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The transfer portal was very active this offseason in the Southeastern Conference. Certain teams looked to fill potential weak spots in their lineup by throwing bodies at the problem, while others added elite weapons to their already loaded arsenal. Below are the five most impactful portal adds going into the season in the SEC.
5. QB Brock Vandagriff (Georgia to Kentucky)
Having been in depth-chart purgatory for the last two seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs behind both Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck, Vandagriff will now get his chance as a starting signal caller with the Kentucky Wildcats. Vandagriff saw only mop-up duty in his time with the Bulldogs, going 12-of-21 for 165 yards and 2 TDs in his three seasons.
The former five-star recruit hopes to use his large frame and big arm to continue the recent line of success experienced by past transfer QB additions in Lexington, Ky. With weapons on the outside like Barion Brown and Dane Key, Vandagriff will look to have the Wildcats contending in the new look SEC.
4. WR Deion Burks (Purdue to Oklahoma)
The first of two former Purdue players to make this list, Burks has already shown ability to produce in a highly competitive conference. Burks caught 47 passes for 629 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Boilermakers last season.
The speedy receiver hopes to be one of Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold’s more reliable offensive weapons as the Sooners make the transition to the SEC. A three-star recruit in football coming out of Belleville High in Michigan, Burks was also a track star, competing in the 60-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter. Sooner fans are cautiously optimistic about Burks’ potential after seeing him light it up in the spring game.
3. WR Isaiah Bond (Alabama to Texas)
Bond forever ingrained himself in Alabama lore after the “Gravedigger” play in the Iron Bowl this past November, but he will be taking his talents to Austin in 2024. "Agent Bond" was a reliable weapon for the Crimson Tide in 2023, leading the team in catches to go along with more than 600 receiving yards.
The Longhorns are hoping that he finds himself in the end zone more often than he did in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Bond only had 5 touchdown receptions in two seasons with the Tide. The Buford, Ga., product will be an important addition to a Longhorns offense looking to replace the production of stud pass catchers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, who are now in the NFL.
2. EDGE Nic Scourton (Purdue to Texas A&M)
A Bryan, Texas native, Scourton is a large, physically imposing EDGE rusher coming back home to play for the Aggies after spending the past two seasons at Purdue. At 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, Scourton is a welcome addition for first-year, defensive-minded Texas A&M coach Mike Elko.
In just 11 games last season for the Boilermakers, Scourton had 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Not yet 20 years old, Scourton has tremendous upside and should fit in with Elko’s defensive scheme in College Station better than long-haired collies and yelling at midnight.
1. DL Walter Nolen (Texas A&M to Ole Miss)
The former No. 1 overall recruit in the country, Nolen was the centerpiece of former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher’s all-time highest-rated class for the Aggies in 2022. While the production has not been there as some might have hoped, there is no questioning the disruptive force that Nolen is on the interior of the defensive line. If Nolen can play up to his potential, he could end up as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
By bringing in the Memphis, Tenn., native to shore up the interior of the Rebels defensive line, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin looks to make some serious noise in the SEC and nationally this season. With the additions through the transfer portal this offseason, the Rebels are all-in for an SEC Championship and a playoff berth this year. Nolen is arguably the most important newcomer in Oxford, Miss., and the entire SEC.
Honorable Mentions
Names that did not make the top 5 but are also worth mentioning include many former or current Florida Gators. Running back Trevor Etienne and defensive end Princely Umanmielen are among those departing from Gainesville, Fla., and are now at Georgia and Ole Miss, respectively.
The Gators added a big playmaker to their defense in former five-star prospect and Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Cormani McClain. Kadyn Proctor is also an honorable mention, as new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer was able to lure the offensive tackle back from Iowa after a short hiatus.
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