By Tony Thomas
The #1 quarterback prospect in the transfer portal is on his way to the Big Ten, Coach Prime gets a quality wide receiver from the SEC, and Jeff Brohm and Louisville get a much-needed All-Conference tight end.
QB Aidan Chiles
Michigan State Spartans (from Oregon State)
6’3”, 200 lbs.
A pure dual-threat quarterback, Chiles follows head coach Jonathan Smith to East Lansing as the #1 quarterback prospect in the transfer portal, and could very well could be the starter for the Spartans in 2024.
AIDAN GETS LOOSE 🔥
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/2czkEo1bVI
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) November 5, 2023
This past season, Chiles saw action in nine games, with 309 passing yards, four touchdowns and no INTs. He completed 68% of his passes. In addition, Chiles added three rushing touchdowns. Chiles accounted for two touchdowns in games against UC Davis and Stanford.
RB Raheim Sanders
South Carolina Gamecocks (from Arkansas)
6’2”, 227 lbs.
As the #4 running back prospect in the portal, Rocket Sanders is a big back with deceptive speed in the open field. Strong enough to run over you, fast enough to run around you, Sanders has a stiff arm that can knock down a wall. A 3-sport athlete in high school, Sanders is very athletic.
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Gotta blast 🚀 @raheim_sanders pic.twitter.com/7LN7koU04A
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) October 16, 2022
Sanders was an All-SEC back in 2022 after rushing for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns, and averaged 6.5 yards per carry. He posted seven games of over 100 yards rushing, including 232 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-27 win over Ole Miss.
In 2023, Sanders missed six games and rushed for only 209 yards and two touchdowns. For his career, Sanders has rushed for 2,230 yards. If he can to his 2022 form, Sanders could be the first 1000-yard running back for the Gamecocks since Kevin Harris rushed for 1,138 yards in 2020.
WR Will Sheppard
Colorado Buffaloes (from Vanderbilt)
6’3”, 198 lbs.
A 3-year starter at Vanderbilt, Sheppard is third all-time for receiving touchdowns with the Commodores with 21, to go along with 2, 067 career receiving yards. Deion Sanders and Buffaloes’ QB Shedeur Sanders now have a big and dependable target to throw to.
5⃣➡️1⃣4⃣ pic.twitter.com/93UZQaRomy
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 25, 2023
This past season, Sheppard caught 47 passes for 684 yards and eight touchdowns. Against Florida on the road, Sheppard caught three passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in a 38-14 loss.
Sheppard started out the season on fire, scoring six receiving touchdowns through the first three games of the season, but was held out of the end zone over the final five games.
TE Mark Redman
Louisville Cardinals (from San Diego State)
6’6”, 255 lbs.
As the leading receiver for the Aztecs, Redman hauled in 37 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came against Ohio in the season opener. With one season of college ball left, Redman arrives at Louisville and immediately fills a position of need for head coach Jeff Brohm. Redman is a 2-time 2nd Team All-Mountain West selection.
Hey, I know him! 👏🏻👏🏻 @MarkRedman20 https://t.co/6v7jFUvwJH
— Joanna Freshwater (@JFreshwater16) August 27, 2023
There is a little more than two weeks left in the chaos and madness that is Portal mania, before the window with tear-stained glass slams shut on college football on January 2.
