Portal Fact or Fiction: Best DB Class in the SEC, Jaheim Thomas' to Wisconsin, Var'Keyes Gumms

In today’s Fact or Fiction — transfer portal edition — I look at three big recent topics from the transfer portal and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.

1. A&M has the best portal DB class in the SEC.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

I like the addition of Josh DeBerry from Boston College and Tony Grimes and Sam McCall are very good with high ceilings, but give me LSU’s group. Denver Harris has a massive ceiling coming over from A&M, and Duce Chestnut from Syracuse is one of the best in college football. Add in KJ Johnson and Zy Alexander, and you have a very elite foursome.

Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver TJ Sheffield (8) has a pass broken up by Syracuse Orange defensive back Darian “Duce” Chestnut (0) in the fourth quarter at JMA Wireless Dome.

2. LB Jaheim Thomas lands at Wisconsin.

Farrell’s take: FACT

He’s one of the best linebackers in the portal and had 70 tackles last season. And he played for Luke Fickell at Cincinnati, so there’s a great chance he follows his old coach to the Badgers and becomes an immediate impact guy. It isn’t a lock, but it’s likely.

Oct 16, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Jaheim Thomas (24) stops UCF Knights quarterback Joey Gatewood (7) in the second half at Nippert Stadium.

3. TE Var’Keyes Gumms lands at Arkansas.

Farrell’s take: FACT

The North Texas TE had 34 catches for 458 yards and five scores and has offers from BYU, Oregon, Colorado, West Virginia, and others so far. But he visits Arkansas this weekend, and that could seal the deal. Oddly enough, Arkansas losing out on his teammate, TE Jake Roberts (who chose Baylor), could help as he got a great impression of the staff and passed that information along. Arkansas may have whiffed on one North Texas TE, but it could land them a second one.