Notebook: College football transfer portal madness to begin anew

The doors of the college football transfer portal open for business Monday, and many programs will be looking to enrich themselves.

The portal is being labeled as chaotic and exhaustive. Some are calling it the wild, wild west where anything goes. For the football coaching staffs who are prepared, it may not be as difficult a path to navigate. If you have done your ground work, you can bring in instant help.

Brian Kelly has proven that you can go from the outhouse to nearer the penthouse overnight, due in large part to his use of the portal at LSU last offseason.

The less prepared will follow the wait-and-see approach. Most will be cautious. Every player signed had better bring desired results to your program. You can’t afford to take risks. It’s a situation where you don’t want to experience buyer’s remorse by acting too quickly. Some schools will seize the opportunity to chase off the lower portion of their roster in order to fill those openings with targeted players.

“Some teams probably need to do it a little more than others, ” Nick Saban said earlier this fall. “But I think it creates a lot of parity relative to how fast you can rebuild a team, how fast you can sort of get your team to where you need it to be very, very competitive.”

Following the COVID year of 2020, players were afforded an extra season. Some who may have considered the portal may now look at the NFL Draft due to their age. Over 3, 000 individuals took a leap of faith, entering the transfer portal in ’22 only to discover that there were not enough openings to satisfy everyone. In fact, 31% of the players did not have openings to fill. Don’t expect the percentage of this year’s crop to join the portal to be that high. Lessons learned.

Unfortunately, there will be some illegal recruiting. Some staffs will take a backdoor approach by contacting a third party and saying that there would be interest in a player, leading them to jump into the portal with a new destination already decided.

I expect LSU to sign between 10 to 12 from the portal, primarily focusing on the secondary, linemen on both sides of the ball, tight end depth and linebackers. Here are a few names to watch:

-WR DeColdest Crawford (6-0, 188) Nebraska…product of Green Oaks High in Shreveport was Class 3A All State in 2021 with 150 career catches for 2, 200 yards. Committed to LSU on Oct. 28, 2019 and decommitted Dec. 21, 2021. Went to Cornhuskers due to relationship with Mickey Joseph. Will LSU take another shot at him? He signed a one-year NIL deal with an air conditioning company when he signed with Nebraska.

-TE McCallan Castles (6-5, 234) UC-Davis…transfer from Cal. LSU, in market for his position, may have some interest already. In 2022, he snared 30 balls for 347 yards and 2 TD’s. Good hand/eye coordination, strong blocker, tracks balls well but not a deep threat. A 3-year starter at UC Davis.

–DT Levi Bell (6-1, 275) Texas State, Cedar Park is an area in Texas which LSU has recruited successfully. Bell is a converted LB who transferred from Louisiana Tech to San Marcos. He is high energy with a non-stop motor. While at La. Tech (2020-’21), he had 4 sacks and was twice CUSA Academic Honor Roll. In 2022, he recorded 65 tackles at Texas State with 5 sacks and 13.5 TFL. The Tigers could kick the tires.

– DB Jonathan McGill (5-9, 183) Stanford, David Shaw is stepping down as head coach so his former players are looking for opportunities. In 2022, McGill had 51 stops, 5.5 TFL , 7 PBU and one pick. Hails from Coppell, Texas. LSU will have many spots to fill in the secondary.

– DB Al Blades (6-1, 188) Miami…has two years of eligibility remaining. Dad and Uncles played in NFL. Made 49 game appearances for the ‘Canes but not fully recovered from injury in ’22. Has 93 tackles, 14 PBU and 4 interceptions. LSU’s Kelly will shore up some spots in secondary with experienced hands like Blades’.

– CB Montre Miller (5-10, 179) Kent State…33 starts past two seasons, compiling 99 tackles, 6 interceptions. Great energy, doesn’t repeat same mistake twice, good anticipation, Outstanding in coverage.

– DB Jaedon Gould (6-2, 200) Nebraska… 4 years of eligibility left for former 4-star prospect in 2022, was No. 2 overall prospect in New Jersey. Explosive tackler, very physical, honor roll student.

As for some other notable prospects who will attract attention from a variety of programs….

– QB Hank Bachmeier (6-1, 204) Bosie State, 29 starts. Career stats: 6, 605 passing yards, 41 TD’s, 19 interceptions. Two years of eligibility. Good zip on ball, good placement, can make all throws necessary, tough, good progressions. More of a surgeon. He played in 4 games in ’22 and threw for 497 yards, 6 TD’s and 4 picks. If he chooses to go NFL Draft route is a late round pick.

– WR Donte Thornton (6-5, 197) Oregon, explosive speed, final four games in ’22 for Ducks, he had 9 catches for 237 yards and 1 TD. Can stretch field.

– WR M.J. Wright (6-0, 192) Fordham, 4.6 speed, had 62 grabs, 1, 156 yards and 11 TD’s this season. Against Lafayette University, he made 11 catches for 155 yards. Basketball background, runs superb routes.

– OL Damien George (6-6, 348) Alabama, was 3 star signee in 2020. Nick Saban rarely lets anyone slip away with this size, so you may have to take a hard look. Viewed as a RT or OG, played in 12 games in 2021, only 20 snaps in ’22.

-DE Truman Jones (6-4, 242) Harvard, Atlanta product is an intriguing prospect. Awarded Bulger Lowe Award for best defensive player in New England by Greater Gridiron Club in Boston. In 2022 had 13 TFL, 8 sacks, 4 pressures. Preps Career Stats: 88 stops, 28.5 TFL, 42 pressures. High IQ, uses hands, good get off.

– WR Theo Wease (6-3, 200) Oklahoma, former 5 star in 2019 class played three years with Sooners and totaled 64 grabs, 1, 044 yards with 10 TD’s. In ’22, he had 19 catches (on 34 targets) 378 yards, 4 TD’s.

– QB Jeff Sims (6-4, 220) Georgia Tech, was No. 6 dual threat in 2020 class. Career at Tech: 4, 464 yards passing, 30 TD’s, 23 interceptions. Injury limited to 7 games in ’22. Starter as freshman.

– WR Grant Dubose (6-3, 200) Charlotte, product of Montgomery, Alabama. In 2022: 63 catches, 787 yards, 9 TD’s. Against Maryland: 8 grabs, 73 yards, 1 score.

– CB Brian George (6-2, 295) Texas A&M., 1 year of eligibility remaining. 4.55 speed. Belle Glade, Fla. native. 14 career games with Aggies. Outstanding run defender, good tackler, not blazing speed, an overachiever. Very physical.

-QB Brennan Armstrong (6-2, 215) Virginia, when offensive coordinator Robert Anae left the Cavaliers, things changed. Virginia averaged 34.6 points per game in ’21 but that figure dropped to 17 points per outing in ’22. Anae moved to Syracuse, which is where Armstrong may land. The 4-star prospect in 2018 is a lefty and Virginia’s career passing leader with 6, 819 yards plus 51 touchdowns and 23 interceptions, completing 63 % of his tosses. He has an NFL arm and makes the deep out throws with ease. Also a capable runner. Quick release. If he enters the ’23 NFL Draft, he could be a late rounder.

To coaches, happy hunting. The portal closes Jan. 18 and then reopens May 1-15.