By Alec Nederveld
Illinois
J.C. Davis (In), Tahveon “Taz” Nicholson (Out)
Illinois focused on the trenches (all seven portal additions are either OL, DL, or TE) and J.C. Davis is the star of the show. He’s started all games in the last two seasons for New Mexico, being named First-Team All-MWC last year. Per PFF, Davis was rated the #4 tackle next year with an 84.6 grade and should be an immediate starter and improvement for the Illini.
Tahveon Nicholson started 21 games over the last two seasons at CB. In 2023, the Jacksonville, FL native recorded 36 tackles, six breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, although he had significant penalty issues. After initially committing to Ole Miss, Nicholson flipped to Louisville.
https://twitter.com/ChiefOskee/status/1758506210444128389
Indiana
Kurtis Rourke (In), Matthew Bedford (Out)
Leading Curt Cignetti‘s talented portal class, Kurtis Rourke brings badly needed experience and success to the QB room. He comes from Ohio where he was the MAC player of the year in 2022 after throwing for 3,256 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Experience and versatility are the name of the game for Matthew Bedford who had 39 starts at four positions on the offensive line. The veteran linemen will play his final season for fellow Big Ten school Oregon next year.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1655205089718546434
More Sports News
Iowa
Kadyn Proctor (In), Anterio Thompson (Out)
Iowa only brought in one transfer but he’s a big addition. Kadyn Proctor started every game for Alabama as a True Freshman and made the SEC All-Freshman team. Proctor at one point was committed to Iowa out of high school and is seen as the most important OL portal addition.
Similarly, Iowa didn’t lose much in the portal. The “headliner” is Anterio Thompson, a DL who was best in special teams by blocking two punts. Once a JuCo transfer, Thompson will play for Western Michigan next year.
https://twitter.com/LegerDouzable/status/1761441498174758934
Maryland
Jalen Huskey (In), Jaishawn Barham (Out)
An All-Mac CB in 2023, Jalen Huskey chose to go home and transfer back to his home state team, Maryland. The Bowling Green Falcon recorded 52 tackles and four interceptions last year. He has two more years of eligibility.
Jaishawn Barham was a day-one starter at LB and named an Honorable Mention on the Big Ten All-Conference team. He was at his best in 2022 with 58 tackles, leading the Terps with 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Barham transferred to the 2023 National Champion Michigan Wolverines.
https://twitter.com/taylorjlyons/status/1733997915557838911
Michigan
Josh Priebe (In), Keon Sabb (Out)
The only portal addition besides Barham, Josh Priebe provides experience to an offensive line that badly needs it. Michigan was so successful last year because they could impose their will upfront. Priebe has started 29 total games and was a Third-Team All-Big Ten honoree last season.
With a very bright future and three years of eligibility, Keon Sabb is a tough loss for the Wolverines. The safety started five games last year and was best in the title game with a season-high six tackles and two pass breakups vs. Washington. Sabb transferred to Alabama.
https://twitter.com/byAustinMeek/status/1740374779469660396
Michigan State
Aidan Chiles (In), Zion Young (Out)
Following HC Jonathan Smith from Oregon State, the prized QB should be a star in East Lansing. Aidan Chiles played in nine games as the backup to D.J. Uiagalelei, completing 24 of 32 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Chiles has three more years of eligibility and will make a mark for a QB room that had more interceptions than touchdowns a year ago.
To me, the Spartan DE is the biggest loss of Michigan State’s 17 departing Portal Players. Zion Young has started 11 games in his two seasons and had 26 tackles with 4.5 for losses and 1.5 sacks last season. The Atlanta, GA native transferred to Missouri to finish his career.
https://twitter.com/Blutman27/status/1720995404085596640
Minnesota
Max Brosmer (In), Zach Evans (Out)
Minnesota’s QB room has been questionable at best since 2019 but Max Brosmer looks to fix that. The sixth-year player led the FCS with 314.9 passing YPG in 2023 and earned Second Team All-American honors, per the AP.
The Gophers had few notable departures, but the sophomore RB is one of them. Zach Evans was fourth on Minnesota with 230 yards and 1 rushing touchdown. Evans will play for Eric Morris and North Texas next year.
https://twitter.com/SSN_Gophers/status/1731521679413719140
Nebraska
Jahmal Banks (In), Tamon Lynum (Out)
After leading Wake Forest in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns last year, the 6’4 receiver heads to Lincoln. Jahmal Banks only has one more year of eligibility but is a proven starter for a Cornhusker offense that needs to improve their passing game.
Nebraska is another Big Ten school with minor portal losses which speaks to Matt Rhule as a coach. Veteran Tamon Lynum only had one start but played in every game last year for the Huskers. The DB will play at Pittsburgh next fall.
https://twitter.com/BarstoolHusker/status/1745493351716053192
Northwestern
Matt Keeler (In), Rod Heard II (Out)
The Wildcats have only added two players from the portal with one of them being the linemen from Texas Tech. Matt Keeler has three more years of eligibility and started two games last year. The Chicago native started his career at the Junior College level.
A veteran DB and important player for a strong defense, Rod Heard II is a tough loss for the Wildcats. The Farmington, MI native started 12 games for Northwestern last year and was named an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team in 2023. He chose Notre Dame over Michigan and Michigan State in the portal and is projected to be outstanding for the Irish.
https://twitter.com/farrellportal/status/1759644290660151401
Ohio State
Caleb Downs (In), Julian Fleming (Out)
After Nick Saban’s retirement, Alabama’s leading tackler left which became Ryan Day‘s gain. Caleb Downs was a first-team All-SEC player and SEC Freshman of the Year. He can play for two more years, but likely will only use two before being a first-round pick.
Julian Fleming has started 22 games since 2020 for a loaded Ohio State receiver room but was overshadowed. His best year was 2022 with 34 receptions, 533 yards, and 6 touchdowns. Fleming will play his final season at conference rival Penn State.
https://twitter.com/TonyGerdeman/status/1756396295395111037
Oregon
Dillon Gabriel (In), Cole Martin (Out)
Oregon has a similar portal class to Ohio State and the two are in competition for the best class in the Big Ten. The Ducks don’t have a young talent like Downs, making veteran QB Dillon Gabriel the most important transfer. The 2023 First-Team All-Big 12 player threw for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns with 373 more yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
Cole Martin was a backup DB who played in all 14 Oregon games as a true freshman. Martin had 21 tackles, an interception, and will play for former Oregon OC Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State next year. It’s not a major loss, but that speaks more to what Dan Lanning has done.
https://twitter.com/Win__The__Day/status/1758910831935312255
Penn State
A.J. Harris (In), Christian Driver (Out)
Coming from Georgia, A.J. Harris was once next in line for the Bulldogs and their DB factory. In only seven games and one season, Harris recorded eight tackles as a backup CB. As Penn State loses its top corners to the NFL, Harris should come in and record his first start in the season’s first week.
With only five portal departures, Penn State has managed the portal well. Christian Driver was a backup receiver/Special Teams player who only caught 1 pass in his two years. The son of NFL receiver Donald Driver, Christian will play for Minnesota next year.
https://twitter.com/I_Am_OD3/status/1759613478145339554
Purdue
Corey Stewart (In), Nic Scourton (Out)
Corey Stewart brings three of the most important factors for an offensive lineman – experience, durability, and versatility. Stewart has only missed three games in the last three seasons for Ball State, starting 28 of them. He’s also played at both left & right tackle, earning All-Mac First-Team honors last year at LT.
After earning All-Big Ten Second-Team honors as a sophomore, Nic Scourton chose to leave Purdue. He led the conference with ten sacks in 2023 and had 50 tackles, with 15 being for a loss. The OLB committed to Mike Elko and Texas A&M.
https://twitter.com/KyleSmedley_/status/1733923127787126870
Rutgers
Dymere Miller (In), Kamar Missouri (Out)
After being named an FCS All-American and Walter Payton Award (FCS Heisman equivalent) finalist, Dymere Miller heads to the big leagues. He caught 90 passes for 1,293 yards and 9 touchdowns, leading the FCS in receiving yards. Coming from Monmouth, the speedy WR will stay in the Garden State.
Starting four games in 2023, I see Kamar Missouri as Rutgers’ biggest portal loss. Missouri started his career as a defensive lineman in 2020 and got more playing time each year. He has one more year of eligibility which will be played at UTSA.
https://twitter.com/RealD_Jackson/status/1715818626094133511
UCLA
Rico Flores Jr. (In), Dante Moore (Out)
Rico Flores Jr. caught 27 passes for 392 yards and a touchdown as a True Freshman for Notre Dame. The 6’2″, 205 lb wideout played in every game with multiple starts, leading the Irish in snaps by receivers. Originally from California, Flores will return home for his remaining seasons.
After being one of the top QBs in the class of 2023, Dante Moore played early but was inconsistent and got benched. The Moore camp also had problems with then-UCLA coach Chip Kelly and how he was used. A split was bound to happen, with Oregon gaining the talented QB.
https://twitter.com/WestCoastCFB/status/1735880691815256437
USC
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (In), Tackett Curtis (Out)
Two years of Lincoln Riley & Alex Grinch led to a defense that did less with more. Looking to fix that, the Trojans landed an All-Pac 12 First-Team LB from a school that did more with less, Oregon State. Easton Mascarenas-Arnold led the Beavers with 107 tackles and added 6.5 for loss, two sacks, and two interceptions.
Tackett Curtis made an immediate impact at LB as a True Freshman in 2023. He played in 12 games, making 40 tackles, four for losses, and two sacks with one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and a pass breakup. Curtis with his high potential will play for Wisconsin next year.
https://twitter.com/DwaneRobinson4Q/status/1736262882835214512
Washington
Jonah Coleman (In), Parker Brailsford (Out)
The starting RB for a rebuilt Arizona, Jonah Coleman was great as a sophomore. He shows shades of one of the most underappreciated players in last year’s team, Dillon Johnson, with efficiency and pass-catching ability. Coleman had 871 yards on 6.8 yards per carry, added 283 more receiving yards, and finished with six total touchdowns. He follows HC Jedd Fisch and will have two more years of eligibility.
When Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama, Washington became one of the hardest-hit schools in the portal. All Pac-12 Center Parker Brailsford was one of the most important pieces of the Joe Moore winning unit. Worse, he had three more years of eligibility to work with.
https://twitter.com/Justin_Massie_/status/1759061809695252727
Wisconsin
Tackett Curtis (In), Rodas Johnson (Out)
The previously mentioned transfer was one of many guys added to an overhauled LB room. To me, the youth is what sets Curtis apart from Wisconsin’s other additions, both LBs and otherwise. He joins safeties coach/co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, Curtis’ defensive coordinator at USC.
Veteran Rodas Johnson is one of 15 outgoing transfers for Luke Fickell‘s team. He started 22 games over 2022 and 2023 and made 19 tackles, three for loss, and .5 sacks. Fickell will spend his final year of eligibility with Texas A&M.
