NCAAF · 1 year ago

CFB Transfer Portal: 5 Losers of the Spring Window

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

5. Alabama Crimson Tide
Kalen DeBoer was in a tough spot and did an admirable job filling some holes on the roster. Still, Alabama is an overall loser for this spring portal window because they lost a lot of talent, and the elite players to replace them were unavailable in this cycle. King Mack was an excellent addition, and getting Kadyn Proctor is a big deal, but Alabama lost talented young players like Tony Mitchell, Peyton Woodyard, Khurtiss Perry, and James Brockermeyer. Much like LSU, Alabama did not have a disastrous portal window, and the future of the Kalen DeBoer era is still very bright. Still, the Crimson Tide needed more top-end talent to become available in this window to stock their roster for a run at a title, and that talent ultimately never entered the portal.

Alabama Crimson Tide 2024 Win Total: 9.5
1. Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans lead the list under first-year head coach Jonathan Smith. It would be unfair to list only the negative things that happened to MSU during the spring transfer portal window. Ru’Quan Buckley and Ben Roberts are solid additions at a huge position of need (defensive line). Andrew Dennis is a potential starter on the offensive line and an excellent young piece, and defensive back Ed Woods was a significant addition. On the whole, though, the Michigan State Spartans lost more talent during this window than they added. During this window alone, MSU lost seven players who committed to major conference programs. They have lost another handful of players that project as major conference players but have yet to commit. Derrick Harmon and Simeon Barrow are significant losses upfront, and Jaden Mangham was a potential All-Big Ten safety who fled to rival Michigan. Smith’s job in Year 1 got more complex over the past few months.

MSU 2024 Win Total: 4.5
2. Arizona State Sun Devils
Kenny Dillingham is attempting to gain traction heading into his second season in charge in Tempe. The spring portal window is not making that any easier as the Arizona State Sun Devils head to the Big 12 for the 2024 season. Ed Woods was a significant loss at defensive back, and Bryce Pierre was a promising tight end who left for UCLA. The two most significant losses were likely leading wide receiver Elijhah Badger and quarterback Jaden Rashada. Rashada was a big piece for the future, even if he may not have started this season. He left Arizona State to be a backup at Georgia. Badger is a 6’2” wideout expected to compete for All-Big 12 honors this season, but he will now play a significant role at Florida. Arizona State lost four cornerbacks that were expected to be a part of their rotation.

Arizona State 2024 Win Total: 4.5
3. Oregon State Beavers
Things were always going to be difficult for Oregon State entering the new normal of being a former member of the now-defunct PAC-12 Conference. The Beavers are, essentially, a Mountain West club now, and it won't be easy to live up to the standards previously set by Mike Riley or Jonathan Smith. The Oregon State Beavers lost several expected contributors, but the most significant loss of the spring window was the departure of star running back Damien Martinez to Miami. Martinez was the anchor of the team’s offense, and holding onto him after Smith left was seen as an accomplishment. That victory was temporary as he entered the portal in the spring window and committed to Mario Cristobal to lead the Hurricanes' rushing attack. Running back Isaiah Newell and edge defender Mathias Malaki-Donaldson also joined him in the portal.
4. LSU Tigers
LSU head coach Brian Kelly was very open and honest about the team’s need to get defensive linemen in the spring transfer window. Most of May has come and gone, and LSU landed zero impact linemen. The defense needed a major infusion of talent, and they failed to land players who would qualify. LSU went after guys like Damonic Williams and Simeon Barrow, but they struck out, and the lack of depth on the defensive line at LSU is striking. They are one or two injuries away from needing to play completely untested and unheralded players in the middle of the line. The defense might sink a potentially terrific offense for the second straight season. LSU is on this list not because of a significant loss of talent but because of a failure to address a key issue on the roster.

LSU 2024 Win Total: 9.5
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
Kalen DeBoer was in a tough spot and did an admirable job filling some holes on the roster. Still, Alabama is an overall loser for this spring portal window because they lost a lot of talent, and the elite players to replace them were unavailable in this cycle. King Mack was an excellent addition, and getting Kadyn Proctor is a big deal, but Alabama lost talented young players like Tony Mitchell, Peyton Woodyard, Khurtiss Perry, and James Brockermeyer. Much like LSU, Alabama did not have a disastrous portal window, and the future of the Kalen DeBoer era is still very bright. Still, the Crimson Tide needed more top-end talent to become available in this window to stock their roster for a run at a title, and that talent ultimately never entered the portal.

Alabama Crimson Tide 2024 Win Total: 9.5
1. Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans lead the list under first-year head coach Jonathan Smith. It would be unfair to list only the negative things that happened to MSU during the spring transfer portal window. Ru’Quan Buckley and Ben Roberts are solid additions at a huge position of need (defensive line). Andrew Dennis is a potential starter on the offensive line and an excellent young piece, and defensive back Ed Woods was a significant addition. On the whole, though, the Michigan State Spartans lost more talent during this window than they added. During this window alone, MSU lost seven players who committed to major conference programs. They have lost another handful of players that project as major conference players but have yet to commit. Derrick Harmon and Simeon Barrow are significant losses upfront, and Jaden Mangham was a potential All-Big Ten safety who fled to rival Michigan. Smith’s job in Year 1 got more complex over the past few months.

MSU 2024 Win Total: 4.5