By Mark Pszonak
This has been a busy transfer portal cycle for linebackers, but while many found new homes, not all will make an immediate impact. Here are the ten who will make the 2024 college football season more exciting:
1. Jamon Dumas-Johnson – Kentucky (Georgia)
The skinny: Kentucky pulled off a huge recruiting victory by adding Dumas-Johnson to their defense. Arriving in Lexington with plenty of SEC experience, he totaled 125 tackles, 17.5 and 9.5 sacks during his time with the Bulldogs while being a starter the last two seasons. He was also a Butkus Award finalist as the top linebacker in the country in 2022.
2. Jaheim Thomas – Wisconsin (Arkansas)
The skinny: After spending three seasons with Cincinnati, Thomas enjoyed his best collegiate season in 2023 at Arkansas with 90 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. The move to the Badgers makes sense, since he is very familiar with head coach Luke Fickell, who was his coach with the Bearcats. At 6-foot-4 and 240-pounds, expect Thomas to make an immediate impact with the Badgers.
3. Jaishawn Barham – Michigan (Maryland)
The skinny: Michigan isn’t overly active in the portal, but when they are they’ve brought in vital players over the course of the last few seasons. You can add Barham to this list, as he should seamlessly slide into the Wolverines’ defensive unity. A player who is just reaching his potential, he totaled 95 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and seven sacks in his two seasons with Maryland.
4. Easton Mascarenas-Arnold – USC (Oregon State)
The skinny: As has become the norm at USC, the defense once again lagged behind the offense last season. Adding Mascarenas-Arnold, who is coming off his best collegiate season with 107 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions, may go a long way in trying to resolve this problem. He wasn’t the biggest linebacker in the portal (5-foot-11, 225-pounds), but his production proves that he belongs at the highest level.
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5. John Pius – Wisconsin (William & Mary)
The skinny: The second Badger on this list may end up being one of the more intriguing additions of this portal cycle. Pius, an FCS All-American at William & Mary, totaled 172 tackles, 35 tackles for a loss and 21 sacks over the last two seasons. It may take him a little bit of time to get adjusted to the size and speed of the Big Ten, but his playmaking ability gives him the potential to be a difference maker in Madison.
6. Bangally Kamara – South Carolina (Pittsburgh)
The skinny: Kamara, a two-year starter at outside linebacker with the Panthers, totaled 117 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks during this time. He was a key addition for the Gamecocks after they lost two potential difference makers at the position (Stone Blanton and Pup Howard) to the portal.
7. Chris Paul Jr. – Ole Miss (Arkansas)
The skinny: Paul, the second Arkansas departure on this list, stayed in the SEC with a commitment to Ole Miss. While the Razorbacks’ defense has had their fair share of issues recently, Paul consistently produced with 136 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks during his last two seasons in Fayetteville. He fills a position of needs for the Rebels, who lost two key inside linebackers, Monty Montgomery and Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, to graduation.
8. Xavian Sorey – Arkansas (Georgia)
The skinny: With Arkansas having two departures on this list, they needed to respond with a key addition. That is Sorey, who never got the full opportunity to thrive in Georgia, but has the potential to be a difference maker at Arkansas now that he will be depended to be an immediate starter.
9. Bryun Parham – Washington (San Jose State)
The skinny: No team in the country has undergone a bigger overhaul during the last two months, both with players and coaches, than Washington. And with their move to the Big Ten looming, they had to replenish their roster through the portal. Parham will greatly help the transition after totaling 180 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks during his last two seasons with the Spartans.
10. Sam Brumfield – Virginia Tech (Middle Tennessee State)
The skinny: The Hokies quietly added some important pieces through the portal last year and hope that Brumfield will bring that same level of contribution in 2024. Brought in as a middle linebacker, a definite position of need, Brumfield finished the 2023 season with 81 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. It was his only season with the Blue Raiders after signing as a JUCO. While he is a bit undersized (5-foot-11), he packs a punch with his 230-pound frame and showed impressive speed and footwork during his one season at the FBS level.
