Breaking down every NCAA Transfer Portal class in the SEC

The dust has largely settled from the first window of the NCAA Transfer Portal, with more than 1,500 players committed and signed across the country of the more than 2,700 that entered.

And you’d be hard-pressed to find a league that made out better in that span than the SEC, which claims five of the top 10 spots in On3’s Team Transfer Portal Index rankings. Teams in the league also landed four of the top five transfers and 6 of the top 10.

Some programs had bigger needs than others, but the aforementioned rankings measure a team’s production during the transfer process, comparing against their previous roster instead of against other teams. In that way, the algorithm determines whether a school has improved its overall team talent, stayed the same, or declined in talent during the transfer window.

With that in mind, On3 is breaking down the top additions and biggest departures for each SEC team:

Alabama

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 66
Top-Ranked Addition: WR Isaiah Horton (Miami), No. 71
With a strong returning core on offense, the Tide opted not to dip much in the portal during the first window. In total, they took eight players headlined by Miami WR transfer Isaiah Horton, All-Big 12 LB Nikhai Hill-Green from Colorado and Utah CB transfer Cameron Calhoun. They’ll return a very experienced roster next year outside of the quarterback spot, where we’ll certainly see a battle during the spring and into fall camp.

Arkansas

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 46
Top-Ranked Addition: OT Corey Robinson II (Georgia Tech), No. 52
Sam Pittman and Co. had more departures than any other school in the SEC, with 30 players gone from last year’s roster than finished a surprising 7-6. The Razorbacks took some significant losses in the secondary and along the offensive line, with Ole Miss in particular feasting on their roster. They’ve retooled with additions of their own though, including top offensive tackle transfer Corey Robinson II (Georgia Tech). Most of their haul is unproven at this level though, so the biggest question will be whether they can make the jump from P4 reserve or G5 starter into a contributor in the SEC.

Auburn

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 9
Top-Ranked Addition: Eric Singleton Jr. (Georgia Tech), No. 3
The Tigers are pushing their chips to the center of the table in Year 3 under Hugh Freeze. Georgia Tech WR transfer Eric Singleton Jr. has all the skills to be a dynamic playmaker for new quarterback Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma) with the latter looking to reboot his career. Offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin (Virginia Tech) and interior lineman Mason Murphy (USC) will give a boost to an already solid offensive line group.

On the interior defensive line, Chris Murray (Sam Houston State) and Dallas Walker IV (Western Kentucky) will add depth to a room replacing a couple of key contributors.

Florida

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 61
Top-Ranked Addition: WR J.Michael Sturdivant (UCLA), No. 109
Billy Napier and Co. ended the season with a ton of momentum and a new lease on life. But they haven’t brought in a ton via the portal. They did add UCLA WR transfer J.Michael Sturdivant (123 career catches) after striking out on some other targets and also shored up the quarterback room with Harrison Bailey (Louisville) as a backup. They return a strong group from the 2024 roster that won five of its final seven, but questions remain about the star power on this roster necessary to take them to the next level.

Georgia

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 49
Top-Ranked Addition: WR Zachariah Branch (USC), No. 6
It was a quiet but very productive first portal window for the Bulldogs, who added to both their wide receiver and secondary groups in a big way. USC wide receiver transfer Zachariah Branch is the big name of the group and will be one of the most dynamic players in the SEC next season. But adding big target Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Micah Bell (Vanderbilt) helps elevate a group that struggled to help Carson Beck last season. On defense, the ‘Dawgs have plenty of depth in the front seven, but added a trio of safeties to the back end with Adrian Maddox, Jaden Harris and Zion Branch.

Kentucky

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 30
Top-Ranked Addition: EDGE MiQuise Grace (South Dakota), No. 69
The roster will have a new look for Kentucky in 2025 with 19 additions in the first window. Leading wideouts Barion Brown and Dane Key are gone, but Tru Edwards (Louisiana Tech), Troy Stellato (Clemson), Kendrick Law (Alabama) and JJ Hester (Oklahoma) bring a significant amount of experience. Incarnate Word transfer Zach Calzada is expected to be the team’s starter at quarterback, and the ‘Cats added one of the best offensive linemen available in the portal in Arkansas’ Josh Braun. Six additions along the defensive line will be counted on to replace a talented departing group.

LSU

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 5
Top-Ranked Addition: WR Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), No. 11
Much like South Carolina with QB LaNorris Sellers, LSU is going all-in on Garrett Nussmeier‘s final season in Baton Rouge. Beating out a number of other contenders for receivers Barion Brown and Nic Anderson was huge. And the Tigers added starter-level talent at safety (Tamarcus Cooley), offensive line (Josh Thompson and Braelin Moore), cornerback (Ja’Keem Jackson and Mansoor Delane), and along the defensive line with Patrick Payton (Florida State), Sydir Mitchell (Texas) and Jack Pyburn (Florida). And they did it while really not losing any major contributors from this season they needed to keep. All the pieces are in place for Brian Kelly and Co. in 2025.

Mississippi State

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 38
Top-Ranked Addition: QB Luke Kromenhoek (Mississippi State), No. 37
Jeff Lebby’s first season in Starkville was a roller coaster, and the portal was no different. The Bulldogs looked primed to land Oklahoma transfer QB Jackson Arnold, but ultimately missed on him and saw starter Michael Van Buren enter into the portal and sign with LSU. Ultimately they ended up with FSU transfer Luke Kromenhoek, who is raw but has oodles of upside. He, or returning part-time starter Blake Shapen will have a new stable of wide receivers — six in all — to throw. Reinforcements are also on the way in the LB, DL and secondary groups.

Missouri

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 3
Top-Ranked Addition: EDGE Damon Wilson (Georgia), No. 5
Save for landing a a top-tier interior defensive lineman, it’s hard to imagine the Tigers could’ve done much better. Their haul includes three of the top 36 players in the portal: EDGE Damon Wilson (Georgia), RB Ahmad Hardy (ULM) and WR Kevin Coleman. Eli Drinkwitz and Co. shored up some depth along the offensive line, but that, along with how Penn State QB transfer Beau Pribula develops, will be one of the biggest questions about this team heading into 2025.

Oklahoma

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 63
Top-Ranked Addition: QB John Mateer (Oklahoma), No. 2
The Sooners landed Washington State QB transfer John Mateer, as well as poaching offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from the Cougars. They’ll hope the likes of Javonnie Gibson (Arkansas Pine-Bluff), Keontez Lewis (UCLA), Isaiah Sategna (Arkansas), Josiah Martin (Cal) and a trio of tight ends can be the supporting cast he needs. Brent Venables will call the defense next season after losing DC Zac Alley, and he’ll have one of the better defensive lines in the SEC that now includes former five-star Marvin Jones Jr., coming over from Florida State.

Ole Miss

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 2
Top-Ranked Addition: EDGE Princewill Umanmielen (Nebraska), No. 21
Arkansas TE transfer Luke Hasz, along with wideouts De’Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State), Trey Wallace (Penn State) and Caleb Odom (Alabama) — among others — are one of the more exciting pass-catching groups in the country. Missouri RB transfer Kewan Lacy nearly committed to the Rebels last year as a high school recruit and has a ton of upside. Defensively, the Rebels hope Princewill Umanmielen can replicate his older brother’s success this past year. Jaylon Braxton (Arkansas), Kapena Gushiken (Washington State), Sage Ryan (LSU) and Antonio Kite will be counted on to bolster a secondary that lost a lot of experience.

South Carolina

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 13
Top-Ranked Addition: QB Air Noland (Ohio State), No. 60
Utah State RB transfer Rahsul Faison should see a heavy dose of carries in replacement of Rocket Sanders, and Shane Beamer beefed up his line with Boaz Stanley (Temple), Rodney Newsom (Western Kentucky) and Nick Sharpe (Wake Forest). Defense is where a number of questions have to be answered, including who replaces Nick Emmanwori and whether they can complement the pass rush of star freshman Dylan Stewart. Missouri transfer Jaylen Brown is a high-upside end, and defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (Texas A&M) could be a major contributor after being buried on the depth chart in College Station. Cornerback Brandon Cisse (NC State) should immediately step into a starting role in the secondary with Jalon Kilgore, Judge Collier and Co.

Tennessee

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 39
Top-Ranked Addition: OL Sam Pendleton (Notre Dame), No. 124
The Vols’ biggest holes to fill coming off a CFP berth were along the offensive and defensive lines. By adding IOL Wendell Moe (Arizona) and Sam Pendleton (Notre Dame), they nabbed two players at key positions of need. Duke RB Star Thomas will step into the starter role after Dylan Sampson‘s massive 2024 season, but the biggest question will be how they replace the production of All-American DE James Pearce.

Texas

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 43
Top-Ranked Addition: DL Cole Brevard (Purdue), No. 92
Much like Tennessee, the Longhorns didn’t have a ton of needs in the first portal window — a very good problem to have. Their biggest by far was on the interior of the defensive line, and they addressed that with multiple additions. North Carolina transfer Travis Shaw and Ohio State transfer Hero Kanu are three a pair with a lot of physical potential, but will be stepping into much bigger roles in a very young group otherwise. Cole Brevard started 12 games for the Boilermakers last year and will be expected to be a force in the middle. Offensively, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the ‘Horns target a receiver in the spring window if the right one comes along.

Texas A&M

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 8
Top-Ranked Addition: WR Kevin Concepcion (NC State), No. 9

Two position groups were of major focus for the Aggies this cycle in the portal: wide receivers and edge rushers. They landed two of the best available pass-catchers in Kevin Concepcion and Micah Hudson (Texas Tech), though the latter is currently away from the team. Mississippi State transfer Mario Craver is another who should be an impact addition after a solid true freshman season in Starkville. On the defensive end, T.J. Searcy (Florida), Samuel M’Pemba (Georgia), Tyler Onyedim (Iowa State) and Dayon Hayes (Colorado) will help to completely revamp things up front after a number of key departures. And don’t sleep on the addition of Georgia DB transfer Julian Humphrey, who has the chance to break out with an expanded role in College Station.

Vanderbilt

On3 Team Transfer Portal Index Ranking: No. 31
Top-Ranked Addition: LB Keanu Koht (Alabama), No. 249
Coming off their best season since 2012, Vanderbilt’s most important news of the offseason was quarterback Diego Pavia getting another year of eligibility. They added in a big way along the offensive line with Liberty’s Jordan White, Oklahoma State’s Isaia Glass, Texas Tech’s Sterling Porcher and Virginia Tech’s Gunner Givens. Getting back Steven Hubbard, a top PFF performer, for another year at tackle is massive as well. Two big holes remain though: wide receiver and defensive end, where the ‘Dores could very much use some proven additions.