Transfer portal breakdown: The key transfer for each SEC East team

This is a slow period in the transfer portal, though as we wrote Tuesday, there are a handful of players still in there who figure to be able to make legitimate contributions this fall.

The current lull is a good time to do a league-by-league re-examination of the transfer portal comings and goings.

Today, we’ll examine the key newcomer for each SEC East team. Thursday, we’ll look at the key outgoing transfer for each division team and how the team will compensate. We’ll continue the series over the next three weeks with division-by-division looks for the ACC and Big Ten, overall league looks at the Big 12 and Pac-12 (since it did away with divisions) and an overview of the Group of 5 leagues and independents.

Florida

Player: G O’Cyrus Torrence, from Louisiana
The skinny: Florida’s offensive line needed a plug-and-play starter and – voila! – here comes Torrence (6 feet 5, 335 pounds) from new coach Billy Napier’s former school. He was a three-year starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns who was an All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2021 and a second-team pick in 2020. Torrence obviously is familiar with Napier’s offense, and his arrival actually created competition at guard and at right tackle during the spring. Torrence is a road-grading run blocker, and the Gators’ starting interior of Torrence, G Ethan White and C Kingsley Eguakun should be a formidable trio. (Florida’s roster says they weigh a combined 974 pounds, though that might be a biscuit or two – or even a small fridge – shy of the real total.)

Georgia

Player: None
The skinny: The Bulldogs signed no one from the transfer portal. Obviously they could add one or two this summer. Yes, Georgia has a good roster. Still, you figure there is room for an experienced player in the secondary or at wide receiver.

Kentucky

Player: WR Tayvion Robinson, from Virginia Tech
The skinny: Hey, adding a wide receiver named “Robinson” paid off big last season, when Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson led UK with a school-single-season record 104 receptions. Tayvion (5-11, 190) isn’t as good as Wan’Dale, but he was the Hokies’ leading receiver last season with 44 and figures to be the Wildcats’ go-to guy. Actually, UK desperately needs him to be productive: The leading returning receiver has 14 receptions. Robinson would’ve paired nicely with Alabama transfer Javon Baker, but Baker’s transfer fell through last week. Robinson also is an excellent punt returner, averaging 12.6 yards on 26 attempts last season.

Missouri

Player: DT Jayden Jernigan, from Oklahoma State
The skinny: Mizzou was an absolute sieve against the run last season; the Tigers allowed a league-worst 227.9 rush yards per game and 32 rushing TDs. The Tigers allowed 5.3 yards per rush, the seventh-worst figure among Power 5 teams. The squatty Jernigan (6-0, 270) was an important piece in Oklahoma State’s line rotation last season and figures to, at the least, be the same for the Tigers; he should start, though. Jernigan has some pass-rush ability (four sacks in two seasons with the Cowboys) thanks to his first-step quickness, and with its holdover ends, Mizzou could end up having a surprisingly good pass rush.

South Carolina

Player: QB Spencer Rattler, from Oklahoma
The skinny: Last year at this time, Rattler (6-1, 210) was being hyped as one of the top Heisman contenders. Now, he’s looking to rebuild his career; in the process, he could become the best quarterback the Gamecocks have had in a decade. (Truthfully, his ceiling is higher than any Gamecocks quarterback ever.) Rattler will be throwing to an underrated group of receivers. WR Josh Vann and TE Jahiem Bell played well late last season, and transfers Antwane Wells Jr., a wide receiver from James Madison, and Austin Stogner, a tight end from Oklahoma, also were big additions. Rattler has the arm talent and is mobile; his decision-making and accuracy cost him his starting job with OU, and he’ll be operating behind a line that could exacerbate those issues. Still, he was the On3 Consensus No. 1 quarterback recruit in the 2019 class for a reason. If he can regain his 2020 form, the Gamecocks could finish second in the division.

Tennessee

Player: DB Andre Turrentine, from Ohio State
The skinny: The Vols weren’t nearly as active in the portal as they were last year; indeed, they may not have a starter among their transfers (we’ll need to see former five-star prospect Bru McCoy actually on the field first). But Turrentine (5-11, 195), a former four-star prospect from Nashville who didn’t enter the transfer portal until after spring ball, certainly gives them some options in the secondary. He has played both safety and corner, and Tennessee’s secondary was … well, it was bad last season, surrendering a league-worst 273.2 yards per game and allowing opponents to complete 61.3 percent of their attempts. Turrentine’s versatility should prove to be a big plus as coaches look to improve their last line of defense.

Vanderbilt

Player: LB Kane Patterson, from Clemson
The skinny: Patterson (6-1, 230) is a former three-star prospect from Nashville. He has returned home after totaling 33 tackles and an interception in three seasons at Clemson. He had trouble getting on the field at Clemson because of the Tigers’ talent at his position. Getting on the field won’t be an issue at Vandy, which was rancid on defense last season. The ’Dores were open last season: They allowed at least 41 points five times and at least 31 eight times. Patterson battled an injury in the spring, but adapted quickly to the scheme and showed he can be an important player this fall for a defense that is starved for talent.