Transfer Portal Thoughts: Georgia restocks the playmaker cupboard, Texas lands top pass rusher, Maalik Murphy chooses Duke
While you were busy opening gifts and crushing egg nog over the holiday weekend, the reigning back-to-back national champion Georgia Bulldogs scooped up two of the top available playmakers in the transfer portal.
Georgia landed perhaps the most coveted tailback available in the 2024 cycle on Christmas Eve, poaching speedy running back Trevor Etienne away from rival Florida.
Etienne is the younger brother of former Clemson star and Jacksonville Jaguars standout Travis Etienne, and On3’s No. 8 portal prospect immediately fills a need for the Bulldogs, who are set to lose senior tailbacks Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards.
A Louisiana native, Trevor Etienne averaged 5.75 yards per carry with nine total touchdowns and over 900 yards in 2023. As a freshman with the Gators, he rushed for 719 yards and six scores. Although he wasn’t heavily pursued out of high school by Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs, the former 4-star prospect was a top target for UGA the moment he entered the transfer portal earlier in December.
The Bulldogs are set to return a pair of freshmen ‘backs with mop-up duty snaps, plus are banking on the healthy return of former top recruit Branson Robinson, who was set to potentially start for UGA this fall before tearing his patella tendon in fall camp. They also signed three tailbacks in their top-ranked class last week.
But Etienne provides a veteran, experienced ‘back capable of explosive runs (seven rushes over 20 yards) and making plays as a receiver (21 catches for 172 yards). He’s also a dynamic kickoff returner, with four returns over 30 yards in his career.
In addition to Etienne, returning quarterback Carson Beck also got another toy to play with in Miami transfer wideout Colbie Young.
The long, tall target (6-5, 215 pounds) is UGA’s first true big X-receiver since another former Hurricanes transfer wideout Lawrence Cager. Both Cager and Javon Wims were big-time red zone threats with the Bulldogs in 2017 and 2019.
Young spent a JUCO season at Lackawanna before spending two seasons at Miami. The New York native was third on the Hurricanes in receiving last season, with 47 catches for 563 yards and five touchdowns.
With Georgia set to lose the likes of Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, plus the two senior tailbacks, they’ve used the transfer portal well to supplement the offense with some instant impact playmakers.
Etienne, Young and Vandy transfer London Humphreys should all find roles alongside Dillion Bell, Oscar Delp, RaRa Thomas and Dominic Lovett.
Georgia effectively missed Bowers and McConkey for a combined 10 games in 2023, and yet it still ranked No. 6 nationally in yards per play and No. 9 in scoring — all with a first-year starter at quarterback.
With Beck’s return coupled with the portal additions, Georgia should have a Top 10 offense in the country once again in 2024.
Maalik Murphy chooses Duke as his next landing spot
Texas’ backup quarterback Maalik Murphy didn’t want to transfer during the middle of the Longhorns’ run toward a national championship, but college football’s crappy calendar left him little choice otherwise.
With options dwindling, the 6-5, 240-pound redshirt freshmen visited a couple programs before committing to Duke on Saturday. Murphy, who went 2-0 as a starter for Texas in 2023 playing in place of the injured Quinn Ewers, was the hand-picked replacement for Riley Leonard by first-year Blue Devils’ head coach Manny Diaz.
While some (myself included) thought there may be a bigger market for Murphy’s services, schools like Miami, Auburn and Ohio State never seemed to truly entertain the former 4-star prospect from Inglewood.
But Baylor, South Carolina and Oregon State were all interested, and Murphy opted to commit to Diaz and the Blue Devils. It’s a major boon for Duke’s new coach, and with the reported hire of SMU quarterbacks coach/co-OC Jonathan Brewer as the team’s new offensive coordinator, the fit makes a lot of sense, too.
Duke is looking to run a version of the Air Raid, the same scheme SMU runs under Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee — who was Diaz’s OC at Miami in 2020 and 2021.
Texas grabs best available edge rusher in the transfer portal
The Longhorns were in the market for some additional pass rush help for next season, and they didn’t have to look far to find it by landing UTSA edge Trey Moore.
The No. 1 available edge/outside linebacker in the portal, Moore will make the move up I-35 after committing to Texas over Ohio State and others on Saturday. He’s a twitchy 6-2, 235-pound sophomore with multiple seasons of eligibility remaining and a boatload of production already.
The Roadrunners’ outside ‘backer was a Freshman All-American in 2022 when he set a school record with 18 tackles for loss. He also had 59 tackles, 8.0 sacks, six pass breakups and a couple of forced fumbles.
Moore’s sophomore season was as impressive, finishing No. 3 nationally in sacks (14). He also had 17 tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble.
Not bad for an unranked prospect out of San Antonio. While not quite a Jared Verse situation, Moore could be the next outstanding pass rusher who fully blossoms on a bigger stage, aiding Texas’ transition to the SEC. He projects as a great fit in the Longhorns’ defense, potentially playing multiple roles alongside the likes of Ethan Burke, Justice Finley and Anthony Hill Jr.