By Tony Thomas
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day loses his first-year starter at quarterback; Deion Sanders finds a talented DB to play opposite Travis Hunter; Coach Steve Sarkisian lands a big-time playmaker for the Longhorns; Ole Miss brings the “Juice” to Oxford; and Lincoln Riley continues to bolster his Trojans defense with talent via the transfer portal.
QB Kyle McCord
Syracuse Orange (from Ohio State)
6’3”, 215 lbs.
In his first full year as the starter in Columbus, Kyle McCord led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record. The lone loss came at the hands of “TTUN” (Michigan) for the third consecutive year. McCord threw two INTs in that game, along with two touchdowns. For the season, McCord had a solid first year under center for the Buckeyes: 3,170 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs (348 attempts), and a 66% completion percentage.
McCord posted three games of over 300 yards passing and five games with three passing touchdowns. For his efforts, McCord was named 3rd Team All-Big Ten. McCord now takes his talents to Upstate New York to play for new Syracuse head coach Fran Brown.
DB Preston Hodge
Colorado Buffaloes (from Liberty)
5’11”, 195 lbs.
Coach Prime has picked up an extremely talented addition to his secondary to play opposite Travis Hunter in Liberty’s Preston Hodge. Hodge helped lead the Flames to a 13-0 record this season and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon.
@nolimitp3_ Has played just about every position in our secondary this season – and done it at a high level❗️
Proud of this dude. https://t.co/PWaaU8TO4C
— Coach 🅿️ (@CoachParuta) November 19, 2023
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A 2nd team All-Conference USA selection, Hodge registered 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, eight pass break-ups, one forced fumble, and two INTs-one was returned 62 yards for a touchdown against UMass. Hodge has 108 tackles in two seasons at Liberty.
WR Matthew Golden
Texas Longhorns (from Houston)
6’0”, 190 lbs.
The Longhorns picked a dynamic playmaker and another perimeter weapon for Quinn Ewers to throw to in WR Matthew Golden. Golden is the #6 wide receiver in the transfer portal and comes to Texas with 76 career catches for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons at Houston.
Jeff Banks is going to love Matthew Golden pic.twitter.com/fbISBxRVd3
— We Scored on 4th & 13 (@Doc_Texas) December 17, 2023
This season, Golden caught 38 passes for 404 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. In addition, Golden posted nine kickoff returns for 321 yards and two TDs. He puts pressure on defenses with his versatility and speed and his big-play ability in the open field. Golden had 88 yards receiving and two touchdowns vs Texas this season in a losing effort.
WR Antwane “Juice” Wells
Ole Miss Rebels (from South Carolina)
6’1”, 207 lbs.
“Juice” Wells comes to Oxford as a former 1st Team All-SEC receiver (in 2022). He only played three games for South Carolina in 2023 and caught two passes for 32 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Georgia. In 2022, Wells hauled in 68 passes for 928 yards and six touchdowns for the Gamecocks.
Prior to suiting up for the Gamecocks, Wells played two seasons at James Madison and is 3rd on that school’s list for career touchdown receptions with 21. In 2021 at JMU, Wells set a school single-season record with 83 catches, 1,250 yards, and 15 touchdowns.
LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
USC Trojans (from Oregon State)
5’11”, 228 lbs.
A 1st Team All-PAC 12 selection, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold led Oregon State with 107 tackles, along with 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two INTs. Mascarenas-Arnold posted five games with double-digit tackles this season, including 11 against Oregon in a 31-7 loss.
https://twitter.com/DwaneRobinson4Q/status/1736262882835214512
Against Utah, he posted nine tackles, one INT, one sack, and one tackle for loss in a 21-7 win. This is yet another weapon that Lincoln Riley has found to bolster his defense in 2024.
