Tag: Transfer Portal News

Former guard Aden Holloway hits the road for Tuscaloosa

Just 11 days after he entered the transfer portal, former Auburn guard Aden Holloway commits to in-state rival Alabama and coach Nate Oats

The transfer portal has brought about a lot of drama in the short time since the college basketball season has ended. Many big name players and prospects have made decisions to go to other big name schools for their future.

That cycle got even more dramatic on Saturday, when former Auburn guard and McDonald’s All-American [autotag]Aden Holloway[/autotag] announced his decision to transfer to the University of Alabama.

Holloway spent just one season playing for the Tigers, being in the starting lineup for 26 out of the 35 games this season for head coach [autotag]Bruce Pearl[/autotag].

He put up 257 points in his freshman campaign, averaging 7.3 per game. His highest scoring performance came in early December when Auburn took on Indiana, where he dropped 24 on the Hoosiers.

Holloway only shot 31.8% on the year, and in the midst of that came a stretch where he could not find the bottom of the net, including in the first match with the Crimson Tide.

He also averaged 1.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, so while he was never a huge threat on the boards, he was able to dish the ball to his teammates for scoring opportunities from time to time.

The former five-star prospect entered the transfer portal on April 9, just 18 days after the Tigers fell to Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

He now commits to an Alabama squad that is coming fresh off of its first ever appearance in the Final Four and was the top scoring offense in the nation at 90.1 points per game.

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Would KJ Jefferson be a great fit for Auburn?

Transfer portal season is among us, and one of the SEC’s best quarterbacks is set to hit the market. Is there a chance that he ends up at Auburn?

Transfer portal season is upon us, and Auburn football could be shopping for a quarterback.

Auburn brought in Michigan State quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] from the portal during the spring window. It took him a while to get adjusted to Auburn’s scheme under [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag], but he found a groove during the back half of the schedule.

He ended the regular season with 1,657 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. He also flashed his running ability by rushing for 520 yards on 125 attempts. As Freeze continues molding a championship team, will Thorne be the guy to get them there the fastest? That is a question that should be answered during the upcoming transfer portal window that runs from Dec. 4 to Jan. 2, 2024.

It has yet to be seen if Auburn will look to add another starter, or will bring in another quarterback to add depth. While we wait for Freeze’s mindset to unfold, Auburn has been linked to several quarterbacks already including Washington State’s Cameron Ward and Duke’s Riley Leonard.

There is one quarterback, however, that would be considered a home run if Auburn were to land his signature.

[autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag], a three-year starter at quarterback for SEC foe Arkansas, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal following the Razorbacks’ season finale against Missouri last Friday. CBS Sports’ Dean Straka revealed several predictions as to where Jefferson could end up, with one destination being Auburn. Straka says that Jefferson could provide an upgrade to Auburn’s quarterback room following the Tigers’ 6-6 season.

Auburn could also upgrade at quarterback after going a pedestrian 6-6 in coach Hugh Freeze’s first season, even after adding former Michigan State starter Payton Thorne via the transfer portal last offseason.

Jefferson had a great five-year campaign at Arkansas where he passed for 7,911 yards and 67 touchdowns. He was also known as a great presence in the run game. He ended his Arkansas career by rushing for 1,876 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Jefferson’s dual-threat ability is attractive, and he has also drawn comparisons to Auburn Heisman Trophy winner [autotag]Cam Newton[/autotag] due to his talent and his 6-3, 247-pound frame.

The only drawback is his eligibility. Jefferson spent five total seasons at Arkansas, meaning that his next stop would be a one-year deal. The good news for Auburn in that regard is that having one season of Jefferson would allow a season of development for incoming freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag], who is expected to be a vital piece of future Auburn offenses.

The 30-day transfer portal window will be nothing short of entertaining, and it will be interesting to see how Auburn constructs its 2024 roster to compete for an SEC championship.

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Auburn among host of schools to contact Russel Tchewa

The 7-0 center averaged 11.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for USF last season.

One of the biggest areas of concern for Auburn heading into the 2023-24 season is rebounding. They are apparently working hard to fix the issue by dipping into the transfer portal.

On Monday, 24/7 High School Hoops tweeted that USF center [autotag]Russel Tchewa[/autotag] has heard from several big-name programs including Auburn.

Tchewa is a 7-0, 280-pound center originally from Cameroon before finishing his high school basketball career at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. He originally signed with Texas Tech, where he played for one season in 2019-20. In Lubbock, he played in 23 games, making one start.

He then transferred to USF, where he gradually saw more playing time which was reflected in his stats. Last season, he started in 29 of the 30 games he appeared and averaged 11.1 points and 8.6 rebounds for the Bulls as a junior.

In the Bulls’ 67-59 loss to Auburn on Nov. 11 at Neville Arena, Tchewa scored five points and pulled down three rebounds. Throughout the season, he reached double-figures in points 19 times and posted six double-doubles.

Should he choose Auburn, he would join a solid rotation of [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag] and [autotag]Dylan Cardwell[/autotag] at the five position and would be a stellar asset for defense.

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Texas transfer Ovie Oghoufo lands at LSU

Brian Kelly might have a clearer vision for his former Notre Dame player Ovie Oghoufo.

Ovie Oghoufo is on his way to Baton Rouge after two years in Austin. He left his mark as a student athlete on the Forty Acres, earning Academic All-American honors and pressuring opposing quarterbacks.

Oghoufo, though talented and athletic, wasn’t the perfect fit at Texas. His struggles revolved mostly around setting the edge in run support. The natural pass rusher could find a more passing down specific role at LSU.

The move is mutually beneficial for Texas and Oghoufo. The Longhorns could find a more natural fit for Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense with Tausili Akana and better edge setting and playmaking from Justice Finkley, Ethan Burke, Colton Vasek and others.

Oghoufo finds a new home with a strong foundation of defensive talent to thrive in his role. He reunites with his former head coach Brian Kelly, both of which were part of Notre Dame’s last trip to the College Football Playoff.

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T.J. Finley to the Big Ten? A social media post speculates the possibility

Quarterback T.J. Finley’s status with Auburn has been uncertain for quite some time. Could he be on the move to a Big Ten program?

Following a season that ended with a shoulder injury, Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley’s status with the program has been in question for quite some time.

Finley’s season was considered a disappointment, as he completed 33-of-53 passes for 431 yards and one touchdown to four interceptions. His time on the Plains may be over, and a new chapter in his career could begin in the Big Ten according to a recent tweet.

In a vague Instagram story, Finley posted the eyeballs emoji as well as his location at Ohio State University. His post has sparked wild rumors amongst Ohio State fans and media that Ryan Day could be interested in his talents.

While it is unknown if Finley’s visit to Columbus is for recruiting purposes, The Ohio State fanbase is not entirely excited about the possibility of adding Finley to the roster. Ohio State fan account Buckeyes Insider says that Finley would be welcomed only if it were for depth purposes, while Buckeyes Wire writer Josh Keatley does not see Finley being a viable replacement for the outgoing quarterback and Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud.

It is extremely hard for me to envision the Buckeyes having any interest in Finley. His college career has been disappointing and I don’t see him as a better option than either Kyle McCord or Devin Brown. It is understandable for there to be a drop-off from C.J. Stroud to whoever is next in line, but Finley seems like a nose-dive.

Though he has not officially announced his intentions, it has been rumored that Finley will enter the transfer portal during the offseason. Auburn returns [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] and [autotag]Holden Geriner[/autotag] from last season’s roster and added three-star [autotag]Hank Brown[/autotag] to its quarterback room during the early signing period. It is also no secret that Hugh Freeze is looking to add a quarterback from the transfer portal before next season, with Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders and Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong being the most popular names at the time of this post.

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Notre Dame hosting Virginia Tech wide receiver transfer this weekend

He would be a great addition!

The Irish have a few needs that they are going to try and fill via the transfer portal. One of the biggest is quarterback, but there has not been much news from any of the multiple targets Notre Dame is going after. They have already found a kicker, [autotag]Spencer Shrader[/autotag], and are hosting former [autotag]Virginia Tech[/autotag] wide receiver [autotag]Kaleb Smith[/autotag] this weekend.

Smith, a grad transfer, played his best football during his final year for the Hokies, catching 37 passes for 674 yards and three touchdowns. All of those numbers were career highs for the six-foot-two-inch and 222-pound receiver. By getting Smith to South Bend, it’s a big first step in gaining a commitment from the transfer.

The wide receiver unit struggled mightily this fall and with tight end [autotag]Michael Mayer[/autotag] leaving, the need to add more talent really is paramount. [autotag]Lorenzo Styles Jr.[/autotag] suffered through a sophomore slump after it looked like he was primed for a breakout after a huge [autotag]PlayStation Fiesta Bowl[/autotag] last year.

[autotag]Jayden Thomas[/autotag] showed flashed, but wasn’t consistent. Same goes for [autotag]Deion Colzie[/autotag] and [autotag]Tobias Merriweather[/autotag]. If the Irish are able to get a commitment from Smith, it would be a very big transfer portal recruiting win.

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Rara Thomas to take official visit to Auburn this weekend

The former Mississippi State wide receiver will return to Auburn for a second visit this weekend and is expected to bring a guest.

Auburn football has found much-needed success in recruiting since Hugh Freeze took over the program on Nov. 28.

Over a three-day span, Freeze and his staff have flipped three players from other programs to Auburn, and they are looking to add more prospects from the transfer portal before spring practice.

One of the top targets for Auburn is former Mississippi State receiver, and Eufaula native, [autotag]Rara Thomas[/autotag]. Thomas took an unofficial visit last week after receiving an offer from Auburn.

According to a report from Christian Clemente of 247Sports, Thomas enjoyed his visit so much, that he is set to return this weekend for an official visit. Not only will Thomas be in town, but he is bringing former Bulldog teammate [autotag]Dillon Johnson[/autotag] with him.

The former Mississippi State running back entered the transfer portal on Dec. 7, two days after the window for non-graduate transfers opened. He announced on Sunday that he had joined Thomas in receiving an offer from Auburn.

Thomas was the team’s leading receiver, reeling in 44 catches for 626 yards and seven touchdowns in Mississippi State’s air raid system. Johnson, as a running back, did not produce the numbers Thomas did, but he rushed for 488 yards and three touchdowns. He added 285 receiving yards to his yearly total.

Thomas and Johnson are two prospects set to take visits to campus this week. Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall is also expected to visit on Saturday.

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