Transfer portal commitment predictions: Evan Stewart, CJ Daniels and more
Most of the top players who have entered the transfer portal are now off the board.
But plenty of talent is still available and preparing to make decisions. More than 2,200 athletes have entered the transfer portal over the past month while 859 have committed.
These are not Recruiting Prediction Machine picks. If today was National Signing Day for the transfer portal, this is where I believe these six players will land. A confidence level has been attached to each pick, too.
This is the second edition of transfer portal commitment predictions. Here are six bold portal picks:
Texas A&M WR Evan Stewart – Oregon
The top available player still on the board in the transfer portal, Evan Stewart has a slew of options. But the Texas A&M transfer opted to take his first portal visit to Oregon, spending part of the weekend in Eugene. The former Five-Star Plus+ recruit has 1,163 career receiving yards on 91 receptions, averaging 12.8 yards per catch with six touchdowns.
My confidence level sits at 60% for Stewart to land with the Ducks. With two years of eligibility remaining, pairing him in the same passing attack with Tez Johnson could be the perfect duo to help guide Oregon into the Big Ten. Plus, heading to the West Coast and working with Oklahoma transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel is attractive, too.
Georgia CB A.J. Harris – Penn State
When we published the first edition of transfer portal predictions, I predicted Georgia cornerback A.J. Harris would land at Auburn. At the time, the Tigers had just landed an official visit with the former four-star recruit days after he had entered the transfer portal. Things have changed, though. Kentucky entered the mix and Harris took a visit to Penn State last weekend, with a major swing of momentum going to the Nittany Lions. My confidence level is now at 70% for Harris to land in State College.
Playing in seven games as a true freshman, he tallied eight total tackles. Harris has the potential and upside to develop into one of the top cornerbacks in the nation. With three years of eligibility remaining, he’s currently ranked as the top cornerback in the transfer portal, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings.
Liberty WR CJ Daniels – Texas
Former Liberty wide receiver CJ Daniels’ transfer portal recruitment took a twist Friday night when his quarterback, Kaidon Salter, withdrew from the transfer portal. Daniels has been in communication with Oregon and spent time at Auburn, Florida and Texas this past weekend. Daniels finished with more than 1,000 receiving yards this season and is looking to land at a school where he can be the top wide receiver, sources have said.
My confidence level is at 60% that Daniels lands at Texas. The wide receiver would be an ideal addition to a roster that is expected to lose a trio of wideouts to the NFL. He ranked No. 22 in the nation in receiving yards this season. Daniels has experience, too, giving the Longhorns just what they are looking for.
Houston DL Ja’Maree Caldwell – Texas
The second-team All-Big 12 selection this past season, Ja’Maree Caldwell ranks as the top defensive lineman still available, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound lineman visited Texas over the weekend and sources have indicated to On3 that the Longhorns are the favorite to land Caldwell. My confidence level is at 65%.
The redshirt freshman tallied 26 total tackles this season with 12 tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble and notched 8.5 sacks. Winning on the defensive line has made all the difference for the nation’s top teams competing for national titles. With the Longhorns entering the SEC, landing Ja’Maree Caldwell is crucial.
Northwestern CB Rod Heard II – Notre Dame
Northwestern transfer defensive back Rod Heard II visited Notre Dame this past weekend. A key piece of the Wildcats’ run to a Las Vegas Bowl win, the redshirt senior finished with 85 total tackles, four passes defended, two forced fumbles and an interception this season.
My confidence level sits at 60% for Heard to land in South Bend and join the Fighting Irish. He would join a program that ranked No. 5 in the nation in total defense in 2023, allowing just 276.3 yards per game.
Florida CB Jalen Kimber – Penn State
Florida starting cornerback Jalen Kimber entered the transfer portal in late December and eight days later committed to Louisville. The former four-star recruit took a visit to Texas A&M earlier this month, however, and has engaged in conversations with Penn State. Expect the cornerback to flip his portal commitment to the Nittany Lions, which would give them two major transfer pickups in the secondary.
My confidence level sits at 70% that the former Georgia transfer will land in Happy Valley. Kimber made 11 starts for the Gators this past season, finishing with 23 tackles and was second on the team with five pass breakups. Landing Kimber is crucial for Penn State, which is losing defensive backs Kalen King and Johnny Dixon to the NFL.