Deion Sanders – Colorado
The skinny: With the way that Sanders used the portal at Jackson State, it was expected that he would continue to be aggressive in Boulder. And that is what has happened, a large part of it due to the massive roster overhaul that the Buffs underwent since his arrival on campus. Whatever the reason, Sanders knows how to sell a program and will continue to do so through the portal.
Lane Kiffin – Ole Miss
The skinny: While there are times when Kiffin almost seems irritated by the portal and the “free agency” he described it as, there is no question that he also thrives in its craziness. The Rebels have been one of the more aggressive teams in the country, especially over the last two seasons, and have brought in numerous players who have become a vital part of the program.
Lincoln Riley – USC
The skinny: One can argue that adding Caleb Williams was almost a technicality, since little work was done to have the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback follow him from Norman. But adding other top-level transfers like Jordan Addison (Pittsburgh), Travis Dye (Oregon), Eric Gentry (Arizona State), Emmanuel Pregnon (Wyoming), Dorian Singer (Arizona) and Mason Cobb (Oklahoma State) showed everyone that Riley will be a major threat with all elite talent.
Brian Kelly – LSU
The skinny: After his move from Notre Dame, there were some questions as to how aggressive Kelly would be in the portal at Baton Rouge. He has answered those questions over the last two cycles by plugging numerous positional holes with a continuous flow of top transfers. Quarterback Jayden Daniels (Arizona State) returns for his second season, while new additions like Omar Speights (Oregon State), Andre Sam (Tulane), Logan Diggs (Notre Dame), Duce Chestnut (Syracuse) and Zy Alexander (Southeastern Louisiana) will play major roles this season.
Mike Norvell – Florida State
The skinny: Norvell has been equally aggressive and successful in the portal since his arrival in Tallahassee. The influx of talent has helped boost excitement back into the program, especially this off-season, as new additions like Jaheim Bell (South Carolina), Keon Coleman (Michigan State) and Braden Fiske (Western Michigan) were big recruiting wins for the program.
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Sam Pittman – Arkansas
The skinny: While Arkansas has lost some notable players through the portal, they have also done a very good job replacing them. Last season, Drew Sanders (Alabama), Jadon Haselwood (Oklahoma) and Dwight McGlothern (LSU) all proved vital, and this season expect players like Jaheim Thomas (Cincinnati), Isaac TeSlaa (Hillsdale College), Al Walcott (Baylor) and Var’Keyes Gumms (North Texas) to be equally important.
Mel Tucker – Michigan State
The skinny: Tucker hit the ground running in East Lansing by picking up one of the more productive transfers in recent years, running back Kenneth Walker (Wake Forest). He has continued to be aggressive during the last two cycles, and while there have been hits and misses, there is no doubt that he is someone who will target every elite transfer.
Jeff Brohm – Louisville
The skinny: Brohm was far from bashful in the portal during his time at Purdue, and as expected, he turned it up a notch after his off-season move to Louisville. Now it will be interesting to see how quickly he can revitalize the Cardinal program. An energized and winning Louisville program is something that can turn Brohm into a portal monster.
Gus Malzahn – UCF
The skinny: No Group of Five coach was more successful in the portal than Malzahn, so now that the Knights have made the move to the Big 12, look for his success rate to continue to grow. This season, the offense will be led by second-year transfers John Rhys Plumlee (Ole Miss), Kobe Hudson (Auburn) and Javon Baker (Alabama), while incoming linemen Amari Kight (Alabama), Bula Schmidt (Fresno State) and Drake Metcalf (Stanford) will help solidify the unit.
Dan Lanning – Oregon
The skinny: Lanning hit a homerun with quarterback Bo Nix (Auburn) last season, but other additions like Christian Gonzalez (Colorado) and Mar’Keise Irving (Minnesota) also proved to be vital. This off-season, several key additions should quickly bolster the defense, including Jordan Burch (South Carolina), Jestin Jacobs (Iowa) and Tysheem Johnson (Ole Miss).
