By Mark Pszonak
This has been a busy transfer portal cycle for cornerbacks, but while many found new homes, not all will make an immediate impact. Here are the ten who will make the 2024 college football season more exciting:
1. Jabbar Muhammad – Oregon (Washington)
The skinny: While cornerback wasn’t necessarily a position of need for the Ducks, especially after they had already landed Kam Alexander (see below) through the portal, when the opportunity arose to add a potential All-American, they jumped at it. Muhammad entered the portal after head coach Kalen DeBoer made the move from Washington to Alabama, and Oregon acted quickly to beat out the Tide and Texas for his services.
2. Toriano Pride – Missouri (Clemson)
The skinny: When Pride entered the portal, most assumed that Missouri would be the team to beat. And that assumption was correct, as Pride has returned home to play with his former high school teammate Luther Burden III in Columbia after totaling 37 tackles, nine pass breakups and one interception at Clemson.
3. Will Lee III – Texas A&M (Kansas State)
The skinny: Lee quickly piled up the offers after entering the portal, and trimmed his list down to Texas A&M, Washington and Louisville before committing to the Aggies. With the Wildcats, where he only spent one season after signing as a JUCO transfer, Lee used his 6-foot-3 frame to impress in 2023 with 42 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups. He will join a revamped secondary, where he will be expected to be one of the standouts, under new head coach Mike Elko
4. Dez Malone – Oklahoma (San Diego State)
The skinny: Malone’s commitment may have slid a bit under-the-radar, but it could prove to be one of the more important additions for the Sooners in 2024. He flourished during his last two seasons with the Aztecs, totaling 89 tackles, four interceptions and 12 pass breakups. Possessing the frame of a safety (6-foot-2, 200-pounds), Malone also has the speed and agility that should make him invaluable during the Sooners’ first season in the SEC.
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5. AJ Harris – Penn State (Georgia)
The skinny: With Kalen King, Daequan Hardy and Johnny Dixon off to the NFL, the Nittany Lions knew that they needed to overhaul their secondary. So, when Harris became available, a true freshman at Georgia who seriously considered Penn State out of high school, the connection was obvious. Already with an established relationship between player/coach, this is a move that made sense for both sides.
6. Kam Alexander – Oregon (UTSA)
The skinny: Up until Jabbar Muhammad (see above) committed to the Ducks, Alexander was the key portal addition to the secondary. Starting his collegiate career at Sam Houston before playing one season with UTSA, Alexander impressed at both of his stops. He was especially dominant with the Roadrunners, when he finished with 34 tackles, two interceptions and 17 pass breakups in 2023. While he joins an already talented secondary, Alexander will make his mark quickly in Eugene.
7. Tahveon Nicholson – Louisville (Illinois)
The skinny: The Cardinals worked overtime to add Nicholson, with their efforts paying off at the end with a flipped commitment from Ole Miss. With the Illini he had established himself as a key piece of their defensive unit and was coming off his best season with 36 tackles, two tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and six pass breakups. While Nicholson is just one of several portal additions by the Cardinals to their secondary, he is poised to make the biggest impact.
8. Preston Hodge – Colorado (Liberty)
The skinny: While Travis Hunter did his best to lock down one half of the field in 2023, the other half often became easy pickings for opposing quarterbacks. The Buffaloes knew that they had to resolve this issue and hope that Hodge’s addition will accomplish that. Coming off an impressive season with the Flames, when he finished with 48 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups, it is a safe assumption that he will be tested immediately and frequently so all eyes will be on Hodge to see how he responds.
9. Jalen Huskey – Maryland (Bowling Green)
The skinny: With the Terps losing multiple key pieces in their secondary, Huskey, a first-team All-MAC performer in 2023, will be stepping into a situation where he will be depended on and expected to contribute immediately. He will be returning to his home state after having a breakout season last fall with 52 tackles, six pass breakups and four interceptions.
10. Ephesians Prysock – Washington (Arizona)
The skinny: Prysock looked poised to have a breakout season in Tucson this fall, which very well may still happen, except now it would be in Seattle. Following his head coach, Jedd Fisch, to the Pacific Northwest, Prysock has NFL abilities and size (6-foot-4, 190-pounds), which will be put on full display in 2024 as the Huskies navigate their first season in the Big Ten.
