8 players still in the transfer portal who can help this season
There are slim pickings in the NCAA transfer portal right now, though there are a handful of players who could help a team in the right situation.
The portal never really closes, though there are some deadlines in play. For instance, a player needed to be in the portal by May 1 to be eligible at his new school this fall. Then again, that does not apply to graduate transfers; they become eligible elsewhere immediately. In addition, a player who enters the portal after May 1 but isn’t a graduate can petition the NCAA for immediate eligibility. More often than not, those waivers seem to be approved.
Here is a look at eight players in the portal who can provide some help this fall.
1. WR Javon Baker
Leaving: Alabama
The buzz: Baker (6 feet 2, 206 pounds), a former On3 Consensus four-star recruit from the Atlanta area, entered the transfer portal after the national championship game, committed to Kentucky on January 21 and signed with the Wildcats in February. But he never enrolled, and announced last week on Instagram that Kentucky’s staff had decided to move on without him. Baker had nine catches in two seasons at Alabama, and was expected to play a key role at UK this fall. He doesn’t seem to be a No. 1 receiver, but he has the talent to be a productive complementary receiver.
2. WR Charlie Jones
Leaving: Iowa
The buzz: Jones (6-0, 188), a Chicago-area native, began his career at Buffalo before leaving and walking-on at Iowa, where he eventually earned a scholarship. He is not suited to be a go-to receiver, but he would be a nice complementary No. 3 or maybe even No. 2 receiver in the right offense. His short-area quickness would make him a good fit in the slot in certain offenses. His return ability – he was one of the best return men (punts and kickoffs) in the Big Ten last season – is a big bonus.
3. LB Quavaris Crouch
Leaving: Michigan State
The buzz: Crouch (6-2, 230) is a former On3 Consensus four-star recruit and top-50 national prospect from Charlotte who began his career at Tennessee, then left for Michigan State following the 2020 season. Crouch is a solid linebacker who has been productive in the SEC (third on the Vols with 57 tackles in 2020) and in the Big Ten (fifth on the Spartans with 75 tackles in 2021). He has four career games with double-digit tackles and is a ready-made starter for his new team.
4. RB Ramon Jefferson
Leaving: Sam Houston State
The buzz: Jefferson (5-10, 215), who is from the Bronx, N.Y., was fifth in the FCS ranks in rushing last season with 1,155 yards for a Bearkats team that was seeded No. 1 in the FCS playoffs (SHSU lost in the quarterfinals to eventual national runner-up Montana State). Jefferson had signed with Colorado out of the portal, but reversed course and remains available. He will be a sixth-year senior this fall. Jefferson signed with Maine out of high school and rushed for 1,037 yards for the Black Bears as a redshirt freshman in 2018. He then transferred to Garden City (Kan.) CC for a year before spending two seasons at Sam Houston State.
5. OT Jazston Turnetine
Leaving: South Carolina
The buzz: Turnetine (6-7, 340) is a former three-star junior college transfer who started seven games at left tackle for the Gamecocks last season and three in 2020. He started for both seasons at left tackle at Hutchinson (Kan.) CC in 2018 and ’19. At the least, he can be an important depth piece up front. And depending upon the strength of a team’s offensive line, he could slide in as a starter.
6. DL Kristian Williams
Leaving: Oregon
The buzz: Williams (6-2, 285), a Memphis native, is a former On3 Consensus four-star prospect who was a key rotation piece up front for the Ducks the past two seasons. He played in each of Oregon’s 21 games in 2020 and ’21, starting four times, and should be able to seamlessly move into a rotation role elsewhere. Williams played in a 3-4 defense at Oregon, so he is well-suited for a tackle spot in a 3-4. Given the number of schools looking for depth along the defensive line (i.e., almost every single one of the 131 FBS teams), he can afford to be choosy.
7. RB Elelyon Noa
Leaving: Utah State
The buzz: Noa (5-9, 200), from the San Diego suburbs, was Utah State’s second-leading rusher last season, when he ran for 597 yards and four TDs. He started three times in 2021 for the Aggies, who won the Mountain West title and finished 11-3. Noa is a physical runner who is comfortable running between the tackles; he had two games with more than 20 rushes and totaled 208 yards in those outings. He went to La Mesa (Calif.) Helix and is the school’s leading rusher with 5,830 yards; we mention that because he broke the record held by Reggie Bush.
8. S Daymon David
Leaving: Oregon
The buzz: David (6-1, 186) is a former On3 Consensus four-star recruit and national top-175 prospect from the Baltimore area in the 2021 class. He missed the first five games last season with an injury, then worked his way onto the depth chart and was No. 2 on the depth chart at one of the safety spots for the Alamo Bowl. He saw action in nine games and made three tackles.