The transfer portal window closed last week and more top Big 12 names are on the move
The college football spring transfer portal period does not carry quite the insanity of the winter window, but there is still plenty of movement that will carry major weight for the upcoming regular season. Last week the window closed for all players to enter their name into the transfer portal, including graduate transfers. Those players did not yet have to have their new destination selected, but we at least have a better view at which players will be on which rosters this fall. As the commitments continue to roll in during the weeks ahead, let’s check in on the key impact departures of the spring window from around the Big 12:
Arizona Wildcats:
Key Departure: DL Bill Norton
The Wildcats had a flurry of activity in the winter portal with the coaching staff turnover as former head coach Jedd Fisch left for Washington and brought in San Jose State’s Brent Brennan; the spring portal window has been relatively quiet in comparison. Norton was a major recruit in the class of 2019, a top-10 defensive end in the class signing with Georgia where he played for four seasons before transferring to Tucson for a breakout campaign in 2023, with 31 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. Norton has already committed to Texas for the 2024 season.
Others in Portal (7): OL Joseph Borjon, OL Kameron Hawkins, OL Anthony Patt, S DJ Warnell, RB Jordan Washington, WR Kevin Green, WR Deric English
Arizona State Sun Devils:
Key Departure: WR Elijhah Badger
Badger has been ASU’s leading receiver each of the last two seasons, totaling 1,579 yards and 10 TDs for the Sun Devils since 2022. Kenny Dillingham enters the new conference in his 2nd season at the helm with a new starting QB who will now be without the only WR target with more than 226 yards last season.
Others in Portal (10): CB RJ Regan, CB Lenox Lawson, CB Ed Woods, QB Jaden Rashada, TE Bryce Pierre, DL Gharin Stansbury, DL Sam Benjamin, OL Shancco Matautia, RB George Hart III, LB Fritzny Niclasse
Baylor Bears:
Key Departure: None
Dave Aranda got the vote of confidence to run it back another season in Waco, he’s added Gary Patterson to his staff and the Bears have been able to retain contributors through the spring window. Aranda’s challenge now will be converting that roster into wins on Saturdays in the fall.
Others in Portal (): WR Armani Winfield, WR Jordan Nabors, WR Javon Gipson, DL Tony Anyanwu, LB Hakeem Vance, QB RJ Martinez, OL Bryce Simpson
BYU Cougars:
Key Departure: None
BYU continues to be one of the exceptions to the new reality of college athletics as a place with few transfers into or out from the program, with the least number of portal entries across all power conference programs, per Farrell Portal. This makes roster building and growth a challenge, but ensures those already on the depth chart are more likely to remain.
Others in Portal (8): RB Nukuluve Helu, LB Naseri Danielson, LB Chaz Ah You, S Darrien Stewart, CB Zion Allen, WR Devin Downing, QB Ryder Burton, DL Danny Saili
Cincinnati Bearcats:
Key Departure: LB Dorian Jones
The Bearcats lose a starting linebacker from a defensive unit that ranked in the bottom-four in the Big 12 in total points allowed, rushing yardage, sacks, and interceptions. Jones’ 56 tackles in 2023 was third on the team and now the defense will return zero of its top-four tacklers from last season.
Others in Portal (7): S Jayden Davis, CB Rayquan Adkins, CB Jabril White, LB Trevor Carter, DL Derrick Shepard, DL Tyler Gillison, TE Payten Singletary
Colorado Buffaloes:
Key Departure: RB Dylan Edwards
All the bluster and madness that has followed this program the last 12 months was very much fueled by Edwards’ going Super Saiyan in the 2023 season opener in Fort Worth, torching the Frogs for 159 yards and 4 total TDs. Deion Sanders made big splashes in the transfer portal and recruiting cycle ahead of his FBS debut, including luring Edwards away from his Notre Dame commitment. One of the many pieces of Louis luggage now in Coach Prime’s yard sale, Edwards now joins a Kansas State squad certain to be able to deploy his skill set to deadly effect.
Others in Portal (25): S Myles Slusher, S Vito Tisdale, S Jaden Williner-Jones, DL Chazz Wallace, DL Eric Brantley Jr, DL Zach Blackwood, DL Devee Harris, DL Bishop Thomas, DL JJ Hawkins, DL Khairi Manns, OL Isaiah Jetta, OL Cameron Warchuck, OL David Conner, WR Tar’Varish Dawson, WR Jacob Page, CB Omarion Cooper, CB Adam Hopkins, CB Cormani McClain, TE Chamon Metayer, LB Demouy Kennedy, LB Kofi Taylor-Barrocks, LB Victory Johnson, RB Alton McCaskill, RB Sy’Veon Wilkerson, QB Gavin Kuld
Houston Cougars:
Key Departure: WR Sam Brown
The true answer is the shear volume of outbound transfers, with 32 players departing this offseason, including nearly the entire wide receiver room with Matthew Golden now with the Texas Longhorns and now Brown joining the Miami Hurricanes. Brown was by far UH’s leading receiver in 2023 with 62 receptions for 815 yards, leaving a massive hole in the Houston roster. Willie Fritz’s takeover has brought with it a Deionian roster purge, will it expedite or delay the Cougars’ ability to compete in the Big 12?
Others in Portal (20): RB Brandon Campbell, RB Sergio Snider, QB Lucas Coley, OL Karson Jones, OL Tevin Shaw, WR CJ Nelson, WR Mikal Harrison-Pilot, WR Joshua Cobs, LB Treylin Payne, LB Kamsi Arinze, LB Aubrey Smith, CB Michael Patterson, CB Jalen Emery, CB Isaiah Hamilton, S Justice Ugo, TE Darson Herman, TE Logan Compton, TE Bryan Henry. S Jalyn Stanford, DL Hakeem Ajijolalya
Iowa State Cyclones:
Key Departure: WR Aidan Bitter
Look, I can’t simply say that every Big 12 squad somehow avoided any meaningful impact this spring. Bitter made starts for the Cyclones and played 23 games over the last two seasons in Ames, however only making 10 total receptions for 143 career yards. It’s likely fifth-year senior Daniel Jackson steps into the starting role vacated by Bitter, providing a higher athletic ceiling; nevertheless, losing names from atop the depth chart is not ideal for ISU.
Others in Portal (7): WR Jason Essex, DL Tommy Hamann, DL Anthony Cunningham, OL Anthony Smith, OL Oluwafunto Akinshilo, S Norris Davis, RB Arlen Harris
Kansas Jayhawks:
Key Departure: None
Another Big 12 squad that was able to retain its roster with potential to compete for a conference title. The Jayhawks kept Lance Leipold in Lawrence along with QB Jalon Daniels & RB Devin Neal. Although the down-stream depth may have taken a hit, the Jayhawks escape the spring portal window unscathed.
Others in Portal (7): DL Andon Carpenter, RB Billy Conaway, RB Red Martel, S Akili Hubbard, DL Davion Westmoreland, WR Surahz Buncom, TE Dillon Mong.
Kansas State Wildcats:
Key Departure: DL Jevon Banks
Perhaps a stretch to suggest this is any significant blow to the Wildcats’ chances in 2024, but Chris Kleiman has retained most of a roster that looks primed to compete for a Big 12 Championship and a Bye in the inaugural 12-team Playoff. However Banks was a meaningful contributor, playing in every game, making nine tackles including a sack vs. TCU. While KSU took some tough departures in the winter window, its spring was clean.
Others in Portal (1): QB Max Marsh
Oklahoma State Cowboys:
Key Departure: None
The Pokes almost made it the entire Spring window without a single portal entry, but had one fifth-year special teams contributor jump in late. While OK State may be sad to see a three-time Academic All-Big 12 leave the university, the on-field product remains fully in-tact.
Others in Portal (1): CB Jordan Regan
TCU Horned Frogs:
Key Departure: DL Damonic Williams
Ouch. Perhaps the most impactful transfer loss across Power 4 teams, Williams became the top portal target for many of the richest NIL programs nationally, ultimately falling to the Oklahoma Sooners. A True Freshman All-American in 2022, starting every game in TCU’s run to the National Championship game and an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2023, Williams had 60 tackles and 4.5 sacks total in his two seasons in Fort Worth, leaving a massive hole on the Horned Frogs’ defensive front.
Others in Portal (6): OL Brione Ramsey-Brooks, OL Ezra Dotson-Oyetade, CB Andre Seldon, CB Rohan Fluellen, CB Champ Lewis, QB Grant Tisdale
Texas Tech Red Raiders:
Key Departure: None
Texas Tech didn’t lose any contributors from its 2023 squad during the spring window and emerged mostly unscathed throughout the entire offseason. Losing redshirt freshmen does take a bite out of the recruiting wins the Raiders have delivered the last two cycles, but the roster remains in solid condition.
Others in Portal (4): RB Anquan Willis, RB Bryson Donnell, DL Tre’Darius Brown, S Landon Hullaby
UCF Knights:
Key Departure: CB Nikai Martinez
Gus Malzahn has been cooking in the Spring portal, bringing in some top targets, but it hurts to lose an every-game starter at a premier position. Martinez played in all 27 games the last two seasons, starting all 13 in 2023, leading the Knights with three interceptions and fifth on the team with 54 tackles.
Others in Portal (8): LB Rian Davis, LB Zavier Carter, QB Timmy McClain, QB Xavier Williams, RB Demarckus Bowman, CB Jason Duclona, WR Goldie Lawrence, WR Stephen Martin
Utah Utes
Key Departure: OL Kolinu’u Faaiu
The Utes will be entering the Big 12 without their starting Center as Faaiu has now made his way to College Station for the 2024 season. Kyle Whittingham’s squad still has experienced depth on the O-Line, with a pair of seniors vying for the starting center role in Jaren Kump and Johnny Maea.
Others in Portal (8): RB Chris Curry, DL Kanious Vaughn, DL Chase Kennedy, DL Austin LaRue. QB Steve Smedley, S Briton Allen, WR Sidney Mbanasor, OL Jacob Edmonds
West Virginia Mountaineers:
Key Departure: WR EJ Horton
Coach Brown has been able to maintain the core of a roster that wildly outproduced expectations and is back for another step forward, so there aren’t any killer departures for the Mountaineers. Horton was by far the top contributor of the group, as the team’s sixth-leading receiver with 201 yards, including 79 yards and a TD vs. Oklahoma State, in his one season in Morgantown after transferring across state from Marshall.
Others in Portal (5): OL Charlie Katarincic, QB Sean Boyle, CB Montre Miller, DL Brayden Dudley, WR Graeson Malashevich