried in a deep Vols running back room and saw 21 carries this year. He has 3 years of eligibility remaining.
Oklahoma State DB Lyric Rawls (12.9) is hitting the portal with one year remaining.
Ball State CB Thailand Baldwin (13.4) heads to the portal for his final year of eligibility.
West Virginia LB Josiah Trotter (13.2) heads to the portal with three years of eligibility remaining. He is the son of former NFL star LB Jeremiah Trotter.
Fresno State DL Jacob Holmes (13.2) is entering the portal, joining a lot of his now former teammates.
Stanford DB JShawn Frausto-Ramos (13.0) entered the portal. He was a 4-star recruit in 2023 and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Former Michigan RB CJ Stokes played at Charlotte this past season but didn’t get much playing time. He will be on the move again as he’s re-entering the portal.
Tulsa S Vontroy Malone (13.9) enters the portal and will have two years of eligibility for his new school.
Okay, that’s enough. :)
