Transfer portal breakdown: The 6 biggest commitments (so far) in February
The transfer portal action has slowed considerably since a 45-day window to enter closed on January 18. But while players no longer can enter unless they are a grad student, they can exit if they already were in. To that end, here are the six best portal commitments in the first two weeks of February.
Another portal window opens May 1; that one lasts 15 days.
For a look at all the players in the portal, go to On3’s transfer portal wire, which is updated continuously as players go into – and leave – the portal. In addition, there are position rankings of those in the portal.
6. Coastal Carolina EDGE Micheal Mason
Transfer from: Wofford
The skinny: Coastal Carolina lost leading sack man Josaiah Stewart (16 sacks in two seasons) to Michigan via the transfer portal. Enter Micheal Mason (6 feet 3, 270 pounds), who had 41 tackles and 7.5 sacks in earning first-team All-Southern Conference honors in 2022. Mason is much bulkier than Stewart (6-2, 240) and presumably can do a better job against the run. Mason was a three-season starter for Wofford, finishing his Terriers career with 20 sacks and six forced fumbles.
5. Washington State LB Ahmad McCullough
Transfer from: Maryland
The skinny: Ahmad McCullough (6-2, 225) started seven games in his five seasons at Maryland, and saw a lot of time in the past three seasons. He was tied for fourth on the Terps with 45 tackles in 2022. McCullough played both inside and outside ’backer at Maryland. Washington State lost its top three linebackers, with two departing via the transfer portal. McCullough should be in line for a starting job in a linebacker corps in which just one returning player (Kyle Thornton) has any real experience.
4. Washington State WR Kyle Williams
Transfer from: UNLV
The skinny: Washington State lost its top four wide receivers (two via graduation, two via the transfer portal), so there will be ample opportunities for Kyle Williams (6-0, 185). He was a three-year starter at UNLV and was the Mountain West freshman of the year in 2020. Williams had 117 catches and nine TDs in those three seasons, averaging 13.4 yards per catch. He had 25 career catches of at least 20 yards. Williams is one of three Mountain West receivers Washington State has added via the portal; Fresno State’s Josh Kelly and San Jose State’s Isaiah Hamilton are the others as the Cougars rebuild their receiving corps.
3. Oregon State EDGE Oluwaseyi Omotosho
Transfer from: Wyoming
The skinny: Oregon State is known as a developmental program, and Oluwaseyi Omotosho (6-2, 246) fits that mode – even if the development came elsewhere. After playing in just three games in his first two seasons at Wyoming, Omotosho developed into a key pass rusher for the Cowboys in 2022. Despite not starting, he was second on the team with 6.5 sacks and led the Cowboys with 10 quarterback hurries. Omotosho should become a key part of the EDGE rotation for a Beavers defense that needs to produce more pressure. Oregon State had 20 sacks and 71 tackles for loss last season, figures that ranked 104th and 70th, respectively, in the nation.
2. Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun
Transfer from: Ole Miss
The skinny: Technically, he chose his new school January 31. But we’ll overlook that fact. Davison Igbinosun (6-2, 185) was an On3 Consensus four-star recruit and a national top-175 prospect in the 2022 signing class. He started 10 games for the Rebels, finishing with 37 tackles and five pass breakups. His loss is a big one, for the 2023 season and beyond. Igbinosun is one of three huge additions at corner for the Buckeyes, joining On3 Consensus four-star freshmen Jermaine Matthews and Calvin Simpson-Hunt; both are national top-60 prospects. All three should be in the hunt for a starting job, along with holdovers Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock. Igbinosun has a legit shot at starting; at the least, he will be an important rotation piece.
1. Iowa LB Nick Jackson
Transfer from: Virginia
The skinny: Hey, there’s nothing like what annually is one of the stingiest defenses in the nation adding an experienced, productive linebacker from another Power 5 conference. Nick Jackson (6-1, 234) was a three-year starter for Virginia; he earned second-team All-ACC honors after finishing the 2022 season with 104 tackles. Jackson was one of the most productive linebackers in the nation in each of the past three seasons; he had 105 tackles in 2020 and 117 in ’21. Jackson also had eight pass breakups and 13 quarterback hurries over the past three seasons. He joins a Hawkeyes linebacker group looking to replace starting ILBs Jack Campbell and Seth Benson. In short, Jackson should slide right into the starting lineup.