Top Rated Incoming Players Heading to the SEC East Via Transfer Portal
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The NCAA Transfer Portal is both a blessing and a curse, depending on which side of the losing and winning a fanbase rests. Every year the SEC outperforms all other D-I programs on the recruiting trail securing National Letters of Intent from the top players across the country. But sometimes the fit with player and program and/or scheme does not ideally align. As the SEC takes heavy transfer losses with most players seeking playing time, some teams in the East are effectively rebuilding their roster trying to fill holes ahead of the 2021 season. In all, 31 former 5-, 4-, and 3-Star players have signed with SEC East teams.
As Tennessee says goodbye to former head coach Jeremy Pruitt, they are also seeing a wave of players hitting the portal. Thus far, 32 Tennessee players have entered the transfer portal. Of the 32, 23 have signed with a new program already. To mitigate the losses, the new Volunteers staff headed by Josh Heupel is replenishing depth bringing on nine former 4- and 3-Star players. The breakdown includes three 4-Stars, with five of the nine to line up on defense.
Vanderbilt has also taken heavy losses with 20 players opting out with the transition from Derek Mason to Clark Lea. The Commodores are in a trickier position, and in more ways than one. As a high achieving academic institution, it is far easier to enroll in every other SEC university than Vanderbilt. With 20 on their way out, only three transfers are heading to Nashville.
As for which SEC East team is winning via the portal bringing on top talent, that is a coin toss between Florida and Georgia. The Gators have signed three players, and that includes former 5-Star running back Demarkcus Bowman and former Auburn defensive line starter Daquan Newkirk. Bolstering their secondary, the Bulldogs have brought on a pair of former 4-Stars from West Virginia and Alabama.
As for cross divisional flip-flops, five are moving from out West back East, two from both Alabama and Auburn.
Top Incoming Transfers to the SEC East (31)
Florida (3)
5-Star RB Demarkcus Bowman – from Clemson
4-Star DL Daquan Newkirk – from Auburn
3-Star DL Antonio Shelton – from Penn State
Georgia (2)
4-Star DB Tykee Smith – from West Virginia
4-Star DB Brandon Turnage – from Alabama
Kentucky (5)
3-Star QB Will Levis – from Penn State
4-Star WR Wan’Dale Robinson – from Nebraska
3-Star WR Tre’Von Morgan – from Michigan State
3-Star DE Justice Dingle – from Georgia Tech
3-Star LB Luke Fulton – from Michigan State
Missouri (3)
4-Star WR Mookie Cooper – from Ohio State
4-Star OG EJ Ndoma-Ogar – from Oklahoma
3-Star LB Blaze Alldredge – from Rice
South Carolina (6)
3-Star QB Jason Brown – from St. Francis
3-Star WR Ahmarean Brown – from Georgia Tech
4-Star DT Jahkeem Green – from Nebraska
4-Star LB Jordan Strachan – from Georgia State
3-Star LB Debo Williams – from Delaware
3-Star CB David Spaulding – from Georgia Southern
Tennessee (9)
4-Star QB Joe Milton – from Michigan
4-Star QB Hendon Hooker – from Virginia Tech
3-Star WR JaVonta Payton – from Mississippi State
4-Star DT Caleb Tremblay – from USC
3-Star DT Da’Jon Terry – from Kansas
3-Star LB Juwan Mitchell – from Texas
3-Star LB William Mohan – from Michigan
3-Star CB Kamal Hadden – from Auburn
3-Star K Chase McGrath – from USC
Vanderbilt (3)
3-Star RB Re’Mahn Davis – from Temple
3-Star OT Junior Uzebu – from West Virginia
3-Star K Joseph Bulovas – from Alabama
Photo credit: Bleacher Report: No. 1 Demarkcus Bowman