Texas ranks No. 7 in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings

Despite a small portal class, the Texas Longhorns have the No. 7 team portal ranking per 247Sports.

The transfer portal is as active as it has been in its short existence. The Texas Longhorns are one of the teams most taking advantage of the portal.

Despite just a handful of portal additions, the Longhorns rank No. 7 in the country in team portal rankings per 247Sports.

The team’s portal class goes includes safety Andrew Mukuba (Clemson), wide receiver Matthew Golden (Houston), edge rusher Trey Moore (UTSA), wide receiver Isaiah Bond (Alabama), linebacker Kendrick Blackshire (Alabama), wide receiver Silas Bolden (Oregon State) and tight end Amari Niblack (Alabama).

Two teams from the Longhorns’ new conference top the portal list. Ole Miss, who transformed its starting lineup with several impact additions ranks as No. 1 in the portal rankings. Texas A&M, who filled several roster vacancies out of need, added 23 players through the portal.

Oregon, Florida State and Colorado round out the top five teams in the portal class. Teams will look to capitalize on their portal additions in 2024.

Ohio State transfer portal scouting report: Quinshon Judkins

Ohio State transfer portal scouting report: Quinshon Judkins #GoBucks

The Ohio State football season is over, but the offseason has just begun and the Buckeyes are putting in work in the transfer portal. The first transfer portal addition came from the Mid-American Conference with the addition of Will Kacmarek from the Ohio Bobcats. We dove into what to expect from him earlier this month.

We then looked at Will Howard, who some have deemed the quarterback to lead the Buckeyes to the Promised Land. I then took a crack at what to expect from my favorite addition, former Alabama Crimson Tide center, Seth McLaughlin.

I have had time to dig into some Quinshon Judkins film and despite the “disappointing” 2023 season, Judkins has a ton to offer and will be a focal point to the new and improved Ohio State offense in 2024. The star led the SEC in rushing yards as a freshman with 1,567 yards and even had 16 touchdowns, but what can we expect in 2024?

Name: Quinshon Judkins

Former School: Ole Miss Rebels

Height: 5-feet, 11-inches

Weight: 210 pounds

Position: Running Back

Strengths

Quinshon Judkins led the SEC in rushing yards as a freshman in 2022, which should be enough to excite any fanbase, but just watching him shows that he is an absolute load to tackle and rarely goes down on the first hit. Judkins is one of the strongest runners in the country and was arguably the most valuable player on his team in the last two seasons.

Judkins is the total package, with elite size for the position as well as top-notch strength and agility. It is really hard to find a weakness in his game, Judkins even possesses the ideal balance and vision you want in a lead back. He is also a very tough back who played through injury for a portion of last season.

Weaknesses

Judkins was still elite in 2023, but it was pretty easy to see why he would want to transfer. Opposing defenses loaded the box against Ole Miss and caused Judkins to have a severely slow start to the season. He was clearly bumped and bruised throughout the season and the Rebels showed no signs of letting him catch his breath. Judkins looked less explosive and easier to take down in 2023, but this off-season and sharing time in a loaded Ohio State backfield should help him get healthy and improve his play from still a very elite level from last year.

Expectations

I try to keep my expectations reasonable, but Quinshon Judkins is the definition of elite, and coming to Ohio State and being paired with TreVeyon Henderson was such an obvious move for him. Judkins gets to be the thunder to Henderson’s lightning, compete for a National Championship and save some wear on his tires for the NFL. He is a special player who has a legitimate shot to be an All-American despite sharing a backfield.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Josh Keatley on X.

Biggest questions for every SEC football team for 2024

We look at questions each SEC team will have to answer for a successful season.

We’re not far from spring football in the SEC. There are plenty of questions for several teams in the league. Continue reading “Biggest questions for every SEC football team for 2024”

Texas included in three of 247Sports’ most important CFB games in 2024

Three Texas football games are considered among the Top 10 games of the year.

Anticipation is already building toward perhaps the most looked forward to college football season in recent memory. Several teams have emerged as contenders.

There’s more parity now in college football than there has been over the last decade. Last season, Michigan broke through for its first national title since 1997. Washington made its first national title game since winning it all in 1991. Texas made its first College Football Playoff in program history.

The parity extends elsewhere. Ole Miss and Missouri broke through among college football’s elite with New Years Six wins over Penn State and Ohio State. With legendary head coaches in Alabama’s Nick Saban and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh no longer leading their programs on the field, more parity could be on the way.

More than anything, a 12-team playoff makes room for several teams to contend. It allows for powerhouses who sustain an early injury to play for a title with two losses. It allows undefeated Group of Five schools to compete without taking an one-loss power conference team’s spot in the tournament.

Let’s break down 247Sports analyst Brad Crawford’s biggest games of the year.

Former Alabama TE coach Joe Cox to join Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss

Former Alabama tight end coach Joe Cox to remain in the SEC

Anytime you hire a new head coach, staff changes are imminent. While some position coaches are retained, some are not. One coach not asked to remain on the staff led by Kalen DeBoer is tight end coach Joe Cox.

It didn’t take long for Cox to land on his feet as 247Sports is reporting that he will be joining Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss filling the same role.

Cox spent the last two seasons in Tuscaloosa coaching the tight ends under Nick Saban. Before coaching at Alabama, Cox had previous coaching stops at Colorado State, South Carolina, and Charlotte.

Cox played quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs from 2005-09 under Mark Richt.

Stay connected to Roll Tide Wire for more on the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

Looking at the SEC teams Texas doesn’t have to play in 2024

The schedule is favorable for Texas in its first season in the SEC.

Texas has a favorable first SEC schedule. It’s part of reason we are so optimistic about the team’s chances in 2024. Continue reading “Looking at the SEC teams Texas doesn’t have to play in 2024”

Former Alabama DB announces transfer destination

Former Alabama defensive back Trey Amos announced his transfer destination… and it’s in the SEC.

Former Alabama defensive back Trey Amos joined the program before the 2023 college football season after transferring in from Louisiana Lafayette. Well, he is now onto his third program after committing to play for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss.

Amos only started one game for the Crimson Tide, but he appeared in all 14 games last season. While at Alabama, Amos recorded 12 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and five passes defended.

His production wasn’t what many expected in Tuscaloosa, so maybe things will be different under Pete Golding in Oxford, Mississippi.

He is one of many players to have hit the portal after the season ended and head coach Nick Saban retired.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Alabama transfer C Seth McLaughlin to visit two Power 5 programs

Alabama center Seth McLaughlin has received interest from numerous programs since entering the transfer portal, especially these two.

Alabama center Seth McLaughlin recently joined numerous other members of the Crimson Tide by joining the transfer portal. He has received interest from numerous high-profile programs already and has two visits scheduled, according to Nick Kelly of the Tuscaloosa News.

First, McLaughlin will take a trip up north to visit Ohio State and then he will head back south to SEC country, where he will visit Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss.

Though his disappointing performance in the Rose Bowl will cloud most fans’ judgment, it’s important to remember that he managed to hold his own as a blocker and earn the interest of some of the biggest programs in the country.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow McLaughlin’s journey throughout the transfer portal, as well as other Alabama players looking to transfer.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Where will 4-star athlete Braylon Burnside commit to at the Under Armour All-America Game?

Braylon Burnside is set to announce his college commitment at the Under Armour All-America Game.

Braylon Burnside will be announcing his college decision on Wednesday at the Under Armour All-America Game. One of the nation’s top playmakers and overall athletes is poised to announce what has turned into an in-state battle for his talents.

Burnside’s decision is down to two between Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The Under Armour All-America Game is being held at Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida) on Wednesday, January 3 at 4:00 pm EST (ESPN).

Burnside is a four-star and the No. 166 player in the nation per ESPN. He is the No. 248 overall recruit in the nation and a four-star athlete according to 247Sports.

There is certainly a lot of attention on him this week as he is the lone player announcing at the Under Armour All-America Game. He is a 6-foot, 185-pound wide receiver and safety prospect from Starkville, Mississippi.

Burnside said he waited this long because he wanted to take his time through the process and to also enjoy the platform of committing on ESPN.

“It’s come down to the hometown (Starkville, the home of Mississippi State) and Ole Miss – the hometown of Oxford,” Burnside told USA TODAY High School Sports on Monday afternoon.

“It’s the battle of Mississippi as I call it. Looking forward to it.”

Burnside said he will enroll in January regardless of the school he selects.

As for Ole Miss, he said that the program being run by head coach Lane Kiffin is very appealing to him.

“I like coach Kiffin and their offense, the way he runs the offense,” Burnside said.

“The way he treats his receivers, the way coach Nix (wide receivers coach, assistant head coach Derrick Nix) treats his receivers. I feel like it could be a good place for me too.”

Mississippi State, located just minutes from home, is undergoing some changes. New head coach Jeff Lebby, who was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, has brought a new energy to the program.

Burnside likes what he has seen from Lebby’s program.

“There’s been a whole lot of good changes with coach Lebby being the head coach, I feel like it’s a good look for them,” Burnside said.

This past week of practice has been competitive, Burnside said. Playing in the Under Armour All-America game is one thing, but he said getting high-level coaching is part of the reason why he committed to the game.

“I get to compete with the best guys in the nation, it’s one of those experiences I’ve always dreamed about,” Burnside said.

“When you’re up here, you get every experience, every drill that you want to learn as a receiver and that’s what you want as a receiver.”

Penn State gets hammered by Ole Miss as Big Ten bowl woes continue

Penn State lost one day after Ohio State lost. The Big Ten is taking some hits in the bowl season.

Friday night, Ohio State scored only three points in a high-profile Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri. Saturday afternoon, another prominent Big Ten football program stumbled. Penn State allowed 38 points to Ole Miss and lost to the Rebels by 13 in the Peach Bowl.

Nittany Lions Wire has more:

“Both teams scored twice in the second quarter with Penn State scoring a pair of touchdowns with a touchdown pass from Beau Pribula to Nick Singleton and a Drew Allar pass to Theo Johnson. But the half ended with Penn State trailing by a score of 20-17 after giving up 340 yards of offense to the Rebels. And of the 115 passing yards Allar had at the half, 75 of them came on one play at the end of the first quarter when Tyler Warren caught a pass and ran for a big gain.”

It got worse — much worse — for Penn State after halftime. What had been a close game was busted open by Ole Miss. The game ended without drama in Atlanta, and another top Big Ten program took it on the chin.

USC is entering a Big Ten which is not exactly putting its best foot forward. We’re going to have a full offseason exploring just how strong the Big Ten is … or isn’t.

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