CFB DeptHITS: Tuesday, April 22
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.
Today, we’ll get you the ‘need to knows’ from this nutty transfer portal and keep you up to speed on the intel that is coming at us from all angles from the experts in the field. Just know that there is light at the end of this tunnel and we’ll bring it all together for you in the form of our first annual State of the Chart™ digital magazine, slated for a July release.
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.
Georgia ::: The Dawgs made a big splash on Easter, with the announcements of three big-time portal pickups. Starting with Illinois RB Josh McCray [15.9] and then followed quickly by Army EDGE Elo Modozie [15.7] and the cherry on top is Miami (FL) transfer DL Josh Horton [12.4].
Ole Miss ::: The Rebels add another talented runner to their running back room as former Troy Trojan Damien Taylor [16.0] heads to Oxford. He ran 173 times for 1,010 yards and seven scores for the Trojans in 2024.
UCLA ::: QB Nico Iamaleava [15.6] has landed in LA. He will join UCLA and hope to return to doing what he does best: playing football. The saga that led to his departure from Tennessee was sad to watch unfold, but he's landed on his feet. Now, the challenge is learning a new system that will not be as friendly as that of Josh Huepel in Knoxville.
Tennessee ::: Meanwhile, once informed that Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava was headed to UCLA, Joey Aguilar [14.5] re-entered the portal after his transfer to the Bruins earlier this off-season. He enjoyed a fine two-year stretch as the starter at Appalachian State. He then quickly signed with the Vols himself, completing a 'quarterback swap' that only adds to the intrigue of this storyline. Advantage: Aguilar.
Kentucky ::: The Wildcats land a talented back as Seth McGowan [15.2] is heading back to the big-time after a season at New Mexico State. That 2024 season saw him pick up 823 yards on 152 carries with three touchdown runs. He will need to do some quick work to pass Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell, who separated himself as the most likely to lead this backfield in '25.
South Florida ::: The Bulls are losing a big part of their defense to the spring transfer portal. DL Bernard Gooden [15.2] is entering after a growth season in Tampa. The underlying player-level data suggests he's more than a numbers compiler.
Oklahoma ::: DL David Stone [15.0] utilized the threat of the portal to get the attention of the Sooner collective and earn a nice NIL payday. He will indeed return to Norman and continue his ascent as a big part of this defense.
Indiana ::: The Hoosiers have added a nice defensive pickup as former Kent State DE Stephen Daley [14.8] has signed with Indiana. He immediately jumped into the mix for the Flashes after coming in the 2022 class and has one season of eligibility remaining. He racked up 51 tackles and four sacks in '24.
Virginia ::: Colorado transfer RB Isaiah Augustave [14.4] has signed with the Cavaliers. He took 85 carries for 385 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. It will be his third stop after starting his career at Arkansas. This was the subject of the gripes from Coach Prime and his allegations of tampering targeted at the Virginia staff.
Ole Miss ::: DT Akelo Stone [14.1] is heading to the portal from the Rebels. He came to Oxford from Georgia Tech and has one season of eligibility remaining. His numbers may not jump off the page, but his player-level data suggests he's a solid presence on the interior of the defensive line and will be a nice pickup for a squad looking to plug some holes up front.
SMU ::: The Mustangs land former Mizzou DL Jahkai Lang [13.3]. He's young and got his feet wet for the Tigers, putting up three sacks in '24. He has three seasons of eligibility after coming to Columbia as a 3-star recruit in the class of 2023.
Auburn ::: Former Maryland LB Caleb Wheatland [13.2] has joined Auburn. He heads to The Plains to help replace a lot of lost talent from the linebacker room. He should have a good shot to impact the rotation in '25.
Wake Forest ::: The Deacons add Tennessee State WR Karate Brenson [13.1] after a big season at Tennessee State. He caught 70 passes for 963 yards and six scores for the Tigers. He'll vie for playing time when he arrives to camp and will have to get up to speed quickly this summer. He and Washington State transfer Carlos Hernandez are the most likely additions (of many) to make an impact come the fall.
Purdue ::: The Boilermakers add a potential playmaker as they sign WR Michael Jackson III [13.0]. He started his career at USC and then went to Georgia. Those two stops net 47 catches and five touchdowns. He looks to get in a full season and impact things in his final season of eligibility.
UCF ::: The Knights add former JMU and UConn kicker Noe Ruelas [15.6]. He is the likely candidate to take over for Colton Boomer, who left for Boise State this off-season. According to our numbers, this is an upgrade for Scott Frost and company.
|||||| QUICK HITS
More information on the periphery, including coaching changes, less impactful (but still important) player movement, and more.
The Syracuse Orange are trying to rebuild a broken offense, with so much talent leaving the program. They are hosting Notre Dame QB Steve Angeli [15.4], after he entered the spring portal after it became apparent that CJ Carr is the front-runner for the Irish job. They also are bringing in Washington/Texas transfer WR Johntay Cook [13.9] simultaneously. If they can find the right pieces, this offense can thrive as it showed with Kyle McCord and company in 2024.
Cal RB Jaivian Thomas [14.3] is visiting Colorado. The in-demand back entered the portal, along with a host of other Bears, in this spring window.
North Dakota State transfer RB CharMar Brown [14.2] is getting a lot of attention from power four schools after entering the portal and is said to be visiting Miami (FL) and Cal this week.
Western Michigan DL Mason Nelson [13.2] is visiting Vanderbilt.
WR/KR Keelan Marion [13.1] is leaving BYU and has offers coming in from the likes of Wisconsin and Virginia Tech, among many others. He’s a really hot commodity on the market right now.
Kansas DL Bai Jobe [12.7] is entering the portal. He spent his first season at Michigan State. The former 4-star recruit has seen just 90 total snaps of action in his first two seasons. He retains three years of eligibility.
Cincinnati/FAU WR Tony Johnson [12.3] is visiting UCF this week.
North Dakota State DL Kody Huisman [12.3] has entered the portal with a ‘do not contact’ tag. That typically indicates he knows where he is planning to transfer and we’ll likely hear quickly.
Duquesne RB JaMario Clements [12.3] has received an offer from UMass. He looks to find a level-up school in FBS and the Minutemen are going after him shortly after losing CJ Hester to Michigan.
SEMO DL Jaylon Stone [12.3] is adding a visit to Vanderbilt. He’s already scheduled to take a look at Kentucky, Illinois and Oklahoma. His potential value is showing in the schools paying attention. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Michigan State CB Dillon Tatum [12.2] has announced that he is entering the portal. A 4-star recruit in the ‘22 class played just 21 snaps last year for Sparty after suffering an injury. He’ll retain two years at his new school.
Louisiana Tech OL Ja’Marion Kennedy [12.1] has signed with Wake Forest.
Former New Mexico OL Wallace Unamba [12.1] has signed with Virginia. He stopped in to check out Kentucky this spring, but decided to re-enter and will head to Charlottesville. He has been at FAU and a JUCO already, and if he gets that JUCO year back via the Pavia rule, he’d have two seasons remaining.
NC State LB Kamal Bonner [12.1] is entering the portal. He received significant playing time in Raleigh this past season and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Auburn brings back a former son as DL Jay Hardy [12.0] couldn’t stay off The Plains for long. He left the program for Liberty a year ago but is now returning.
North Carolina WR Christian Hamilton [11.8] has signed with West Virginia. He was a class of ‘23 4-star recruit and has three years remaining.
Auburn transfer CB Terrance Love [11.7] has signed with Colorado.
South Carolina G Kam Pringle [11.7] is entering the portal after playing just six snaps his true freshman season in Columbia.
Former Wagner WR Jaylen Bonelli [11.6] is looking to level up to the FBS ranks and has visits set up with Sam Houston, Arkansas State and Coastal Carolina coming up.
Former Michigan RB Benjamin Hall [11.1] has signed with North Carolina.
South Alabama starting LT Jordan Davis [11.0] is entering the portal.
Oklahoma State freshman QB Maealiuaki Smith [11.0] is entering the portal after being thrown into the fire as a true in ‘24. This should be an indication that TCU transfer Hauss Hejny [11.1] worked his way ahead of Smith for the Pokes’ starting quarterback gig.
Iowa State LB Jack Sadowski V [10.9] is entering the portal.
Former Princeton RB John Volker [10.8] has signed with Michigan.
Former Troy TE Brody Dalton [10.8] is setting up visits to Alabama and North Carolina.
Former Arizona State / Georgia QB Jaden Rashada [10.6] is taking a visit to North Carolina. We still think that heading to the group of five level to get on the field would be a good move for his career. He can show what he can do and always level back up, however, if he keeps signing at these big schools with loads of talent, that may not happen.
Cal lands former Liberty EDGE TJ Bush Jr. [10.3] from the spring portal.
CB Anthony Hightower Jr. [8.8] is leaving D2 Lenoir-Rhyne and has a visit scheduled with South Alabama.
Louisville/Western Kentucky LB Darius Thomas [9.1] is taking visits to West Virginia and Indiana in the coming days.
|||||| STATE OF THE CHART™ MAGAZINE
Now it’s time for the shameless plug. We are working behind-the-scenes to bring all of this crazy movement and information to you in the form of all 136-team updates heading into the season. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with everything as it happens in this nutty spring portal window. Therefore, we suggest you check out our magazine, set to debut in early July — with subsequent updates leading up to the season. Of course, the team pages at the site will all be updated in real-time, but this magazine will feature more analysis and information, likely than even you will want to know. Please consider clicking the link below and throwing your e-mail in there on that page. We’ll keep you up to speed on how things are progressing and a sneak preview or two along the way.
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