By Tony Thomas
The Transfer Portal officially opened today, and there were some surprises in college football’s circus of humanity as fans awoke this morning. Among the hundreds of players that hit the portal officially today, there are three quarterbacks and a linebacker profiled here that could be serious upgrades to any team’s roster.
Also, 471 FCS players entered the portal today, so overall 1,096 D1 players entered today.
1,096…….@mfarrellsports https://t.co/GixMkbbNiX
— FarrellPortal (@farrellportal) December 5, 2023
QB Dillon Gabriel
Oklahoma Sooners
5’11”, 204 lbs.
Gabriel led the Sooners to a 10-2 record this season, and led the Big XII in passing at 305 yards per game. That was good enough for #6 in the FBS. He passed for 3,660 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just six INTs, completing 69% of his passes. In addition, he added 373 yards rushing and 12 TDs. Gabriel accounted for 4,033 yards of total offense and 42 total touchdowns.
In the Red River Rivalry vs. the Texas Longhorns, Gabriel passed for 285 yards and 1 touchdown and no INTs. IN addition, he added 113 yards on the ground and another score. All total, Gabriel accounted for 398 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-30 win over the Longhorns.
Gabriel posted two games with five passing TDs, one game with four passing TDs, three games with three passing touchdowns, and three games with over 400 yards passing.
Slinging the rock 😮💨@_dillongabriel_ | #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/L2ju9zTXqj
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) September 2, 2023
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For his efforts, Gabriel was named to the 1st Team All-Big XII Team.
A former UCF transfer, Gabriel’s career numbers look like this: 14,865 yards, 125 passing TDs, 26 INTs, with a 63% completion percentage.
Possible destinations for Gabriel include Oregon, Washington, and UCLA. Gabriel could also follow former Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator Jeff Lebby to Starkville and play for Mississippi State. Lebby was recently hired as the Bulldogs’ new head coach. Gabriel is also draft-eligible and could enter his name in the NFL Draft.
QB Kyle McCord
Ohio State Buckeyes
6’3, 215 lbs.
In his first full season as the starter in Columbus, McCord passed for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six INTs and completed 65% of his passes. Unfortunately, two of those INTs came against “TTUN” (Michigan-That Team Up North) in a 30-24 loss.
Next level speed. @MarvHarrisonJr | #GoBucks https://t.co/zdtNLLjnbD
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 25, 2023
Another oddity, especially with the weapons he had at wide receiver (Marvin Harrison, Jr. for one), McCord failed to throw a TD pass on two occasions: vs Indiana and Notre Dame, both wins.
Currently, McCord could land at N.C. State, Nebraska, Kentucky, and Pittsburgh. But that list is sure to grow in the coming weeks.
LB Chris Paul, Jr.
Arkansas Razorbacks
6’1″, 233 lbs.
Paul is a sophomore and was a staple of the Razorbacks defense. He recorded 74 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in 2023. For his Arkansas career, Paul has registered 136 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks.
I apologize for the targeting (last week) Razorback Nation…. I’m going to make it up to you🫡 #WPS #Nothingisgiven https://t.co/zs3L6iXTh4
— POOH (@PoohPaul4) September 10, 2023
Paul was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2022 and was a 2nd Team Freshman All-American. He posted a season-high 12 tackles in a 7-3 loss to Mississippi State.
Paul has received a ton of offers from such schools as Auburn, UNLV, Ole Miss, UAB, SMU, UCF, Baylor, Georgia State, Texas A&M, Florida State, and Missouri.
QB Brock Vandagriff
Georgia Bulldogs
6’3″, 210 lbs.
A former 5-star prospect and the 2020 National High School Quarterback of the Year, Vandagriff had been with the Bulldogs for three seasons. He played behind QB Stetson Bennett IV on back-to- back National Championship teams (2021-2022), then sat behind 2023 starter Carson Beck.
For his Georgia career, Vandagriff completed 12 of 21 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, and no INTs.
During his senior year of high school, Vandagriff became the only player in Georgia high school history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for over 500 yards in a season. He accounted for 63 total touchdowns as a senior.
One possible team that could go after Vandagriff with a system in which he could thrive is the Kentucky Wildcats. But more teams are sure to burn up Vandagriff’s phone in the next few weeks.
