College football transfer portal live updates: Spring commitments, latest moves, analysis

Wake Forest CB DaShawn Jones has entered the transfer portal. Jones was a returning starter who led the Demon Deacons with three interceptions last season. That's a tough hit at the deadline for a secondary that was already trying to replace two NFL Draft picks in Malik Mustapha and Caelen Carson. There are a bunch of Power 5 teams on the market for corners right now.

UCF RB Demarkcus Bowman has re-entered the transfer portal. Bowman was a five-star recruit in the class of 2020 and is now looking for his fourth school in five years after going from Clemson to Florida to UCF. During that time, he has accumulated 33 careers carries for 175 yards. Bowman's portal entry indicates he does not want to be contacted, which typically means a player knows where he's going. As we enter the world of unlimited transfers, I do think we'll see more examples of players attending three or more schools without getting their degree. Hopefully he can find a school that helps him graduate and maximizes his potential.

Miami’s recent run of transfer portal additions — including running back Damien Martinez — has led to some departures in the last 48 hours.

The departures: safety Savion Riley, linebacker Marcellius Pulliam, offensive lineman Jonathan Denis and cornerback Demetrius Freeney.

Riley transferred in from Vanderbilt in January. Denis followed coach Mario Cristobal from Oregon to Miami two years ago and made one start. Pulliam, a 2023 recruit, played 11 defensive snaps last season. Freeney, a JUCO recruit in the 2023 cycle, was buried on the depth chart.

Wisconsin cornerback Michael Mack II has entered the transfer portal. Mack transferred to Wisconsin last year from Air Force but was denied eligibility under academy rules, which stated players needed to transfer within their first two years to be granted immediately eligibility. Mack spent three seasons at Air Force. Mack had been working this spring with the reserves.

Ohio State offensive lineman Enokk Vimahi has entered the transfer portal. Four four-star from the 2019 class, Vimahi was expected to be a backup once again this season and never found a way to break into the starting lineup. He was one of the more likely transfer options when the window opened after playing with the second-team offensive line all spring, as well. This will make room for Ohio State to make a splash in the offensive lineman market if the Buckeyes choose to bolster the roster that way.

NORMAN, Okla. — In the second quarter of Florida Atlantic’s 2023 game against Clemson, Casey Thompson went down after a hit from defensive end Cade Denhoff. Thompson was helped off the field with a torn ACL, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

His dad, former Oklahoma quarterback Charles Thompson, found a silver lining and suggested the setback could be a blessing in disguise. If Casey could take advantage of a medical hardship waiver and be granted a seventh season of eligibility, maybe he’d have another shot to prove himself at the college level.

“I was like, ‘Man, another year of college football?’” Casey remembers now. “Initially, I didn’t want to hear that, but as the season went on, I started to enjoy just life, and I got to reconnect with myself.”

Continue reading.

Nebraska linebacker Chief Borders has entered the transfer portal. That’s the first entry for the Huskers this spring. Borders, at Jack linebacker, had shown solid improvement this offseason, according to coach Matt Rhule.

Borders played a reserve role in 2023 as a transfer from ...

Tommy Poholsky was a walk-on QB, but now two of the three Iowa quarterbacks who went through drills this spring are in the portal, joining Deacon Hill. Freshman Marco Lainez III remains on the roster as does senior Cade McNamara, who is still recovering from a torn ACL. Incoming freshman James Resar arrives in June, and the Hawkeyes are expected to add a quarterback in the portal.

Alabama football addressed one of its biggest transfer portal needs Monday morning when Charlotte defensive back Kameron Howard announced his commitment to the Tide via his X account.

A 5-foot-11, 189-pound prospect, Howard played in all 12 games last season including two starts. He recorded 38 tackles (21 solo) and two interceptions. Howard, a rising sophomore, entered the transfer portal Saturday and quickly became a priority for the staff, culminating in a commitment.

There’s some familiarity between Howard and the new Alabama staff. He was recruited by defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist out of high school to Buffalo before choosing Charlotte. He will have three years of eligibility remaining. Howard becomes the third transfer portal addition for Alabama joining offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (Iowa) and kicker Graham Nicholson (Miami OH).

Former Baylor and Arkansas cornerback Lorando "Snaxx" Johnson announced on Sunday he is transferred to...Baylor!

Johnson is one of the most experienced corners available in the portal as a two-year starter who has played more than 1,400 snaps in his career. Johnson's announcement on social media that he's heading back to Waco was quite funny.

Ohio State safety Ja'Had Carter is back in the transfer portal after just one year with the Buckeyes.

He played just 121 snaps on defense last year, fifth among designated safeties and had just five tackles. He battled injuries throughout his short time with the Buckeyes and was never able to solidify himself in the lineup. His departure isn’t a major loss, or a huge surprise, especially with Perry Eliano, who recruited him, no longer on the roster.

Carter also didn’t play much this spring and didn’t play in the spring game. He, again, was injured, but Ohio State has a host of talented young players it feels comfortable playing. Malik Hartford played 150 defensive snaps last year and had some bright moments as a true freshman. Also on that list of talented young players is Jayden Bonsu, who didn’t play a snap last season, but started in the spring game.

Though Ohio State is still in a three-safety defense, Jim Knowles’ 4-2-5 will give more of a hybrid look going forward with the Buckeyes recruiting and developing corners as nickel safeties, as well. That diminishes the impact of Carter entering the portal. Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom will lead the room, with new safeties coach Matt Guerreri turning to some high-potential players behind them.

Miami added another talented weapon to its offensive arsenal Sunday when it picked up a commitment from former Houston receiver Sam Brown.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from Bloomingdale, Ga., led the Cougars with 62 catches for 815 yards and three touchdowns last season and caught 41 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns in 2022 for Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson when both were in Houston.

Brown, who signed with West Virginia out of high school, provides quarterback Cam Ward with another experienced weapon.

Miami has one of the best receiver groups in the ACC led by Xavier Restrepo (85 catches, 1,092 yards in 2023) and Jacolby George (57 catches, 864 yards). In addition, the Hurricanes are expecting big things from third-year sophomore Isaiah Horton, a standout during the spring.

With only a few days left to make their choices in time to play next fall, 396 players from the 18 schools in the new-look Big Ten have entered the transfer portal since December, according to figures compiled by The Athletic with information provided by The Athletic, On3 and 247Sports.

Of that number, 259 have found homes, including 29 who withdrew from the portal. Two players initially entered the portal but opted for the NFL draft (Michigan State linebacker Jacoby Windmon, Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa). Neither player was selected this weekend. So far, 178 players have committed to or signed with Big Ten schools.

With spring football now complete, expect an influx of departures by Tuesday's deadline.

Former Marshall cornerback Dyoni Hill is expected to announce he’s transferring to Miami.

The 6-foot, 172-pound Gainesville, Fla., native was recruited to Marshall out of high school by Hurricanes defensive coordinator Lance Guidry in 2022 and developed by cornerbacks coach Chevis Jackson last season. 

Hill started nine games for the Thundering Herd in 2023, registering 55 tackles, 10 pass deflections, a forced fumble and an interception. He visited Indiana before taking a trip to Coral Gables. 

He joins a secondary that features two experienced starters in Daryl Porter Jr. and Washington transfer Mishael Powell and a couple of budding young talents in sophomore Damari Brown, junior Jadais Richard and Vanderbilt transfer Savion Riley.

With Hill now on the roster, Miami could move Powell, who mostly played nickelback at Washington, to a starting spot at safety alongside either Jaden Harris, Richard or Riley. Porter Jr. and Brown project to be Miami’s two starting outside corners. The Hurricanes are also high on freshman Zaquan Patterson, a top-100 recruit.