Which of LSU’s incoming transfers could be the most impactful?

Ranking the best acquisitions in the transfer portal

One of the first things Brian Kelly needed to do after taking the job at LSU was start building the scholarship numbers back up.

Ed Orgeron’s last couple years at LSU was a masterclass on how not to manage a roster. This left LSU in a really bad spot entering the new year. Just look at the bowl game, where they barely had enough guys to field a complete team. The situation was dire.

Over the last year, LSU has seen players from just about every position transfer. After LSU lost all of that production from 2019, they were never able to recover. Having to rebuild in the middle of a pandemic certainly didn’t make it any easier.

LSU needed to attack the transfer portal this recruiting cycle and they needed to attack it hard. So far, Kelly has done just that. In total, LSU has added 11 transfers, giving them the best transfer portal recruiting class in the country according to 247 Sports.

There are still whispers out there about more guys joining the class, so LSU might not be done yet. But for now, let’s take a look at five guys who could make the largest impact for LSU in 2022.

Former Clemson transfer declares for NFL draft

A former Tiger who entered the transfer portal in January of 2020 has decided to enter the 2022 NFL draft. T.J. Chase left the Tigers and played this past season for Florida Atlantic. In 2019 Chase had 25 receptions for 206 yards and three …

A former Tiger who entered the transfer portal in January of 2020 has decided to enter the 2022 NFL draft.  T.J. Chase left the Tigers and played this past season for Florida Atlantic.

In 2019 Chase had 25 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns.  He played in 41 games for the Tigers.

With all of the injuries at receiver for Clemson this season Chase would have played a lot for the Tigers had he not transferred.

College football head coaching tracker

Rank these jobs from best to worst and give us a reason why…

It’s already been a busy off-season of coaching changes in college football and we’re still two weeks from the regular season actually drawing to a close.  With Justin Fuente’s announced firing from Virginia Tech there have now already been 12 head college football coaches fired since the season began.

Some are staying on to finish the year while others technically resigned, but the the fact remains there will be at least 12 different head coaches in college football’s FBS when the 2022 season begins late next summer.

Here at Fighting Irish Wire we’re certainly not expecting Brian Kelly to be exiting anytime soon, even if Kirk Herbstreit has him on a plane to Southern California, but we certainly would be curious about a Kelly assistant getting a chance at a head coaching job.

Below is our tracker of all FBS coaching changes that will be updated through the fall and into the early parts of 2022.

Charlotte vs FIU Prediction, Game Preview

Charlotte vs FIU prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 9

Charlotte vs FIU prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 9


Charlotte vs FIU How To Watch

Date: Friday, October 8
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, FL
How To Watch: CBS Sports Network
Record: Charlotte (3-2), FIU (1-4)
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Charlotte vs FIU Game Preview


Why Charlotte Will Win

The 49ers are fantastic at controlling games.

They’ve got a nice running game – even if it’s not consistent – and Chris Reynolds and the passing attack have done well enough to come up with wins over Duke and Middle Tennessee, but it’s all about one key thing with this team.

Time of possession.

The 49ers don’t beat themselves with bad penalties and a ton of turnovers, and they’re okay on third downs. What they’re great at is keeping the ball, holding on to it for over 33 minutes a game.

FIU has a slew of issues, and one of the biggest is ball control. It keeps it for just over 26 minutes a game.

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Why FIU Will Win

The passing game has perked up.

It was fine over the first part of the season, and despite the losses over the last two weeks on the road, the offense cranked up close to 400 yards through the air against Central Michigan and 319 in last week’s loss to Florida Atlantic.

Former Maryland starter Max Bortenschlager has settled in, and the 1-2 receiving punch of Tyrese Chambers and Bryce Singleton are making big play after big play.

Charlotte doesn’t allow a ton of shots down the field, but it doesn’t generate enough of a pass rush to be a problem.

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What’s Going To Happen

FIU is having too many defensive issues.

Charlotte is hardly a brick wall on D, but at least the group takes the ball away and is fully rested late with all the time the O spends controlling the clock.

Charlotte’s problem is stopping the run, and FIU doesn’t do that.

FIU will be tough at home for the first time since September 11th, but Charlotte will be too consistent for a full four quarters.

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Charlotte vs FIU Prediction, Line

Charlotte 34, FIU 27
Line: Charlotte -3.5, o/u: 60.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 2

5: When Facebook and Instagram are down
1: The Bradshaw Bunch

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Notre Dame makes offer to defensive end recruit Kennedy McDowell

Another defensive end recruit is offered by Notre Dame.

Earlier this week, Notre Dame made an offer to strong-side defensive end recruit Nigel Smith. Now, the Irish have decided it’s time to continue shoring up that position for the future. Mike Elston had a conversation with Kennedy McDowell of Memorial in Frisco, Texas, and it led to an offer. From the sound of this tweet, it appears McDowell is serious about both the athletic and academic side of his collegiate career:

Only seven programs have made offers to McDowell, so it’s obviously early in the recruiting process for him. At this point, the other schools competing for his services are Vanderbilt, Arizona State, Kansas, FIU, Colorado and SMU.

In addition to playing football, McDowell recently was a state qualifier in the 110-meter hurdles. It’s safe to say that whoever lands him is going to be getting quite an athlete. Opposing offenses are going to have to keep a close eye on him because this is a kid meant to compete at the next level and make big plays to boot.

Former Tennessee defensive lineman announces transfer destination

Former Tennessee defensive lineman announces transfer destination.

Senior defensive lineman Savion Williams entered the NCAA transfer portal Nov. 7.

Williams announced his transfer destination Thursday on Twitter, saying it “is a business decision.” He will transfer to Florida International University and play for head coach Butch Davis.

He announced his decision to transfer from Tennessee ahead of the Vols playing at Arkansas in Week 7 of the Southeastern Conference’s 10-game SEC-only season.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive lineman played in one game for the Vols this season. He played against Kentucky in Tennessee’s 34-7 loss to the Wildcats.

After transferring from Lackawanna College, Williams appeared in seven games for the Vols last season, making seven tackles.

Tennessee defensive linemen Savion Williams (50) and Elijah Simmons (51) warming up before the Georgia game on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Saul Young/News Sentinel, Knoxville News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

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Why FIU RB Anthony Jones could make Seahawks roster

Anthony Jones fought through a nearly fatal drive by shooting in 2018, and now he’s looking to fight his way onto the Seahawks roster.

The Seattle Seahawks brought in a whopping 17 undrafted free agents from the 2020 class to compete for spots on the active roster.

Most years, teams are lucky to get one UDFA to make the squad, as they are primarily brought in to give the team extra bodies during training camp.

However, the Seahawks have had plenty of luck in the past, going all the way back to Dave Krieg, and including Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin and more recently, defensive tackle Poona Ford.

Yesterday, we took a look at Patrick Carr’s chances of making the roster, noting he could get an opportunity if Penny is sidelined into the regular season, or if any other running backs end up on the shelf.

However, he’d have to beat out Seattle’s other undrafted free agent running back, Anthony Jones, who like Carr is a short, stockier power back.

Jones fits Seattle’s bill not just as a running back, but as a man who has undergone tremendous personal hardship to get where he is today. Jones was the victim of a drive-by shooting in September of 2018, forcing him to be hospitalized for weeks.

He ended up missing seven weeks but managed to fight his way back onto the field later that season, and returned for his senior year to rush for 867 yards and nine touchdowns.

Now, he’ll compete alongside Carr and the rest of Seattle’s running back room, including Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas, for a role on the Seahawks in 2020.

Realistically, barring multiple injuries, Carr and Jones are likely battling for one spot on the practice squad. Both players are of similar build and had success at the collegiate level, so how they look between the tackles in training camp will go a long way toward determining who gets to stick around once September rolls around.

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Top 5 transfer destinations for Taulia Tagovailoa

Alabama’s third-string quarterback, Taulia Tagovailoa, has entered the transfer portal. AJ Spurr explores where he could potentially land.

Alabama’s sophomore quarterback, Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of former Tide standout Tua, has entered the NCAA transfer portal and will look to continue his collegiate football career with a different program.

The report does not come as a shock — at least not to most — as he’s been in a quarterback room with Mac Jones and and freshman phenom Bryce Young among others. Unless something miraculous happens, it appears as if Taulia would be destined to roam the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

There are rumors of him wanting to follow Tua, much like how he did when his older brother committed to Alabama and the family moved from Hawaii to Alabaster (Ala.), which could play a role when deciding which roster he will be on in 2020.

The NCAA will soon be voting on the possibility of a one-time transfer waiver for athletes which would allow them to play immediately rather than sit out a season. The list below accounts for both possibilities.

Here are five of the most likely landing spots for Taulia:

5. Florida International

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

How can a player with such star power behind his last name go from one of the strongest and most storied college football programs to a team that went 6-7 in Conference USA? Easy. A guaranteed starting job, an opportunity to be a large factor in the growth of a young program and a high profile coach that’s shown he wants to win in the city of Miami, just not with the University of Miami.

Head coach Butch Davis has shown he wants to win and he proved it by claiming the title “best team in Miami” by beating the Hurricanes in 2019. Not to mention, the program had two players drafted in 2020 – one being quarterback James Morgan in the fourth round – and four players signed to teams after the draft.

FIU being located in Miami also makes sense to many when they consider Taulia wanting to be close to his brother, who now plays for the Dolphins, and family. They made an even bigger move in 2017 when they relocated to Birmingham from Hawaii to keep the family together.

When looking at the roster, there is an opening for the former four-star Tagovailoa. His strongest competition for the position would be former three-star Caleb Lynum.

Don’t be surprised if the Panthers make a strong push to get Taulia.

Joe Douglas’ Super Bowl experience taught him value of QB depth

The Jets took James Morgan in the fourth round of the NFL draft partially because Joe Douglas knows teams need a good backup quarterback.

One of the most puzzling choices Joe Douglas made in the 2020 NFL Draft was the selection of Florida International quarterback James Morgan in the fourth round. While the pick was too early for a non-position of need, it’s easy to understand why Douglas did it when you consider his experiences at previous stops. 

Douglas learned the need for a backup quarterback early in his career while working for the Ravens in 2000 and was reminded 17 years later when he was the Eagles’ director of player personnel. He saw Baltimore coach Brian Billick replace the struggling Tony Banks with Trent Dilfer, who went on to go 11-1 as a starter and win Super Bowl 35. Douglas then watched the Eagles win Super Bowl 52 with Nick Foles filling in for the injured Carson Wentz. Both seasons were saved by backups for different reasons  – poor play in Baltimore vs. a season-ending injury in Philadelphia – but both proved to Douglas the need to keep a competent backup quarterback on the roster.

David Fales, the only experienced arm on New York’s roster before drafting Morgan, isn’t that quarterback for the Jets. Luke Falk and Josh McCown – who combined to go 0-6 for the Jets when Sam Darnold missed time the past two seasons – certainly weren’t, either. Douglas thinks he found the right backup in the 6-foot-4, 213-pound Morgan, though.

“I think he has the opportunity to shine in this offensive scheme,” Douglas said of Morgan after the draft. “This is a young man that is extremely intelligent. He has all the physical tools you’re looking for.”

Morgan possesses a lot of the traits the Jets need in a quality backup quarterback. He’s big, intelligent, throws well and plays best when he sits in the pocket. He threw for over 8,600 yards and 65 touchdowns split between two seasons at Bowling Green and two seasons at FIU and led the Golden Panthers to back-to-back bowl games. 

He does have issues with accuracy and forcing throws, but the competitiveness, preparation and desire to learn should give Morgan a great chance to contribute early on in his career. 

“From the discussions we’ve had, one thing I think I’ve tried to make clear to them is whatever role I may have, whether it’s helping Sam prepare, competing, whatever it may be, that’s out of my control,” Morgan said. “It’s up to them to decide. However it shakes out, I’m just here to help this organization win games.”

But why would Douglas draft a backup who has no NFL experience over a veteran quarterback on the free agent market? There are plenty of quality players who would be better suited to help Darnold prepare like Joe Flacco and Matt Moore. Veterans, however, would cost more money and offer less malleability. 

Morgan’s estimated rookie contract will be around four years, $4 million, according to Over The Cap, and will only cost the Jets $788,816 against the 2020 salary cap. That’s a better long-term investment in a backup than Fales or any free agent. 

Though 2019 proved paying for a second quarterback works – just look at the Titans with Ryan Tannehill and the Saints with Teddy Bridgewater – scheme-fit matters more. Morgan is young enough to remain confident (he said he can make “any throw on the field”) but also able to learn and absorb a new offense. He also fits the bill as a prototypical Gase quarterback who loves to air it out from the pocket. Morgan is a more enticing backup as well because he’s young – though Morgan is 98 days older than Darnold – with a lot more athleticism than older veterans.

The decision to draft a quarterback in the fourth round will likely continue to be scrutinized – especially if players the Jets’ passed on pan out better than Morgan or other draft picks – but Douglas made the move to ensure the offense can survive without Darnold. Whether or not Morgan is the right backup remains to be seen — and he still needs to beat our Fales — but the move itself fits with Douglas’ strategy for roster-building and it provides a better contingency plan for a Darnold injury than what the Jets previously had.

Report: Seahawks to sign UDFA running back Anthony Jones

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Seattle Seahawks plan to sign running back Anthony Jones to a contract following the 2020 NFL Draft.

Former FIU running back Anthony Jones is reported to be set to sign a contract with the Seattle Seahawks after surviving a bullet to the face in a drive-by shooting in 2018. ESPN’s Adam Schefter delivered the news the Seahawks will be signing Jones as an undrafted free agent.

Jones was hospitalized and intubated following the incident. He told the Associated Press that he questioned why something so tragic could happen to him specifically.

“That first night, I asked God, ‘Why me?'” Jones said. “I did. You know I did. I just wished I could rewind time, man. Why me? I don’t ever do anything to anybody. I’m a good dude. I respect everybody. I’m a respectful man. My momma raised me right. I’ve never done anything to anybody. I just want to play football, graduate, get my degree and help my family.”

Doctors told FIU head coach Butch Davis that the bullet passed through Jones with no crucial structural damage inflicted.

“The doctor at the hospital when it happened told me, ‘Coach, I’ve been doing this for like 18 years and I’ve never seen anybody survive this,'” Davis told the Sun-Sentinel. “And then he described the bullet wounds, where they went, what they didn’t touch. For that shot to go through and not hit any organs, any bones, any nerve tissue, he said it’s a miracle. It honestly is a miracle.”

At the very least, Jones will get an opportunity to show what he can do at the professional level.

“I have that chance now,” Jones said.  “A second chance.”

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