Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

2-Time All-Big 12 Safety Kobe Savage to Oregon and More Portal News

Tony Thomas looks at teams continuing to upgrade their defenses via the transfer portal.

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Nov 12
Nov 12

By Tony Thomas

Oregon continues to get richer in the portal, on both sides of the ball; USC seriously upgraded its secondary; and Tennessee, Michigan, and Kentucky improved at linebacker and at defensive back.

S Kobe Savage

Oregon Ducks (from Kansas State)

5’11”, 207 lbs.

A two-year starter at Kansas State, Kobe Savage registered 115 career tackles and six INTs on his way to being named a 2-Time All-Big 12 performer. Savage was productive and experienced, having played almost 400 snaps at safety in 22 starts. 

Savage will provide leadership on the field and in the locker room at a position of need for the Ducks. His high game of the season came against Texas Tech in which he picked off two passes and made seven tackles in a 38-21 win.

LB Jaishawn Barham

Michigan Wolverines (from Maryland)

6’4”, 233 lbs.

Built like a defensive end with the speed of a cornerback, Jaishawn Barham was very productive this season: 37 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass breakup, and one INT. 

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In a 38-20 win over Charlotte, Barham made four tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Barham loves to take on blockers and has good lateral quickness and change of direction. He is very versatile and will provide depth, and a talent upgrade at the linebacker position.

LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson

Kentucky Wildcats (from Georgia)

6’1”, 245 lbs.

Playing in only nine games this season, Jamon Dumas-Johnson recorded 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks before an arm injury ended his season. In 2022, Dumas-Johnson racked up 70 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, broke up three passes, and forced a fumble for Georgia’s second national championship team. 

Dumas-Johnson is a playmaker against the run and is an outstanding tackler, to go with a quick burst of speed at the point of attack. Kentucky adds a stud on defense to their impressive offensive portal collection. 

DB Jermond McCoy

Tennessee Volunteers (from Oregon State)

6’0”, 180 lbs.

Speed, quickness, and play-making ability define Jermod McCoy. He recorded 2 INTs, along with 31 tackles and seven pass breakups this season…as a true freshman. Against the California, McCoy racked up six tackles and one INT. McCoy fills a need at the position as Tennessee lost five players from the secondary.

S Akili Arnold

USC Trojans (from Oregon State)

5’11” 200 lbs.

4th on the team with 60 tackles, Akili Arnold was one of five Oregon State players with two INTs. In addition, he broke up six passes. As the #6 safety in the transfer portal, Arnold graded out at 85% in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). A California native, Arnold has shown he can play well against the run and is a serious upgrade to the Trojans’ secondary.  

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