By Tony Thomas
Teams continue to manage their rosters to add depth and maybe a starter or two from the transfer portal. Below, we profile a few of these players.
RB Marcus Carroll
Missouri Tigers (from Georgia State)
5’10”, 210 lbs.
Ranked #8 in the FBS in rushing, Carroll rushed for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns (a single-season school record) and recorded seven games with over 100 yards rushing. Through the first two weeks of the season, Carroll scored six rushing touchdowns.
𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡 💥
📺 : ESPN+ https://t.co/TSSOQhj7ZM#LightItBlue | #SoundTheHorn pic.twitter.com/OYwj7QHzYC
— GSU Football (@GeorgiaStateFB) September 10, 2023
Against Georgia Southern, Carroll carried 28 times for 208 yards (7.43-yard average) and two touchdowns in a 44-27 losing effort. For his outstanding performance this season, Carroll was selected 1st Team All-Sun Belt Conference.
Carroll addresses an immediate area of need as Missouri will lose both Cody Schrader and Nathaniel Peat at season’s end.
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WR Beaux Collins
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (from Clemson)
6’3″, 210 lbs.
Collins was 2nd on the Clemson team in receiving with 38 catches for 510 yards and three scores. Against Charleston Southern, Collins hauled in seven passes for 137 yards (almost 20 yards per catch) in a 66-17 win.
Collins uses his big frame to create space in the open field and uses his speed to get downfield and gain big yards. Once he arrives in South Bend, Collins will team up with another transfer WR in Kris Mitchell to create a formidable pair at a position of need for the Fighting Irish.
A look back at a one-handed touchdown catch for new Notre Dame wide receiver Beaux Collins. pic.twitter.com/v7wRNd4NWF
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) December 11, 2023
OT Alan Herron
Penn State Nittany Lions (from Shorter University)
6’6″, 310 lbs.
Alan Herron is the #7 Offensive Tackle in the transfer portal and will have two years of college ball left to play. His commitment addresses a position of need for the Nittany Lions.
Herron anchored an offensive line that helped D-II Shorter score 23 rushing touchdowns this season. By comparison, the Nittany Lions scored 26 rushing touchdowns.
WR Robert Lewis
Auburn Tigers (from Georgia State)
5’11”, 185 LBS
Lewis led Georgia State with 70 catches for 877 yards and seven touchdowns. In addition, he returned eight kickoffs for 163 yards.
Against Charlotte, Lewis caught six passes for 220 yards (a 36-yard average) in a 41-25 road win. He scored at least one receiving touchdown in each of his first four games of the season. As a result, Lewis was named 3rd Team All-Sun Belt.
DE Nate Clifton
USC Trojans (from Vanderbilt)
6’5″, 280 lbs.
Clifton racked up 30 tackles for the Commodores, to go with 7.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and one INT. In the Auburn game, Clifton recorded six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack.
Clifton heads to L.A. to help a much-maligned Trojan defense that ranked 122nd in total defense, 123rd in scoring defense, 108th in opponent’s 3rd down conversion percentage, and 124th in opponent’s red zone defense.
Clifton will play for former North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz, who has been hired as the new linebackers coach at USC.
Nate Clifton who had 93 tackles, 12.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks has transferred to USC. He has imposing size at 6-5 267.
— WestCoastCFB (@WestCoastCFB) December 11, 2023
