Transfer portal breakdown: The 10 best commitments this week
The transfer portal “season” has been in full swing since the current 45-day window to enter opened December 5.
We’re more than halfway through this open window period, and while players are entering, they also are exiting. To that end, here are the 10 best portal commitments this week.
For a look at all the players in the portal, go to On3’s transfer portal wire, which is updated continuously as players go into – and leave – the portal. In addition, there are position rankings of those already in the portal.
10. Stanford LB Gaethan Bernadel
Transfer: From FIU
The skinny: Gaethan Bernadel (6 feet 1, 210 pounds) led FIU this season with 103 tackles, sixth-most in Conference USA (FIU played 12 games; every player ahead of him played in a bowl and three of them played in 14 games). He also was second on the Panthers with eight tackles for loss. While he is a talented player who definitely will help a depleted Cardinal linebacker corps, he’s on this list for another reason as well: He is the first undergrad transfer in Stanford football history. Stanford has adapted a bit with a new coach, and while you shouldn’t expect to see the school accept a flood of transfers, the mere fact that it has accepted one (and presumably will bring in a few more) is a big deal. Bernadel, who was an honorable mention All-Conference-USA selection, has two seasons’ eligibility remaining.
9. Colorado TE Seydou Traore
Transfer: From Arkansas State
The skinny: Seydou Traore (6-4, 218) was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection for Arkansas State this season, when he had 50 receptions for 655 yards and four TDs. Traore is a receiving-first tight end and can be split wide. Colorado doesn’t have a tight end returning who caught more than five passes. Traore’s receiving ability will help as the Buffs move to a diverse spread attack under new coordinator Sean Lewis. Traore grew up in London playing soccer – he was a goalie – before moving to the U.S. and playing just one season of American football as a high school senior. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
8. Oregon WR Tez Johnson
Transfer: From Troy
The skinny: Tez Johnson (5-10, 150) is of small stature, but he was productive for Troy the past two seasons. Johnson had a combined 123 catches for 1,598 yards and eight TDs in 2021 and ’22. He also had success in a limited role as a punt returner. Johnson’s lack of size precludes him from being a No. 1 receiver, but he can be a solid complementary piece whose quickness can be a weapon. Troy Franklin and Kris Hutson return for the Ducks, and five-star prospect Jurrion Dickey has signed. But there is ample playing time available for a wide receiver. Johnson, the adopted brother of Ducks QB Bo Nix, has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
7. Penn State CB Storm Duck
Transfer: From North Carolina
The skinny: Storm Duck (6-1, 200) had 46 tackles, three picks and nine pass breakups this season to earn second-team All-ACC honors at North Carolina. He should be part of a top-notch corner group for the Nittany Lions next season. Joey Porter Jr. is leaving for the NFL, but Kalen King and Johnny Dixon return, as does nickel corner Daequan Hardy. King was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree, while Dixon earned honorable mention notice. Duck’s addition gives coaches a veteran player who can slide right into the rotation. Duck started for the Tar Heels as a true freshman in 2019, missed 14 games the past two seasons because of injuries, then regained his starting job this season. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
6. Nebraska OL Ben Scott
Transfer: From Arizona State
The skinny: New Huskers coach Matt Rhule needs to add an infusion of talent all over the roster, and Ben Scott will help. Scott (6-5, 305) started at right tackle for the Sun Devils in 2020 and ’21 before moving to center this season. He started in all 28 games he played for the Sun Devils after redshirting in 2019. Scott has two seasons of eligibility left, and his proven versatility gives Nebraska coaches some options as to where he lines up. Still, expect him to see him begin his Huskers career at center. Scott went to high school in Honolulu, but his mom’s family is from Columbus, Neb. And his Hawaii background played a big part in his decision. Scott attended the same high school (St. Louis) as Huskers o-line coach Dominic Raiola, and Scott has worked out with Dominic Raiola, Donovan’s brother.
5. Ole Miss WRs Tre Harris and Chris Marshall
Transfer: Harris from Louisiana Tech; Marshall from Texas A&M
The skinny: Ole Miss is losing its top two receivers (Jonathan Mingo and Malik Heath), and Lane Kiffin needed to add talent at the position. Voilà: Tre Harris and Chris Marshall. Harris is a proven talent, while Marshall has a high ceiling. Harris (6-2, 204) had 106 receptions and 14 TDs in the past two seasons at Louisiana Tech, and possesses good size and athleticism. He was a first-team All-Conference USA selection this season, when he had 65 receptions and 10 TD catches. Marshall is a former five-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He played in six games with two start for the Aggies this season, with 11 catches for 108 yards. He had off-field issues and was suspended twice. Assuming Marshall gets his act together, he, Harris and holdover WRs Jordan Watkins and Dayton Wade should form a solid quartet for the Rebels in 2023.
4. Purdue QB Hudson Card
Transfer: From Texas
The skinny: Purdue needs a starting quarterback for 2023,and Hudson Card (6-2, 201) should be that guy. He started early in the 2021 season as a redshirt freshman at Texas, then lost his job to Casey Thompson. Quinn Ewers beat him out this season, but Card did start three games when Ewers was injured. He has some running ability that didn’t come to the fore at Texas, and it’ll be interesting to see how new Boilermakers OC Graham Harrell chooses to use that facet of Card’s game. Card has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
3. North Carolina WR Nate McCollum
Transfer: From Georgia Tech
The skinny: The Tar Heels are losing their top two wide receivers (Josh Downs and Antoine Green). While there are some talented young wideouts on the roster, adding a veteran like Nate McCollum (5-11, 184) was important. McCollum led Georgia Tech with 60 receptions this season; he was the only Yellow Jackets wide receiver who had more than 23 receptions. He was an honorable mention All-ACC selection. He averaged 10.9 yards on his catches and three went for touchdowns; while McCollum will be part of a relatively deep rotation with the Tar Heels, he still figures to have more big plays working with Drake Maye. McCollum had three 100-yard games this season, against Duke, Miami and Virginia Tech. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
2. Alabama TE C.J. Dippre
Transfer: From Maryland
The skinny: While the ID of Alabama’s starting quarterback in 2023 remains unknown, the Tide looks to have found a more-than-capable tight end.C.J. Dippre (6-5, 250) had 30 receptions for 314 yards and three TDs this season in a good passing attack at Maryland; coincidentally, he caught passes from Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa with the Terps. Dippre has “old-school tight end” size, but could stand to improve as a blocker. Still, his receiving ability is a major selling point. Dippre had TD catches vs. Michigan and Ohio State this fall. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
1. Florida State DT Braden Fiske
Transfer: From Western Michigan
The skinny: Florida State coach Mike Norvell and his staff have done excellent work in the portal since his arrival three years ago, and that has continued this cycle. Picking up Braden Fiske (6-5, 300) was a coup, as he was the No. 1 defensive interior lineman available in the portal. FSU for sure is losing starting DT Robert Cooper, and Fiske could line up next to Fabian Lovett next season if Lovett doesn’t go pro. Fiske signed with Western Michigan as a 6-3, 242-pound offensive lineman in the 2018 recruiting class; he grew into a 300-pound defensive tackle and was one of the hottest commodities in the portal. Fiske was a three-year starter for Western Michigan and was a second-team All-MAC pick this season, when he had 59 tackles, six sacks and 12 tackles for loss. He has one year of eligibility left.
Others considered: Oklahoma EDGE Trace Ford (from Oklahoma State), Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins (Eastern Kentucky), Louisville QB Jack Plummer (California), South Carolina TE Joshua Simon (Western Kentucky), Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei (Clemson), Colorado P Mark Vassett (Louisville), Boston College S Alex Washington (Harvard).