Seven non-Power 5 transfers garnering high level Power 5 interest

By the end of his first official day in the transfer portal, San Diego State safety Patrick McMorris had already found a new home at the Power 5 level.

McMorris, one of the top defensive players to enter the portal since the spring window opened on Saturday, committed to California Saturday night and became the first of what will be several non-Power 5 transfers from the spring portal cycle to make the jump to the Power 5 teams.

Here are seven other non-Power 5 transfers garnering high level Power 5 interest (listed alphabetically):

Louisiana-Monroe defensive end Anthony Campbell

Despite minimal production at Louisiana-Monroe, the 6-foot-7, 277-pound Campbell has received offers from places such as Penn State, Auburn, TCU, Miami, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, among others.

A former junior college transfer, Campbell played at Louisiana-Monroe the last two seasons. After totaling just 57 snaps on defense in 2021, Campbell had a bigger role as a junior last season. He played in all 12 games for ULM, recording 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

“That dude has shown it all,” a Power 5 personnel director said. “He’s shown it against good competition. He’s thick. He’s strong. He can move. I think he’s got versatility, too. He can be an interior rusher. I think he can flex outside. … I need to watch more of how he works in the open field. But from what I’ve seen and the quick eval that I did, I think that dude has everything that you’re looking for in terms of a guy who’s going to come in and contribute right away and you can use him in multiple packages and he can play all three downs for you.”

In the Warhawks’ first game of last season, Campbell tallied three tackles and a sack against Texas.

“You’re only going to find 6-6, 300 so many places out there,” another Power 5 personnel director said. “That’s what people are hunting right now. And you watch him play Texas, limited clips, but gets a sack on Hudson Card and just the build. And you hear his story. He’s new to football still. Came to America in ’14. There’s a lot of upside with a kid like that.”

Rhode Island cornerback Antonio Carter

While it was a different Rhode Island cornerback that earned all-conference recognition last season, 2023 NFL draft prospect Jordan Jones, Carter was a two-year starter for the Rams and finished his redshirt sophomore season last year with 60 tackles, 10 pass breakups and an interception.

Carter has received offers from teams such as Texas A&M, Kentucky, Baylor, Louisville, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Virginia.

“Yeah, (good size) 6-foot, 200,” a Power 5 personnel director said. “You can see the physical nature he plays with. He’s got safety in his background. He’s got corner in his background. Extremely smart kid. Well spoken. You can tell this kid has thought through this decision. He’s going to play for higher exposure, which makes sense. I think what people probably like about him is the versatility piece, the fact that he’s done it and he’s a veteran. He’s got the size to play at the Power 5 level and he’s been productive where he is. So he checks a lot of boxes for people.”

Appalachian State interior offensive lineman Troy Everett

Everett was selected as a second-team Freshman All-American by The Athletic last season.

After redshirting in 2021, he played in 10 games last year, including starts in the first six at center.

Oklahoma has offered him. So have other Power 5 teams such as Colorado, Missouri and Virginia Tech, among others.

“Film was good at times,” a Power 5 general manager said. “Not consistent, but still one of the better ones (that’s entered the portal).”

Tulsa tight end Var’Keyes Gumms

A 2022 first-team All-Conference USA selection and second-team Freshman All-American, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Gumms set North Texas tight end records with 34 catches and 458 receiving yards last season. He also had five touchdown catches.

One Power 5 personnel director described him as being probably one of the better pass-catching tight ends to go into the portal in the last year or so.

Oregon, Colorado, Arkansas, California, Utah and West Virginia are among his others.

“I think you’ve seen that kind of tight end really excel in today’s football world,” a Power 5 personnel director said. “I think he’s a versatile athlete. He’s good with the ball in his hands. He’s not the most natural pass catcher, but he does the job, gets the ball in his hands and I think he’s really good after the catch. He’s athletic. He’s thick to where he’s not getting bumped off his routes, especially for a younger dude. You don’t see that a ton with guys in their first couple years of college. 

“I think he’s got a while to go in the run game (as a blocker), but I do like that he’s a really good athlete who you can flex out in multiple positions and really you can scheme him to get open. I think a guy like that you can disguise it in certain ways with how you align him and give him the ball in some really good situations and favorable matchups.”

Tulsa offensive lineman Jaden Muskrat

After two years as a backup, the 6-foot-3, 307-pound Muskrat was Tulsa’s starting right tackle last season.

Penn State has extended an offer to him. So have SEC schools like Auburn and Arkansas. California, Virginia Tech and Cincinnati are among his other offers.

Multiple personnel staffers mentioned that they view him as a better fit at guard but that he does also have the capability to play tackle depending on the team.

“That dude is really athletic,” a Power 5 personnel director said. “He plays bigger than he is. He’s only listed at 6-3 and I haven’t seen him in person, but he looks bigger to me than that. But he’s a dude who’s athletic and can move. … I think he can get stronger. I think his play strength is still developing. He’s still getting there in terms of that. But the biggest thing is he can move, he’s played and he’s played in big games and against high level competition and has shown up well and held up well.”

Wyoming offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon

Pregnon has been one of the hottest early spring portal entries.

After not playing at all his first two years at Wyoming, the 6-foot-6, 318-pound Pregnon was a Pro Football Focus third-team All-Mountain West selection as the Cowboys’ starting right guard last season.

His offer list now includes roughly 20 Power 5 schools, including LSU, Oregon, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Penn State.

“He’s big, he’s powerful, he moves well and he has multiple years (of eligibility remaining),” an SEC offensive line coach said. “That’s what everybody’s looking for. I know he’s a weight room guy. He’s just yoked up. Not really any fat if I’m not mistaken. You can tell he’s got a high ceiling, a huge ceiling.”

You can read more about Pregnon here.

North Texas EDGE Cam Robertson

A 2022 Conference USA All-Freshman team selection, the 6-foot-4, 238-pound Robertson recorded 15 tackles, three tackles for a loss and a sack in 14 games last season.

“You can see developmental strength and he has solid functional athleticism,” a Power 5 general manager said. “Not a freak but a solid player with three years (of eligibility) left who happens to benefit from the slim market.”

Colorado, California, Cincinnati and Indiana are among his offers. Others like SMU have offered, too.

“I think once he adds that strength and once he improves on some other elements of his game, he’s going to take off,” a Power 5 personnel director said. “I think he’ll contribute next year, the ’23 season. How much I think is the big question, but I think when you’re really going to see him take off is probably second year at his new spot.”