Tag: transfer portal

Should the Aggies target former Oregon WR Ashton Cozart from the Transfer Portal?

Needing WR depth, an intriguing option just landed in the transfer portal, and new Texas A&M HC Mike Elko should bring him to CSTAT.

As we’ll be covering throughout the month, movement in the transfer portal concerning additions and subtractions from Texas A&M’s roster ahead of new head football coach Mike Elko’s first season at the helm has begun to take shape, as four players have already left the program for new opportunities in 2024.

During former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s tenure, utilizing the transfer portal was not at the top of his list, but when he finally did last offseason, 2023 contributors such as wide receiver Jahdae Walker (27 receptions, 453 yards, 2 TDs) provided stellar play during the backend of the season, providing that experience trumps talent at several positions.

After offering former North Texas WR Ja’Mori Maclin earlier this week, Elko is undoubtedly taking an aggressive approach to adding more production to the unit, as 2024 five-star WR Cam Coleman’s flip to Auburn coupled with incoming junior WR Evan Stewart’s indecisiveness regarding his future in College Station.

Well, the receiving options continue to pile up before the transfer portal “officially” opens on Monday, Dec. 4, and Oregon WR Ashton Cozart is certainly a player with untapped potential. As a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle out of Flower Mound (TX), the Aggies offered Cozart due to his size (6-3 195 pounds) and speed, with the potential to become a true X receiver in the right system.

Seldom used during his freshman season in Eugene (OR), Cozart likely feels that a quarterback change at the program in 2024 would further hinder his development, and with Texas A&M starting quarterback Conner Weigman eager to return next season, Cozart could play closer to his family while transitioning to the most competitive conference in the Power 5.

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UNC football expected to lose former four-star WR to transfer portal

The UNC football program will lose a former four-star wide receiver to the transfer portal.

As college football hits championship weekend, the transfer portal continues to be very active. And on Saturday, another player on the offensive side of the football is entering the portal.

Per Hayes Fawcett of On3, wide receiver Andre Greene Jr. is expected to enter the transfer portal in the coming days. It’s the latest player on North Carolina’s roster to opt to enter the portal as they have lost a handful of players already.

Greene Jr. was a four-star recruit who committed to North Carolina with a total of 58 offers. He picked UNC over ACC rival Clemson, giving the Tar Heels a big win on the recruiting trail.

He appeared in five games as a true freshman in 2022 and made a start in UNC’s bowl game against Oregon, catching a touchdown pass. But in 2023, Greene Jr. found himself buried on the depth chart with just 2 receptions for 17 yards.

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Transfer Portal Tracker: Which Auburn players are leaving the Plains

Here is a look at each of the Auburn players who are entering the transfer portal.

Transfer portal season is here and every team in the country is set to have some roster turnover.

The portal will be open from Dec. 4, 2023, until Jan. 2, 2024, but players are already declaring their intentions to enter.

The Auburn Tigers are no different and [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] shared his thoughts on how he will handle players considering entering the portal.

“The only way I know to be is totally transparent and tell them the truth. The truth for some is ‘your chances to play here are probably slim.’ The truth for others is ‘man, there is an element of patience that needs to be involved in your decision. You’re going to be really good if you can just be patient and not listen to the voices that want immediate gratification.’ Certainly, you’ve got the money aspect that’s involved in all of this now. I think you should choose the place, the culture and the environment that’s going to develop you for the long term, for the long haul. I think everything is better when you’re in that environment for yourself. But some need to have patience and other discussions are just going to be truthful with how we see you fitting into this roster.”

Here is a look at the Auburn players who have announced they will be entering the transfer portal.

Cameron Ward enters transfer portal but could still declare for the draft

Ward left his options open after leaving Washington State. If he declares, Ward projects in the middle rounds of the 2024 NFL draft

Cameron Ward is leaving Washington State. That much we know. Where the dynamic quarterback lands next remains to be seen.

Ward announced he is entering the transfer portal. However, he left open the possibility that he will instead declare for the 2024 NFL draft.

“After a lot of reflection, I will be evaluating entering the 2024 NFL draft as well as intending to enter my name into the transfer portal as a grad transfer,” Ward wrote in a social media post.

If he declares, Ward currently projects in the middle rounds — pending athletic testing and interviews. The 6-foot-2 Ward completed 67 percent of his passes in 2023, tossing 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Ward previously transferred to Washington State from Incarnate Word after the 2021 season.

Wisconsin offers a former Syracuse transfer linebacker

Wisconsin offers a former Syracuse transfer linebacker

Wisconsin extended an offer to transfer linebacker Leon Lowery Jr. yesterday.

The former three-star recruit played at Syracuse from 2020-2023 before recently entering the transfer portal. Lowery’s Syracuse career ended with 27 games played, 78 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and one forced fumble.

He was the starting weak-side linebacker for the Orange in 2023, finishing the year with 46 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during the season.

The linebacker has two years of eligibility remaining. Based on his ‘X’ account, he currently has portal offers from Wisconsin, Oregon State, Baylor, Houston, Georgia Tech and Cal. Wisconsin’s linebacker room, meanwhile, could see some turnover entering next season with Maema Njongmeta set to graduate.

Texas A&M and new HC Mike Elko must pursue former Duke DL, R.J. Oben, who recently entered the Transfer Portal

Duke defensive lineman R.J. Oben, who played under new Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, has entered the transfer portal.

In the age of the ever-growing college football transfer portal, which has become the collegiate version of NFL Free Agency, whenever a coach leaves a program due to a promotion or lateral move, players from the previous destination often follow said coach to his new school, providing a vast experience boost.

For Texas A&M, new head coach Mike Elko, who was previously leading the Duke Blue Devils for the past two seasons, helped develop several stars on defense, as the former Aggie defensive coordinator remains one of the elite defensive minds in the game today.

While the Aggies already possess one of the better defensive lines in the SEC, the portal “officially opens” on Dec. 4, meaning several players could enter their name sooner than later. Earlier this week, one of the top pass rushers in the country, Duke defensive lineman R.J. Oben, entered the transfer portal on Friday afternoon.

Standing at 6-4 and just over 260 pounds, Oben has played 38 career games in Durham (NC), recording 14.5 career sacks, including five during the 2023 season. Looking to cement himself as a legit NFL prospect, a year in College Station under Elko to continue his development seems like an intelligent decision; a pass rusher lined up beside what could be an elite interior Aggie D-line, the sky’s the limit for Oben to produce in the backfield.

This looks like a no-brainer on paper, but Oben will have plenty of potential suitors, and Texas A&M needs to be among them.

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Bleacher Report lists Auburn as a possible destination for UCLA quarterback Dante Moore

Bleacher Report’s Francisco Rosa believes that Moore could develop well under head coach Hugh Freeze.

After spending just one season at UCLA, the nation’s No. 3 quarterback from the 2023 cycle is back on the market.

[autotag]Dante Moore[/autotag], a former five-star quarterback from Detroit, Michigan, signed with Chip Kelly and UCLA just two days after backing off his pledge to Oregon.

He was one of the top quarterbacks from the 2024 class, as Texas‘ Arch Manning and Tennessee‘s Nico Iamaleava were the only two quarterbacks ranked higher than Moore. Now that he is in the transfer portal, he is considered the best available option according to 247Sports.

Could Auburn use his services? Francisco Rosa of Bleacher Report believes Moore would be a great fit for head coach Hugh Freeze’s system.

Rosa cites Freeze’s development of Chad Kelly, Stephen Calvert, and Malik Willis as reasons for the fit. He also feels that the receivers in Auburn’s upcoming recruiting class will benefit Moore’s development.

And as he enters his second season at Auburn, Freeze has managed to get a top-20 recruiting class in the nation that includes five-star wideout Perry Thompson, potentially giving someone like Moore an elite weapon on the outside.

If Moore wants to head to the most competitive conference in the country and show what he’s made of, Auburn may be the best place to do it and Freeze may be the best coach to get it out of him.

Allen Trieu of 247Sports believes that Moore is a first-round talent due to his maturity, strong arm, and ability to perform well in clutch situations.

Auburn has been linked to several transfer quarterbacks such as Arkansas‘ KJ Jefferson, Mississippi State’s Will Rogers, and Duke’s Riley Leonard. Moore’s situation compared to the previous three is unique due to eligibility.

If Auburn were to take on Jefferson, Rogers, or Leonard, they would have them for one season. Moore, however, has three seasons of eligibility remaining. If Moore were to come to Auburn and perform at the level that he is expected, he could declare for the NFL draft after two seasons on the Plains, which would give incoming freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag] more time to develop into an SEC quarterback.

As a true freshman, Moore competed in nine games for UCLA where he threw for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

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A Wisconsin linebacker is entering the transfer portal

A Wisconsin linebacker enters the transfer portal

Wisconsin outside linebacker Ross Gengler announced his intention to enter the transfer portal yesterday.

The walk-on linebacker was on the roster from 2020 through this past season, appearing in games only sparingly on special teams. He joined the Wisconsin program after a storied high school career in Delavan, Wisconsin.

He is set to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining.

Wisconsin’s outside linebacker room, in the meantime, isn’t set to change much entering next season. Upperclassman C.J. Goetz has the opportunity to use his eligibility and return to school, while Darryl Peterson, T.J. Bollers and Kaden Johnson all also have years left.

The transfer portal is just heating up as bowl season is yet to get underway. Stay tuned, because Wisconsin will likely look much different entering 2024.

George Pettaway latest Tar Heel to likely enter transfer portal

George Pettaway, a sparingly-used UNC running back, announced his decision to continue his college football career elsewhere.

College football players are leaving their programs at alarming rates, an unfortunate but common sight in today’s world.

Some of the greatest names to look out for are former Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward, former Clemson/Oregon State gunslinger D.J. Uiagalelei and former Duke QB Riley Leonard.

In Chapel Hill, there’s concern that yet another late-season collapse will send a bunch of players out. Six UNC players have already announced their decisions to transfer, while former LSU/Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson is the only incoming transfer.

Now, another Tar Heel is expected to enter the portal. Grant Grubbs of On3 reported on Friday night that running back George Pettaway is expected to enter the transfer portal.

Petaway only appeared in four games this season, playing primarily on special teams before opting to redshirt.

Pettaway played significantly more in 2022, appearing in 11 games and scoring two rushing touchdowns on 93 yards. He only caught one pass and didn’t carry the ball once in 2023, both likely reasons behind his decision to transfer.

The presence of British Brooks and the emergence of Omarion Hampton, however, made it extremely difficult for Pettaway to gain carries.

Regardless of where Pettaway ends up, it’s always sad to see a player leave. Maybe he plays at a school in his home state of Virginia.

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Texas A&M offers North Texas WR from the Transfer Portal

Texas A&M and new head coach Mike Elko have offered former North Texas wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin from the transfer portal.

Texas A&M Football has a new head coach in Mike Elko, whose ties to Aggieland go back to 2018, as the veteran assistant served as the defensive coordinator under then-head coach Jimbo Fisher for four seasons while recruiting some of the top prospects around the country during said span.

After a short but successful two-year stint as the head coach at Duke, Elko cut his teeth to gain more experience as a leader, as Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork came calling just two seasons after Elko’s departure to succeed Fisher after his six seasons at the helm.

After officially being hired on Monday, Elko has hit the ground running on the recruiting front, and when it comes to the offense, incoming junior quarterback Conner Weigman is already excited to work under the familiar Elko who helped bring him to College Station just two short years ago.

Now, concerning the rest of the offense, it was revealed on Friday that 2024 five-star wide receiver Cam Coleman, who had been committed to the Aggies since July, flipped to the Auburn Tigers in a move that was sadly anticipated after Fisher’s firing. However, as players continue to enter the evergrowing transfer portal, plenty of intriguing options are in the Aggies’ grasp, including former North Texas wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin.

Maclin, the cousin of former star Missouri and Philadelphia Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin, still has two years of eligibility remaining and is coming off of a highly productive season at UNT after recording 57 receptions for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023.

Coupled with the loss to Cam Coleman, wide receiver Evan Stewarts’ future with the program also remains in doubt, as the former five-star pass catcher might be waiting to see who Elko hires as the team’s next offensive coordinator while he gauges his collegiate playing future.

Still, A&M’s wide receiver core remains solid until further notice, and adding an experienced speedster in Maclin would further prevent any significant drop-off.

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