NCAAF · 1 year ago

Biggest Spring Transfer Need for College Football’s Top 10 Programs

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

10. Texas Longhorns - Interior Defensive Line
The Texas Longhorns used the first transfer portal to plug holes at wide receiver as they grabbed new weapons for Quinn Ewers. They also added a safety and edge rusher. The spring portal window is likely to be used to grab reinforcements on the interior of the defensive line. Texas lost T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy to the NFL Draft, so one of the nation’s top rushing defenses is a question mark. The Longhorns could use a couple of space-eaters in the middle of the defensive line to ensure the run defense remains a strength.

Texas 2024 Win Total: 10.5
1. Alabama Crimson Tide - Secondary
Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide are expected to be among the most active high-profile teams in the spring transfer portal. Alabama added Germie Bernard, Parker Brailsford, and a pair of quality defensive backs during the first portal window, but they lost more than they brought in. Many experts believe the Crimson Tide have untapped NIL resources ready to be unleashed in the market. If there is an area they must focus on, it's the secondary. Departures gutted that unit via the portal, and Alabama will almost certainly be in the market for any impact corners or safeties that hit the market.

Alabama 2024 Win Total: 9.5
2. Clemson Tigers - Wide Receiver
Dabo Swinney believes in high school recruiting, player development, and player retention as the way to build his program, and he has thus far abstained from supplementing his roster with portal additions. That is unlikely to change this spring, but the Tigers could desperately use a proven veteran wide receiver. Clemson looks like they will be stout on defense again, and they have a lot of pieces in place to have a terrific season, but wide receiver remains a significant question mark. A pair of five-star freshmen are being counted on to produce, which is excellent if they can immediately, but what happens if they can't? Antonio Williams was injured most of the 2023 season, Tyler Brown is tough but undersized, Adam Randall has failed to live up to his high school hype, Troy Stellato is still unproven, and the list goes on. Adding a veteran playmaker at wide receiver would act as a multiplier for every other wideout. It would provide a chance for the freshmen (TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr.) to develop at a proper pace. We’ll see if Swinney is interested in surveying the market.

Clemson 2024 Win Total: 9.5
3. Georgia Bulldogs - Defensive Line Depth
The Georgia Bulldogs don’t need much. They are the No. 1 team in the country and the favorite to win the 2025 College Football National Championship. They are listed at 88 scholarship players, and more will be added as incoming freshmen arrive on campus this summer. In short, Kirby Smart will need some players to leave before signing any more from the transfer portal. One area they could add if the right players become available would be along the defensive line, specifically if there are any difference-making pass rushers. Georgia has a strong group up front, and they were young on defense a season ago. Still, in 2023-2024, Georgia lacked the elite defensive lines they had when winning national titles.

Georgia 2024 Win Totals: 10.5
4. LSU Tigers - Interior Defensive Line
The LSU Tigers were inadequate on defense last season, costing Brian Kelly’s squad a chance to compete for a playoff spot. LSU has revamped the staff on that side of the ball, and it should begin paying dividends, but they must increase the talent, specifically in the secondary. LSU attempted to fix the secondary with portal additions last season, and it failed spectacularly. Still, you can bet they’ll be aggressive in getting a couple of cornerbacks to Baton Rouge when the portal opens.

LSU 2024 Win Total: 9.5
5. Florida State Seminoles - Tight End
Florida State has some holes on the roster, but the largest one is at tight end. Jaheim Bell is in the NFL Draft, and two contributors transferred out. Kyle Morlock returns to be the top tight end, but no one else has produced consistently. Jackson West and Brian Courtney are depth pieces but have shown very little, and they have a four-star freshman coming in, but tight end is a challenging position for freshmen to grasp. Bringing in a veteran tight end who can at least provide quality snaps would be a nice boost to the group.

Florida State 2024 Win Total: 9.5
6. Michigan Wolverines - Wide Receiver
Jim Harbaugh is gone and took much of the Michigan Wolverines staff with him. Michigan is not starting over, but some position groups feel like that, with wide receiver being one of them. Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson left for the NFL, and UM is left with guys who are more appropriate slot receivers. The Wolverines could use one or two big-bodied wide receivers to serve as red zone targets and make contested catches down the field. Big receivers would also help their quarterback make the transition to full-time starter.

Michigan 2024 Win Total: 9.5
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Safety
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a talented roster with few glaring holes. They are expected to lose talented corner Jaden Mickey to the portal, but they feel pretty good about the depth of the position. The same cannot be said for safety. Notre Dame lost some depth there and will need players to step up, or they will need to add a veteran through the spring portal. Some academic hurdles make it difficult for the Fighting Irish to navigate the spring window, but they hope to find a good fit at safety to add some depth.

Notre Dame 2024 Win Total: 10.5
8. Ohio State Buckeyes - Right Tackle
The Ohio State Buckeyes are loaded at most positions, but the offensive line is still looking for a starter at right tackle. At a minimum, it seems inevitable that the Buckeyes will add a player who can at least compete for the starting position to round out the offensive line. Josh Fryar took most of the snaps there in the spring, but he could slide to right guard and help stabilize that position while OSU adds a right tackle. The other options are young players who are nowhere near proven, and for a team with the aspirations of Ohio State, that’s likely not a risk they’ll take.

Ohio State 2024 Win Total: 10.5
9. Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks need something that most teams do: more disruptive defensive linemen. The Ducks are loaded at the skill positions and feel good about their defensive secondary, thanks to additions in the first portal window. Dan Lanning knows he’ll need a good defensive line to contend for a title and make the playoffs from the Big Ten, and they lost a couple of good linemen to the NFL Draft. This is not a weak spot for Oregon, but for a roster hoping to contend for the College Football Playoff, the interior of the defensive line is the spot they could address.

Oregon 2024 Win Total: 10.5
10. Texas Longhorns - Interior Defensive Line
The Texas Longhorns used the first transfer portal to plug holes at wide receiver as they grabbed new weapons for Quinn Ewers. They also added a safety and edge rusher. The spring portal window is likely to be used to grab reinforcements on the interior of the defensive line. Texas lost T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy to the NFL Draft, so one of the nation’s top rushing defenses is a question mark. The Longhorns could use a couple of space-eaters in the middle of the defensive line to ensure the run defense remains a strength.

Texas 2024 Win Total: 10.5
1. Alabama Crimson Tide - Secondary
Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide are expected to be among the most active high-profile teams in the spring transfer portal. Alabama added Germie Bernard, Parker Brailsford, and a pair of quality defensive backs during the first portal window, but they lost more than they brought in. Many experts believe the Crimson Tide have untapped NIL resources ready to be unleashed in the market. If there is an area they must focus on, it's the secondary. Departures gutted that unit via the portal, and Alabama will almost certainly be in the market for any impact corners or safeties that hit the market.

Alabama 2024 Win Total: 9.5

Biggest Spring Transfer Need for College Football’s Top 10 Programs

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