Former Kent State receiver Dante Cephas updates transfer portal recruitment

Dante Cephas spent the first four years of his college career playing for Kent State.

Within a week of him entering the Transfer Portal, Georgia had made the trip to Pittsburgh to visit the wide receiver. Since deciding to put his name into the portal just over a week ago, he has received offers from Oklahoma, Miami, Notre Dame and Penn State, among others.

At last check, 12 Power Five schools have extended an offer to the No. 10 ranked receiver in On3’s Transfer Portal rankings. A first-team All-MAC selection, he has two years of eligibility remaining. He ranked ninth in the conference this fall with 744 receiving yards and three touchdown catches.

And the 6-foot-1, 175-pound wideout has the frame and resume to immediately come in and contribute for on a Power Five roster.

“It’s definitely been overwhelming, it’s taken me back to my high school days,” he told On3 on Wednesday night. “A shorter amount of time to review my options. Definitely been overwhelming, but it’s something most people would want to experience.”

Evaluating possible Transfer Portal destinations

Cephas has yet to truly trim down his list or set a decision date. But Pitt, Penn State, UCLA and Georgia have all emerged as legitimate contenders for the 6-foot-1, 175-pound wideout.

Playing in the SEC and for a legitimate title contender is obviously attractive to the Kent State transfer. And making the trip to see him in person speaks volumes about how much they would value his commitment.

“It was kind of surprising at first. Being the national champions, it was surprising,” Cephas said. There are so many people in the world, and they’re in my house. Definitely felt good about it.”

He was in State College last weekend making a visit and touring the facilities. Growing up in the state, he grew up watching Pitt and Penn State. A three-star prospect coming out of Pittsburgh’s Penn Hills, he was able to reconnect with old teammates Daequan Hardy and Tank Smith over the weekend.

“It was good, I got to go back — I went to go there in high school a lot,” Cephas said. “Watch the games a lot. It was good, got to see all the new facilities they got. Brought aback old memories I had.”

UCLA is not off the table, either. Chip Kelly has turned around the Bruins in his five seasons in Westwood. They finished the regular season at 9-3 this season and enter the bowl season ranked No. 18. While Kelly is still trying to figure out his quarterback situation, being able to work with college football’s top offensive minds is obviously attractive to Cephas.

If all goes according to plan, he plans make a visit to Los Angeles this coming weekend.

“I visited there before in high school, and I felt real comfortable when I was out there,” he said. “I fit. I’m supposed to go there this weekend for a visit to go check it out again.”

NFL development at top of priority list

Across his four seasons with the Golden Flashes, the receiver racked up 145 receptions for 2,139 yards and 12 touchdown catches. He averaged 14.8 yards per catch and helped Kent State reach the MAC title game a year ago.

But there is no denying the talent Cephas faced is not the same he would go up against in the Big Ten, SEC or Pac-12. Setting himself up for success in the NFL will play a factor wherever he decides to transfer.

“NFL development is most important to me because that’s where everybody wants to ultimately go,” he said. “You don’t want to land there and struggle. I think that will be key for me, making sure when I get there I’m already rolling and have the confidence.”

While the Transfer Portal has seen an uptick of entries because of the want to land lucrative NIL deals with collectives, Dante Cephas is not worried about securing the best financial package.

“It’s definitely more about getting ready for the NFL, I’m not transferring for the money,” the receiver said. “It comes with it. But my focus is on making it to the league.”