Transfer portal breakdown: The 10 biggest commitments this week

The transfer portal “season” opened December 5, when the first-ever open window period began. That period ended January 18, but while players no longer can enter (unless they are a grad student), they still can exit. To that end, here are the 10 best portal commitments of the past week.

There is no time element as to when a player can decide on a new school.

Another portal window opens May 1; that one lasts 15 days.

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. Mississippi State WR Freddie Roberson

Transfer from: Eastern Washington
The skinny: Freddie Roberson (6 feet 2, 195 pounds) led Eastern Washington with 797 yards receiving and seven touchdowns this season. He had 141 receptions for 2,266 yards and 17 touchdowns in his EWU career. Roberson was a proven deep threat at the FCS level, averaging 16.1 yards per catch. He joins a Mississippi State receiving corps that’s in flux because of the departure of Rara Thomas; in addition, there will be offensive tweaks in the wake of the death of Mike Leach. Roberson was a three-year starter for the Eagles who has one season of eligibility remaining.

9. Arkansas EDGE Trajan Jeffcoat

Transfer from: Missouri
The skinny: Which Trajan Jeffcoat (6-4, 269) will the Hogs be getting? The one who had six sacks and seven quarterback hurries against an all-SEC schedule in 2020? Or the one who had 4.5 sacks total the past two seasons? Given that Arkansas loses its top two sack men and has no one returning who had more than 4.5 sacks, it needs the 2020 version of Jeffcoat. He was a three-year starter for Mizzou, but his production dropped off the table this season – one sack, 20 tackles, three quarterback hurries. Still, he’s a veteran SEC defensive lineman and has the talent and experience to be, at the least, an important rotation piece. Jeffcoat has a season of eligibility remaining.

8. South Carolina WR Eddie Lewis

Transfer from: Memphis
The skinny: Eddie Lewis (6-0, 190) led Memphis in receiving yards (615) and tied for the team lead in TD catches (seven); he was third on the Tigers with 42 receptions. He should be an effective complementary receiver to Antwane Wells for QB Spencer Rattler. Lewis also was one of the most productive punt returners in the nation, with 26 returns for 255 yards (9.81 per return) and a touchdown. South Carolina’s special teams are among the best-coached in the nation, so it’ll be interesting to see how Pete Lembo deploys Lewis. Lewis was a two-year starter for the Tigers after transferring from Butler County (Kan.) CC and has one season of eligibility left.

7. Texas A&M WR Tyrin Smith

Transfer from: UTEP
The skinny: Tyrin Smith took over as UTEP’s go-to receiver in 2022 after Jacob Cowing transferred to Arizona. Smith (5-7, 170) had a big season, finishing with 71 catches (fourth in Conference USA) for 1,039 yards (third) and seven touchdowns. He had 16 catches of at least 20 yards, eight of at least 30 and four of at least 40. He joins what will be a revamped A&M offense with Bobby Petrino taking over as coordinator. Smith’s quickness can be put to good use in the slot, and he should become an important part of A&M’s receiving rotation. The Aggies return just two wide receivers who had more than 15 catches.

6. Ole Miss LB Monty Montgomery

Transfer from: Louisville
The skinny: Monty Montgomery (5-11, 220) had a medical redshirt approved in December, giving him a seventh year of eligibility. While he lacks size, Montgomery has good quickness and had 15 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss in his time with the Cardinals. He also forced seven fumbles while at Louisville, including four this season. Montgomery fills a huge need: The Rebels lost three of their top four linebackers and Montgomery should slide right into the starting lineup. Montgomery started his college career in 2017 at Tulane, where he redshirted. He starred at Hutchinson (Kan.) CC in 2018, then spent the past four seasons at Louisville. Montgomery became a starter late in the 2020 season, then opened 2021 as a starter but suffered a knee injury in Game 3 and missed the rest of the season. He started this season and was second on the team with 70 tackles.

5. UCLA OT Khadere Kounta

Transfer from: Old Dominion
The skinny: Khadere Kounta (6-6, 306) was a three-year starter at left tackle for ODU, beginning with his true freshman season. He joins a UCLA offensive line that is being rebuilt; he likely will slide into the left tackle vacancy left by the graduation of Raiqwon O’Neal. O’Neal transferred from Rutgers last offseason and helped stabilize the line. Kounta will be expected to do the same. Kounta is the second offensive lineman grabbed from the portal; G Spencer Holstege from Purdue was the other, and he, too, is expected to start.

4. Houston DE David Ugwoegbu

Transfer from: Oklahoma
The skinny: After two seasons as a key reserve, David Ugwoegbu (6-4, 250) became a starter in 2022 and was second on the Sooners with 109 tackles. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick at linebacker. He seems likely to move to end with Houston, whose defense struggled in 2022 after being the stingiest in the AAC in 2021. Ugwoegbu (it’s pronounced “Uh-GWAY-boo”) played in 50 games in four seasons for OU, with 22 starts. He had 211 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception with the Sooners. Ugwoegbu never redshirted and has one season of eligibility remaining.

3. USC G Ethan White

Transfer from: Florida
The skinny: Ethan White (6-4, 331) was a second-team All-SEC selection for Florida this season. He also started seven games in 2021 before being sidelined late in the season with an injury. When healthy, White is a road-grader in the running game. USC is reconfiguring its line, and White’s physical nature should be welcomed at guard. White is one of three offensive line transfers for the Trojans, joining former Florida teammate Michael Tarquin, who is a tackle, and Washington State’s Jarrett Kingston, who can play guard and tackle. White has one season of eligibility remaining.

2. Oregon S Tysheem Johnson

Transfer from: Ole Miss
The skinny: Tysheem Johnson (5-10, 200) was a two-year starter for the Rebels. He was an On3 Consensus four-star prospect and a national top-250 recruit in the 2021 signing class and moved right into the starting lineup as a true freshman. Johnson was Ole Miss’ third-leading tackler in 2022 (78) and added four tackles for loss and two pass breakups. He also had four TFL and a pick in 2021. Johnson is the second transfer safety to commit to the Ducks, joining Evan Williams (Fresno State). Both add physicality to a Ducks defense that needs it. Johnson can be used in a nickel safety role.

1. Texas WR AD Mitchell

Transfer from: Georgia
The skinny: AD Mitchell (6-4, 190) didn’t exactly tear it up in his two seasons at Georgia, with just 38 catches. But seven of those receptions went for TDs. In 2022, because of an ankle injury he basically played in just three games – the opener against Oregon, the CFP semifinal and the national title game; he caught a TD pass in each of those outings. He played more than expected as a true freshman in 2021, with 29 receptions for 426 yards and four TDs despite being a bit on the raw side. A healthy Mitchell gives Texas another big-time weapon on the outside. If Isaiah Neyor – who missed 2022 with a knee injury – returns at close to what he was in 2021 at Wyoming, Texas’ receiving trio of Mitchell, Neyor and Xavier Worthy has the potential to be the best in the nation.

Others considered: Memphis WR Corey Gammage (from Marshall), Charlotte EDGE Eyabi Okie (from Michigan), Ole Miss CB Zamari Walton (from Georgia Tech).