Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

QB Robby Ashford to South Carolina, UNLV Land QB/CB Duo, and More Portal Chaos

Tulane secures a commitment from a former Crimson Tide wide receiver from Louisiana.

Avatar photoTony Thomas
Pin
Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) passes as LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (40) closes as the Auburn Tigers take on the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn
Auburn Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford (9) passes as LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (40) closes as the Auburn Tigers take on the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn

By Tony Thomas

Players continue to test the waters of what can only be described as free agency in college football via the transfer portal. As we approach spring practice in a few months, will the grass be greener on the other side? Only time will tell. Here is a look at the latest transfers.

QB Robby Ashford

South Carolina Gamecocks (from Auburn)

6’3”, 212 lbs.

As Spencer Rattler moves on to the NFL, Robby Ashford will be the most experienced quarterback on the Gamecocks depth chart. In 2023, Ashford saw limited playing time stuck behind QB Payton Thorne, but accounted for 362 total yards and seven touchdowns. In 2022, Ashford accounted for over 2,300 total yards and 14 touchdowns.

With significant reps in the right system, Ashford has shown he can be productive. Is South Carolina that “right system?” We shall see.

QB Matthew Sluka

UNLV Rebels (from Holy Cross)

6’3”, 216 lbs.

As one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS, Matthew Sluka is a pure dual-threat signal caller who was very productive in 2023. Sluka passed for 1,728 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five INTs. In addition, Sluka rushed for 1,247 yards and another nine scores, coming within 25 yards of 3,000 total yards. 

More Sports News

For his collegiate career, Sluka has 5,916 passing yards, 3,583 rushing yards, and 97 total touchdowns.

Sluka comes to a UNLV team that finished 9-5 last season and appeared in the Mountain West Championship Game, but fell to Boise State. In addition, the Rebels lose the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in QB Jayden Maiava, so Sluka fills a very important position of need for head coach Barry Odom.

CB Tony Grimes

UNLV Rebels (from Texas A&M/North Carolina)

6’0”, 195 lbs.

After playing three seasons in Chapel Hill for head coach Mack Brown and the Tar Heels, Tony Grimes transferred to Texas A&M. But that is where the playing time stalled for Grimes. But in those three seasons at North Carolina, Grimes made 97 tackles, picked off one pass, and broke up 19 passes. 

Grimes comes to a UNLV team to help a pass defense that was ranked #113 nationally in pass defense, but ranked 4th in INTs with 17.

Edge Zion Young

Missouri Tigers (from Michigan State)

6’6”, 265 lbs.

In 2023, Zion Young pressured the quarterback seven times, to go with 26 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Young comes to Missouri team that has lost three coaches from its defensive staff, including Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker, who took the same job at LSU.

WR Shazz Preston

Tulane Green Wave (from Alabama)

5’11”, 190 lbs.

As a former 4-star recruit in the 2022 class, Shazz Preston saw limited action in Tuscaloosa, playing behind Jermaine Burton, JaCorey Brooks, and Isaiah Bond. A three-sport athlete in high school, Preston was rated the #8 WR nationally by 247Sports Composite. 

During his senior year, Preston hailed in 57 passes for 633 yards and eight touchdowns, garnering 30 scholarship offers. He chose Alabama over such schools as LSU, Texas, and USC.

Category: , Tag: , , , , , ,
Pin

You’ll Also Like