This article covers the most important portal additions for each SEC team from the winter portal recruiting window.
Alabama – CJ Dippre
Alabama wasn’t as active in the portal this season as they normally are, but they didn’t need to be. One of their best portal additions in my opinion is Maryland TE transfer CJ Dippre. Dippre caught 30 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns in 2022 with the Terps. Some believe that he will be an immediate starter for the Tide and one that will provide a considerable amount of impact.
Arkansas – Al Walcott
Arkansas had the worst pass defense in all of FBS college football last season. With the loss of star DB Jalen Catalon to the portal, they desperately needed to add some experience and talent through the portal. They got just that in Baylor safety transfer Al Walcott. Walcott tallied 82 tackles, five deflections, and a pick for the Bears in 2022. He was a big piece in their defense, and he brings three years of collegiate experience to Fayetteville.
Auburn – Dillon Wade
Tulsa OL transfer Dillon Wade was one of the better offensive linemen in the portal this window. He has starting experience, although it is at the G5 level, so we’ll see if his skills translate to the level needed to play in the SEC. Regardless, I think Wade is a fantastic pickup for Auburn, one that will be an anchor on the offensive line for the Tigers in 2023.
Florida – Graham Mertz
Florida’s QB room has completely and utterly collapsed over the off-season. Former starter Anthony Richardson declared for the draft, backup Jalen Kitna was arrested and removed from the team due to five felony counts of child pornography, and their two former commits in the 2023 class, Marcus Stokes and Jaden Rashada, both ended up at other schools. The Gators desperately needed a QB in the portal, so they got Graham Mertz. The Wisconsin transfer had a bad year in 2021, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. However, he cleaned it up a bit in 2022, and nearly doubled his touchdown totals. He’ll need to show a lot of improvement if he wants to be the starter, but even if he doesn’t start, he’ll provide some much-needed QB depth.
https://twitter.com/DillonGraff/status/1569451530415403011
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Georgia – Dominic Lovett
One of the most prolific receivers in the SEC is heading to Georgia. Former Missouri WR Dominic Lovett could be a key piece in another potential championship run for the Dawgs. He posted 846 yards and three touchdowns on 56 catches in 2022. I believe Lovett will be WR1 for Georgia come 2023, and provide a massive amount of help for whoever ends up starting at QB for the Bulldogs in 2023.
Kentucky – Devin Leary
Devin Leary is regarded as one of the best QBs in the portal, and with the departure of Will Levis, the Wildcats needed a new signal-caller. Leary threw for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2021 and was on track to have another great season with the Wolfpack before tearing a pectoral muscle in a win against Florida State. He has a massive amount of potential and could end up leading the Wildcats to new heights.
LSU – Duce Chestnut
Duce Chestnut was one of the best defensive backs in the ACC last season. The Syracuse transfer racked up 40 tackles, as well as a deflection and a pick-six. He was stout in coverage all season and was a massive reason why the Orange ranked in the top 15 in pass defense last season. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t start right away and provide a massive impact for the Tigers.
Mississippi State – Freddie Roberson
Freddie Roberson is a wide receiver transfer from Eastern Washington. In the past two seasons there, he’s hauled in 93 catches for 1,552 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has a good amount of length, and could ultimately be a pivotal piece in the MSU offense. We’ll see how he adjusts to the P5 level, but I like this pickup from the Bulldogs.
https://twitter.com/BernienChompz/status/1596333270622666752
Missouri – Theo Wease
Theo Wease’s career has been full of ups and downs. Rated as a five-star coming out of high school, Wease had limitless potential and made some plays as a redshirt freshman in 2020. He didn’t play much, if at all in the 2021 season due to a lower leg injury, and he never ended up cracking the starting lineup in 2022. Still, I think this is a massive pickup for Missouri, one that could completely change the outlook of their offense. I expect Wease to have a breakout year in Columbia.
Ole Miss – Monty Montgomery
Ole Miss needed a spark defensively, and that’s exactly what they got in Louisville linebacker transfer Monty Montgomery. Montgomery has tallied 134 tackles in three starting seasons at Louisville, one of which was cut short after only three games by an ACL tear. He’s a very productive linebacker that isn’t afraid to put his body on the line. I expect him to start from day one for the Rebels in 2023, and give the defense some life.
https://twitter.com/OMRebelNation/status/1616568056922374144
South Carolina – Trey Knox
South Carolina lost their top two tight ends, Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner, to the portal. They needed to find a replacement, and they found a pretty good one in Arkansas transfer Trey Knox. Knox hauled in five touchdowns for the Razorbacks in 2022. He’ll be a great red-zone threat for the Gamecocks this upcoming season. I expect him to produce quite a bit, as Spencer Rattler throws to his tight ends quite often.
Tennessee – Gabe Jeudy-Lally
Tennessee had the number one offense in the country last season, but the defense, specifically the secondary, came to haunt them a few times. Gabe Jeudy-Lally is a great addition to the secondary and is one that can immediately provide some help. He tallied 46 tackles and six deflections last year with the Cougars and has two years of starting experience. Good pickup by the Vols here, went a little under the radar.
Texas A&M – Tyrin Smith
Tyrin Smith had a great year with UTEP last year, racking up over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns on 71 catches. A&M’s offense wasn’t great last year, to say the least, but Smith can help it take the next step under Jimbo Fisher and Bobby Petrino. He’s not the tallest guy, but he has a ton of speed and can take the top off of a defense. Huge pickup for the Aggies here, one that will provide a jolt of life, and really open up the field for everyone else.
Vanderbilt – Aeneas DiCosmo
Vanderbilt is in a stage where they have to take whatever help they can get. Right now, it comes in the form of Aeneas DiCosmo, a Stanford EDGE transfer. DiCosmo tallied 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2022. Not elite numbers, but Vandy will take it. I like his chances to start for the Commodores as some type of EDGE/LB hybrid, which Vandy calls the STAR. Should bring some help to the line.
