SEC proving to be a preferred destination for transfers

Quarterback Jaxson Dart didn’t know specifically the place he desired to go upon deciding to go away USC, just that the Southeastern Convention was a most popular spot.

Dart wound up landing at Mississippi and in the SEC, along with a number of other leading gamers in the transfer portal. In some cases, this sort of as Alabama, the abundant received richer. Other groups may well have picked up a new starting up quarterback, runner, pass rusher or receiver.

“I understood when I was likely into the portal, I needed to go to the SEC,” Dart said before this spring. “So individuals ended up some of my key colleges.


“Because it receives you developed to enjoy in the NFL. I really feel like if you can be effective in the SEC, then it truly is an less complicated changeover to the NFL.”

Initial, the SEC swept the top three spots in the recruiting rankings, in accordance to 247Sports. Then, the league that experienced Ga and Alabama in the countrywide championship sport added to individuals potential customers with a range of transfer portal pickups who could have massive impacts this drop.

Dart was 1 of 14 transfers for Ole Miss, which experienced 247Sports’ top portal course. LSU also nabbed 14 additions from other universities to rank third. The world wide web web page ranked Alabama’s transfer class fifth, South Carolina’s seventh and Arkansas’s ninth.

Dart is amid at least seven transfer quarterbacks at six SEC packages, such as former Oklahoma starter Spencer Rattler at South Carolina, Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels at LSU and former LSU starter Max Johnson at Texas A&M.

Auburn signed each Zach Calzada (Texas A&M) and Robby Ashford (Oregon) to contend with T.J. Finley, who arrived from LSU last spring.

Ole Overlook and LSU appeared to be two of the major winners nationally in the portal lottery, though national winner Georgia may perhaps not have necessary substantially additional reinforcements and failed to indication a transfer.

Other SEC teams were not very so nicely-stocked throughout the board.

— Lane Kiffin and the Rebels mined the portal for a prospective starting off backfield, edge rushers and gamers this sort of as ex-USC restricted end and Dart’s near friend Michael Trigg. “He texted me appropriate absent and was like, ‘Hey bro, I’m likely exactly where you might be heading,’” Dart mentioned.

Dart is a former Gatorade Nationwide participant of the yr who played in six online games as a Trojans freshman just after struggling a knee damage in his debut. He and Luke Altmyer are competing to exchange likely NFL very first-spherical choose Matt Corral.

Tailbacks Zach Evans (TCU) and Ulysses Bentley (SMU) could be crucial for a team changing its top rated 3 functioning backs.

— Alabama landed likely starters at managing back ( Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech), cornerback (Eli Ricks LSU), vast receiver (Jermaine Burton, Georgia Tyler Harrell, Louisville) and on the offensive line ( Tyler Steen, Vanderbilt). The Tide strike the jackpot very last season with receiver Jameson Williams and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o.

— Rattler appears to be the favorite to start off at quarterback for South Carolina, but he is not by itself in probable impression transfers. The Gamecocks are also banking on help from Wake Forest primary rusher Christian Beal-Smith, previous Sooners tight finish Austin Stogner, James Madison document-location receiver Antwane Wells Jr. and North Carolina Condition defensive end Terrell Dawkins.

Stated Rattler: “I’ve unquestionably learned the the greater part of the offense. Even now settling into a number of issues with it currently being a manufacturer new system, but for me, I’m seriously snug appropriate now. I’m additional at ease under center with the passing game.”

— Arkansas designed on the momentum of a 9-4 time with a robust team of transfers. The group consists of linebacker Drew Sanders, a former five-star prospect who used his initially two seasons at Alabama and began a few video games in 2021. Cornerback Dwight McGlothern and edge rusher Landon Jackson came on board from LSU while ex-Oklahoma large receiver Jadon Haselwood is among the these trying to help fill the void still left by Treylon Burks.

South Florida transfer Cade Fortin joins the blend at quarterback behind K.J. Jefferson.

On the flip facet, the SEC crew hit hardest by the portal was Auburn, which had 15 gamers enter it although the Tigers signed 5.

New LSU mentor Brian Kelly lost and received some key gamers by using the portal. Daniels is jockeying for posture on the depth chart with Myles Brennan, Garrett Nussmeier and freshman Walker Howard.

The spring recreation did not settle a great deal in that regard.

“We did not clear up something in the quarterback.” Kelly explained. ”We likely designed it even far more tricky.”

___ AP Sporting activities Writers Pete Iacobelli, Brett Martel and Teresa Walker contributed to this report.