Transfer Portal Stocked with Former 3-Star Talent Running Backs
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Fits for running backs out of the high school ranks to the next level can change one year to the next, especially if a new offensive coordinator comes to town. After years of hard work and hours of anguish over which college program maybe the best on the field and off it, sometimes another location is needed. While a few former four-star recruits to hit the transfer portal have already found a home, there are plenty of former talented three-star players seeking a new home.
While one team maybe getting a steal off the transfer portal, that means another team is losing a player that at one time thought to be a difference maker for years to come, especially among the five- and four-star recruits at Power 5 Conference programs. A move that one does not see often, a former five-star taking his talents elsewhere, especially to a rival. That is what happened when Lorenzo Lingard left Miami for Florida. With Dan Enos out for the Hurricanes and new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee coming in, Lingard decided to run the rock for Gators’ head coach Dan Mullen. Lingard, a member of the 2018 recruiting class, did not log a carry for Miami in 2019. The Canes will also be without Class of 2018 running back/fullback Realus George. The former Pace Academy (GA) standout also decided to transfer.
Another big move for a top running back was seeing Jashaun Corbin head back to the state of Florida landing with the Seminoles after he was supposed to be the heir-apparent to Trayveon Williams at Texas A&M. Corbin rushed for 346 yards in 2018 and then logged just 35 totes for 137 yards with one touchdown this past season. Getting lost behind Isaiah Spiller and Cordarrian Richardson on the depth chart helped expedite the move. The Aggies have 2020 four-star all-purpose back Devon Achane heading to College Station ready to compete for the opening spot. As Corbin heads to Tallahassee, the Seminoles lose former four-star Amir Rasul, who is still on the open market. In addition to A&M losing Corbin, they also will be without two former three-stars in the backfield, Jacob Kibodi and Deneric Prince.
Other notes from the portal, Arizona State will be without three-stars Paul Lucas and Isiah Floyd. Michigan State was hit hard losing three; La’Darius Jefferson, Weston Bridges, and Connor Heyward. Another team that will have a different feel in the running backs meeting room is Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers also lost three preferring to transfer.
*Click link for article on quarterbacks hitting the transfer portal
Still on the Market
4-Star Amir Rasul – Florida State to –
4-Star Jerome Ford – Alabama to –
3-Star Tavion Thomas – Cincinnati to –
3-Star Paul Lucas – Arizona State to –
3-Star Isiah Floyd – Arizona State to –
3-Star Realus George – Miami to –
3-Star Martell Pettaway – West Virginia to –
3-Star La’Darius Jefferson – Michigan State to –
3-Star Weston Bridges – Michigan State to –
3-Star Connor Heyward – Michigan State to –
3-Star Brittan Brown – Duke to –
3-Star Hussein Howe – East Carolina to –
3-Star Jalynn Sykes – Marshall to –
3-Star Luke Sowa – Kansas State to –
3-Star Henry Geil – Iowa to –
3-Star Fred Holly – Hawaii to –
3-Star Jacob Kibodi – Texas A&M to –
3-Star Deneric Prince – Texas A&M to –
3-Star Quinton Baker – Western Kentucky to –
3-Star Josh Samuel – Western Kentucky to –
3-Star Courtney McKinney – Wake Forest to –
3-Star BJ Daniels – UTSA to –
3-Star Bilal Ally – UMass to –
3-Star Raheem Blackshear – Rutgers to –
3-Star Peyton Dixon – Fresno State to –
Transferred
5-Star Lorenzo Lingard – Miami to Florida
4-Star Mychale Salahuddin – Pitt to North Carolina A&T
3-Star Lavonte Valentine – South Carolina to South Florida
3-Star Darrian Felix – Oregon to South Florida
3-Star Jahmyl Jeter – Oklahoma State to Texas State
3-Star Tre Haribson – Virginia to Northern Illinois to Charlotte
3-Star Khalil Herber – Kansas to Virginia Tech
3-Star Ivory Winters – Indiana to Southeast Missouri State
3-Star Cole Gest – Indiana to Akron
3-Star Keegan Duncan – Boise State to Utah State
3-Star Ronnie Jackson – UTSA to Nicholls State
3-Star Gino Appleberry – Western Kentucky to Chattanooga
3-Star Elijah Barnwell – Rutgers to Maine
Photo credit: orlandosentinel.com; Lorenzo Lingard, a five-star recruit