By Tony Thomas
The transfer portal is as busy as ever, with a former 5-star QB prospect joining Dillon Gabriel in the Oregon quarterback room; Ole Miss lands its fifth Top 50 portal player; an all-conference TE is headed to the Big Ten; a former SEC defender with a familiar namesake is headed home to Tallahassee; and Baylor lands an All-Conference quarterback.
QB Dante Moore
Oregon Ducks (from UCLA)
6’3”, 210 lbs.
As the highest-rated recruit in the history of UCLA football, Dante Moore played in nine games as a true freshman for the Bruins this season and is the #2 QB prospect in the transfer portal. Moore passed for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine INTs, while completing 53% of his passes.
His best game of the season came against San Diego State, in which Moore passed for 290 yards, three touchdowns, and no INTs in a 35-10 win.
As a 5-star prospect and #3 quarterback in the 2023 class, Moore passed for 9,880 yards, 135 touchdowns, and just 20 INTs in his four years of high school. Moore will have three years of eligibility remaining.
CB Decamerion Richardson
Ole Miss Rebels (from Mississippi State)
6’2”, 195 lbs.
As the #41 overall player in the transfer portal, Decamerion Richardson is the fifth Top 50 portal player committed to Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. Richardson was 3rd on the team in tackles this season with 79. In addition, he added one tackle for loss, one sack, and broke up seven passes. Richardson registered three games with nine tackles, with a season-high 12 against Southern Miss in a 41-20 win. He has 177 career tackles to his credit.
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Richardson adds depth to the Rebels secondary, and with his size, he matches up favorably against bigger receivers and will have one year of eligibility remaining.
TE Jack Velling
Michigan State Spartans (from Oregon State)
6’4”, 230 lbs.
As a 2nd Team All-PAC-12 selection, Jack Velling led Oregon State in receiving touchdowns with eight and was third on the team with 438 receiving yards on 29 catches. Velling was not highly recruited out of high school but developed into a productive tight end and became a 2-year starter.
DJ Uiagalelei's first touchdown pass as an Oregon State Beaver is to Jack Velling 🏈pic.twitter.com/X8jjZHUAAs
— 247Sports (@247Sports) September 3, 2023
Velling will reunite with his former head coach Jonathan Smith in East Lansing and will be an upgrade for a position that has failed to produce on the field.
Edge Marvin Jones, Jr.
Florida State Seminoles (from Georgia)
6’5”, 250 lbs.
As the #4 Edge Rusher in the portal, Marvin Jones, Jr. played 25 games with the Georgia Bulldogs and racked up 16 tackles, two sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Can Florida State unlock the immense upside of Marvin Jones Jr.?
DC Adam Fuller helped produce Bryce Huff (18th in NFL with QB Pressures), Jermaine Johnson (26th in NFL), Jared Verse (All-American), and Pat Payton (ACC DROTY).
Now it is Jones' turn:https://t.co/iRh7f9KgX3 pic.twitter.com/RJuNlzvQ3t
— Brendan Sonnone (@BSonnone) December 19, 2023
Florida State fans will recognize the name. He is the son of Marvin Jones, Sr., who won both the Butkus and Lombardi Awards in 1992 and went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets.
QB Dequan Finn
Baylor Bears (from Toledo)
6’2”, 205 lbs.
As a 1st Team All-Mac performer this season, Dequan Finn was named the Vern Smith Award winner as the top player in the MAC, the first player from Toledo to win the award since 2017. Finn accounted for 3,220 total yards and 29 total touchdowns this season.
Toledo takes the lead just before the half! 😤 pic.twitter.com/7rzj11JbnZ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 3, 2023
Baylor now has an experienced and productive quarterback on the roster to replace Blake Shapen, who entered the transfer portal and committed to Mississippi State.
