Alabama, Southern Cal bolstered rosters
The onetime transfer rule allowing players to switch schools without losing a year of eligibility had already transformed roster management across the Football Bowl Subdivision.
And then came legislation related to name, image and likeness, which has caused exponentially greater disruption for FBS coaches and programs trying to get a handle on depth charts and playing time.
What’s ensued this offseason may only be a taste of what’s to come. Many programs, most from the Power Five, have made a dozen additions or more out of the portal, and every school has been impacted in one form or another by the thousands of players who have put their names on the block since the end of last season.
Some schools did better than others. To little surprise, Alabama coach Nick Saban has found another avenue to bolster his already star-studded lineup. New hires such as Lincoln Riley at Southern Cal have used the portal to quickly rebuild rosters depleted in the wake of coaching turnover.
With transfer season mostly complete but many players still looking for a new home, here are the winners and losers from the portal.
WINNERS Alabama
It’s not a huge group, but the Crimson Tide have made each signing count. Cornerback Eli Ricks (LSU) is one of the top defensive backs in the country and a possible starter, should he recover from shoulder surgery and stay out of Saban’s doghouse following an arrest on charges of speeding, driving without insurance and possession of marijuana. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech) is a do-everything skill talent with All-American potential. At worst, offensive tackle Tyler Steen (Vanderbilt) will be a key backup at several spots up front. Wide receiver Jermaine Burton (Georgia) brings along proven SEC production with the benefit of taking production away from Alabama’s cross-division rival. And fellow receiver Tyler Harrell (Louisville) gives the Tide and quarterback Bryce Young a major homerun threat.
Southern California
No team signed more than the Trojans’ 16 transfer additions. The cream of the crop is quarterback Caleb Williams, who followed Riley from Oklahoma and gives USC and the Pac-12 a very strong Heisman Trophy contender. Another OU grab, receiver Mario Williams, will snag a role along the top line of the rotation. Riley and the Trojans also loaded up on players capable of stepping right into the starting lineup, including linebacker Eric Gentry (Arizona State), running back Travis Dye (Oregon) and cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (Colorado), while adding depth to a roster in need of dependable bodies.
Ole Miss
The biggest name is running back Zach Evans (TCU), who averaged 7.3 yards per carry in his two seasons in the Big 12. Lane Kiffin also added quarterback Jaxson Dart (USC), the favorite in the two-man competition to replace Matt Corral in Kiffin’s quarterbackfriendly scheme. The Rebels also improved the pass rush by adding Jared Ivey (Georgia Tech) and Khari Coleman (TCU), inked another productive running back in Ulysses Bentley (SMU) and upgraded at tight end with Michael Trigg (USC).
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers’ odds in this makeor-break year for coach Scott Frost look much better with the additions of quarterback Casey Thompson (Texas), edge rusher Ochaun Mathis (TCU), interior lineman Devin Drew (Texas Tech), cornerback Tommi Hill (Arizona State) and wide receivers Tre Palmer (LSU) and Marcus Washington (Texas). Nebraska should also improve on special teams by adding punter Brian Buschini (Montana), who won the Ray Guy Award last season as the top punter in the Football Championship Subdivision.
South Carolina
Shane Beamer squeezed out a bowl bid in his debut season despite ranking next-to-last in the SEC in yards per play and per game. Bringing in quarterback Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma), a heavy Heisman favorite before struggling through a wildly disappointing 2021 season, dramatically changes the outlook for South Carolina’s offense. But that’s not all: The Gamecocks’ offensive rebuild also includes tight end Austin Stogner (Oklahoma), running backs Christian Beal-Smith (Wake Forest) and Lovasea Carroll (Georgia) and wide receivers Corey Rucker (Arkansas State) and Antwane Wells (James Madison).
LOSERS Pitt
The Panthers did nab former USC quarterback Kedon Slovis to replace first-round pick Kenny Pickett and bolstered the receiver corps by adding Konata Mumpfield (Akron) and Bub Means (Louisiana Tech). Those additions at wideout are suddenly even more vital after losing star Jordan Addison, who took home the Biletnikoff Award last season as the nation’s top receiver but left for USC.
Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets will need to dig deep to replace Gibbs’ all-around importance to last year’s offense. Another troubling development this offseason has been the losses off the edge: Tech lost starters Ivey and Jordan Domineck (Arkansas), who combined for 11.5 tackles for loss in 2021, before rebounding to land a commitment from Wyoming in Solomon Byrd – but Byrd then backed off his verbal pledge to sign with USC.
Georgia
Don’t shed too many tears for the defending national champions; despite an exodus of talent to the NFL and the portal, the Bulldogs are loaded and capable of the repeat. Many offseason transfers landed at SEC rivals, however, including Burton and young cornerback Jalen Kimber, who landed at Florida. In the mix for the starting job last summer before suffering a year-ending injury, Kimber joins the Gators with four years of eligibility and could eventually play a role in determining the SEC East.