SMU offensive lineman Marcus Bryant enters NCAA Transfer Portal

The SMU Mustangs are losing a key contributor to their 2023 offense. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Mustangs offensive lineman Marcus Bryant has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal Tuesday afternoon.

“SMU offensive lineman Marcus Bryant has entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer, @On3sports has learned. He appeared in 13 games in 2023, earning All-AAC First Team honors. Allowed just one sack,” said Nakos via X.

As a senior, Bryant appeared in 13 games for SMU last season, starting in 10. He began the year on a number of preseason award lists, and for good reason. After it was all said and done, brilliant was a recipient of All-AAC First-Team, DCTF All-Texas Second-Team, and Pro Football Focus (PFF) All-AAC Team honors after allowing just one sack in 2023.

Bryant played high school football at Cedar Ridge High in Round Rock, TX, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1667 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

NCAA president Charlie Baker speaks out against additional transfer restrictions

NCAA president Charlie Baker on Tuesday splashed water on the hopes of those who wish to see the governing body for college athletics regain control over transfers in the near future. In an interview with ESPN, Baker said he doesn’t support new rules of federal laws to limit how athletes can move between schools.

The NCAA in recent years relented from a requirement that transferring athletes sit out from athletic competition for a year on a first-time transfer. Recent court cases have also struck down rules restricting the athletic eligibility of athletes transferring beyond their first time.

And these changes have come against a backdrop of some coaches growing increasingly vocal with their dislike of player movement, fueled by these new permissive transfer rules colliding with also allowing NIL payments to athletes. Baker had little sympathy for that group.

“I’ve had conversations with a bunch of coaches who didn’t … walk out on their contracts,” Baker said, according to ESPN “One of the things I hear from kids when I talk to them about this issue is, ‘Coaches walk out on their contracts. What about us?’”

Baker also cited that college athletes are not transferring more than their non-athlete peers, despite both groups transferring more than in the past.

“Do they transfer more than they did ten years ago? Yes,” Baker said. “Do they transfer more than their peers who aren’t student-athletes? No. … They actually transfer less than students who aren’t student-athletes do, and kids just transfer more because they have more information, more data, and they’re more impatient about a lot of things.”