transfer Archives - US Sports News

TRANSFER PORTAL: Ole Miss Defensive Tackle Demarcus Smith Commits To UAB

UAB will have some extra depth along their interior defensive line in 2024 with the addition of former Ole Miss tackle Demarcus Smith. Smith announced his commitment to UAB via social media on Monday afternoon.

Smith is a Birmingham native and a former standout at A.H. Parker High School. He was a three-star recruit in the class of 2021.

happy to be home🏚️‼️#blessed pic.twitter.com/sKlBzCOGpb
— Smitty🥷🏾 (@thereal_sm1tty) May 6, 2024

Smith spent the previous three seasons with the Rebels, making his first appearance in a game in 2023. He appeared in two games with one tackle last season.

Smith joins the Blazers with two years of eligibility remaining. Ole Miss' 2023 roster had him listed at 6'3" and 295 pounds.

UAB enter their second season in the American Athletic Conference and their second under the direction of head coach Trent Dilfer. The Blazers finished the 2023 campaign with a record of 4-8.

6 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

TRANSFER PORTAL: Texas Reportedly Lands San José State DB Jay’Vion Cole

Per a report from Pro Football Focus, former San José State corner back Jav'Vion Cole has committed to the University of Texas for the next stage of his college football career.

Cole will be a junior after spending the 2022 season with Cal Poly and the 2023 seasons with Brent Brennan's spatan squad. Brennan accepted the head coach position at Arizona this offseason and was replaced by former Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo.

In 2022 with Cal Poly, Cole played in 11 games with four interceptions and nine passes defended. In 2023 with SJSU, Cole started all 13 games with three interceptions and 13 passes defended. He also had a sack and three tackles for loss last season.

Cole will have two seasons of eligibility remaining as he joins a Longhorns team that went 12-2 and reached the college football playoff last season. Texas begin the 2024 season on August 31 when they host Cole's former Mountain West rival in Colorado State.

4 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

TRANSFER PORTAL: Kentucky Kicker Commits To WKU

This week, University of Kentucky redshirt sophomore Jackson Smith announced his commitment to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers from the transfer portal. Smith spent the previous two seasons with the Wildcats where he never saw game action, but was twice named to the SEC academic honor roll.

Extremely excited to continue my academic and athletic career at WKU! Go Tops! pic.twitter.com/RtOPUHeFzr
— jackson smith (@jacksonsmithh27) May 1, 2024

Smith was an extremely accomplished specialist in high school, winning National Specialist of the Year three years in a row (2019, 2020, 2021) from ProKicker.com. The same outlet named him as #1 kicker/punter in the 2022 recruiting class. Smith is also the son of former All-SEC punter Andy Smith, who also played at Kentucky.

Current WKU field goal kicker Lucas Carneiro, also a redshirt sophomore, was a CUSA honorable mention after going a perfect 47-for-47 on PATs in 2023. He was 9-12 on field goal attempts last season. The starting punter position will be different in 2023 after Tom Ellard's transfer to Division II's Northern State University.

WKU will open the 2024 season on August 31 at Alabama.

4 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

TRANSFER PORTAL: Arkansas State Adds Two Players To Roster

After entering the transfer portal for a second time in his career, quarterback Timmy Mcclain has committed to play for the Sun Belt's Arkansas State Red Wolves. In seven appearances this past season for the UCF Knights, Mcclain threw for 1,065 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

Prior to his time with the UCF Knights, Mcclain spent one season at USF in 2021 where he played in 11 games and threw for 1,888 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Bulls went 2-10 that season. Mcclain transferred after his lone season with the Bulls, spending two seasons with the Knights. He took a redshirt in 2022.

Mcclain now enters a situation where Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Jaylen Raynor, who threw for over 2,500 yards, is the arguably clear starting quarterback. Still, Mcclain provides strong depth at the position with multiple years of eligibility left backing up Raynor who is just a sophomore.

On the defensive side of things, the Wolves brought in defensive back Adrian Cole. Last season for the FIU Panthers, Cole had 30 total tackles, 16 solo tackles, 14 assisted tackles, and recovered one fumble for a touchdown in the season's final game.

Cole brings plenty of experience having played in the ACC with Syracuse and the Group of Five. Cole was one of the first transfers who joined FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre when he was hired.

The newest defensive back will have just one year of eligibility remaining but will join an Arkansas State defense that is coming off a season where they were towards the middle of the pack in the Sun Belt in most team statistics.

Arkansas State will open the 2024 season on August 31 when they host Central Arkansas.

2 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

FCS All-American WR Commits To Fresno State In Transfer Portal

This week, Missouri State wide receiver Raylen Sharpe announced his commitment to continue his college football career at Fresno State this fall. Sharpe was a three-star transfer prospect, graded by On3 Sports.

It’s bread on the table, I got family to feed. @FresnoStateFB pic.twitter.com/fGWCJdZdpW
— Raylen Sharpe (@SharpeRaylen) May 1, 2024

A native of Allen, Texas, Sharpe began his college career in Houston in 2021, where he appeared in one game for the Cougars and was also a track & field athlete. He spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Missouri State, where he had 307 yards in 2022 and 991 receiving yards in 2023. He also caught seven touchdowns.

Last season with the Bears, Sharpe was an All-America selection by Phil Steele (second team), Associated Press (third team) and Stats Perform (third team). Sharpe also broke the Missouri State program record for receptions in a season with 73. His 991 yards were the second-most in a season in Missouri State history.

Fresno State are scheduled to open their 2024 football season on August 31 at Michigan.

2 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

REPORT: WKU Starting CB Anthony Johnson Jr. Exiting Transfer Portal

On3's Pete Nakos reported on Thursday that Western Kentucky Hilltoppers' defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. had withdrawn from the transfer portal. He originally entered the portal on April 16.

Western Kentucky cornerback Anthony Johnson has withdrawn from the transfer portal, @On3sports has learned.
An On3 College four-star, he recorded 44 tackles and 4 interceptions this past season.https://t.co/VNvB2Ek6qR pic.twitter.com/5sHV5GCkBg
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) May 2, 2024

Johnson was the Defensive MVP of WKU's win over Old Dominion in the Famous Toastery Bowl this past December. He had eight tackles and an interception in that game. Johnson was Pro Football Focus' fourth-highest graded cornerback in 2023 with a score of 90.3.

A Miami native, Johnson spent two seasons at Division II West Florida before joining the Hilltoppers prior to the 2023 season. At UWF, appeared in 21 games, recording 69 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, five interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. He was an All-CUSA Honorable Mention last season with 44 tackles with one TFL, four interceptions, a fumble recovery, and five pass breakups. He also blocked a kick in WKU's win over Louisiana Tech.

Johnson Jr. should have one season of eligibility remaining.

1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

UConn Starting Quarterback Enters Transfer Portal As Huskies Pickup Former Wisconsin Backup

University of Connecticut starting quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson announced his entrance in to the transfer portal on Wednesday, the final day that football players could do so for 2024 spring transfer window.

In 2022, Roberson suffered a season-ending leg injury in the first game of the season. He bounced back healthy in 2023, playing 11 games for the Huskies and completing 197 passes on 338 attempts for 2075 yards. He threw 12 touchdowns with six interceptions while rushing for two touchdowns and catching one.

Prior to UConn, Roberson spent three seasons with Penn State where he appeared in five games. The New Jersey native was originally a four-star high school prospect in the class of 2019.

Roberson's departure comes at an interesting time given his status as the regular starter. UConn earned a commitment from former Oklahoma and Wisconsin quarterback Nick Evers committed to the Huskies on Wednesday as well. UConn also has former Maine starting quarterback Joe Fagnano on the roster. Those two should be the frontrunners for the Huskies' starting job in 2024.

UConn open the 2024 season on August 31 at Maryland.