The college football transfer portal is a website that allows players to post their interest in transferring schools. This particular article will discuss the chain reaction that occurs for each defensive position after a player posts his interest on the site.
The college transfer portal is a website that allows college football players to sign with other colleges. Each defensive position has a chain reaction, meaning that the player who signed for the first school will have a lot of recruits coming after them.
Coaches constructing and adding to their rosters this summer paid close attention to college football’s transfer portal.
It’s not like the previous transfer market, when players may not have an immediate or even long-term effect. More high-end athletes are entering the portal these days, with some of them expecting to play for their new clubs straight away.
With so much movement from roster to roster, we looked at some of the most significant offensive transfers and how their choices affected the schools they left and joined.
We looked at the major transfers for each attacking position last week. Now we’ll look at the chain reaction that occurred as a result of several important defensive players using the portal, from the defensive line to the secondary.
Arnold Ebiketie Temple has committed to Penn State.
How does it affect Penn State? The Nittany Lions’ edge defenders Odafe Oweh and Shaka Toney were both drafted into the NFL. Both guys have 69 total tackles and 14 tackles for loss between them. It will be tough to replace those who were second and third on the team in tackles for loss.
Ebiketie, who had 42 tackles, four sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss for Temple last season, can certainly assist in that area. He was an All-AAC defender and should be ready to help Penn State straight immediately.
Ebiketie, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 253 pounds, fills a big void along the defensive line and will cause havoc in the Penn State defense.
After a season at Temple in 2024, when he had 42 tackles, four sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss, defensive end Arnold Ebiketie will make an instant impact for Penn State’s defensive line. Chris O’Meara/AP Photo
How it affects Temple: Losing that kind of productivity is tough for any team to recover from, but in the AAC, a school like Temple does not attract players of Ebiketie’s caliber every year.
Manny Walker, a defensive end who took advantage of the NCAA’s additional year of eligibility and finished second on the team in tackles for loss with seven last season, is still on the roster.
George Reid and William Kwenkeu, who were third and fourth in tackles for loss last season, are also returning this year. Temple will need a younger guy to come up to assist replace Ebiketie’s position since there is just one other senior at defensive end besides Walker.
Jay Toia (USC) to UCLA (DT)
How it affects UCLA: During the 2024 recruiting cycle, the Bruins made a strong push for defensive lineman. ESPN 300 defensive end Quintin Somerville was traded from Michigan, while ESPN 300 defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea was signed from Nevada.
Savea was rated 126th overall while Somerville was placed 108th. Hayden Nelson, a three-star defensive end, was also a member of the class. That followed a strong linebacker haul in the 2024 class, which included No. 115 Damian Sellers, Mitchell Agude, and Caleb Johnson, both of whom were rated in the ESPN JC 50.
UCLA has a strong supply of young defensive linemen and linebackers for the future defense, especially with Toia, who was the No. 178 recruit overall in the 2024 class. It also helps that the coaching staff is keeping a quality defensive lineman away from a conference rival in USC.
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How it affects USC: Toia committed to USC in the 2024 class, but claimed he felt pressured in his choice because to COVID-19 recruitment limitations, so he transferred.
He was expected to compensate for the departures of Marlon Tuipulotu, who was chosen by the NFL, and Brandon Pili, who tore his Achilles tendon in the spring. In the 2024 class, the Trojans did not sign any ESPN 300 defensive tackles, and Toia was the lone one in the 2024 class.
Ishmael Sopsher was brought in as a transfer, however he was unable to play in the spring due to surgery. The departure of Toia exposes USC’s lack of depth at the position.
LB: Tennessee to Alabama, Henry To’o To’o
How it affects Alabama: To’o To’o was recruited by Nick Saban and his staff out of high school, but he chose to enroll with the Tennessee Volunteers. This time around, Saban was able to add him to his defense, and the 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker may be a major factor as soon as this season.
To’o To’o joins a linebacking corps that already includes Christian Harris, Christopher Allen, Will Anderson Jr., and Jaylen Moody. He doesn’t have to be the star right immediately for this defense to succeed.
However, if he can play like he did at Tennessee, he has the potential to make the Crimson Tide defense even better than it was before he arrived. To’o To’o has previously been described as a defensive quarterback by Saban, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t flourish on the field this season.
How it affects Tennessee: To’o To’o, along with running back Eric Gray, offensive lineman Wanya Morris, linebackers J.J. Peterson and Quavaris Crouch, and safety Important Lawrence, was one of several key players to depart Tennessee this offseason.
To’o To’o would be a major loss for the Vols’ defense on his own, but losing so many great defenders, particularly at one position, is difficult to recoup from quickly.
To’o To’o, rated No. 47 overall in the 2019 class, was one of the best prospects. His rookie year, he was second on the team with 72 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. Losing a defensive quarterback will be difficult to replace, both in terms of presence and performance, with a new coaching staff.
CB: Clemson’s Derion Kendrick is headed to Georgia.
How does it affect Georgia? The effect of Kendrick’s move will be seen right away, since Clemson and Georgia meet in the opening week of the season.
After losing Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell, Richard LeCounte III, and Mark Webb to the NFL, Georgia’s defense needed some experience in the secondary. It’s priceless to have someone like Kendrick, who has played in the College Football Playoff.
It’s a big plus for Georgia’s coaches to be able to fill a cornerback hole with a guy of Kendrick’s caliber. Adding him to the roster relieves some of the burden on younger defensive backs, such as former five-star Kelee Ringo, who has battled injuries early in his career.
Derion Kendrick, a cornerback, comes to Georgia after three seasons at Clemson, where he had 63 total tackles, 11 passes defensed, three interceptions, and one sack. Icon Sportswire/Brian Rothmuller
What it means for Clemson: It’s never easy to lose an All-ACC cornerback, but Kendrick was released from the club in the summer. He was originally recruited as a wide receiver, but after his first year on school, he converted to cornerback.
Regardless of the defeat, Clemson’s defense will be fine. The Tigers’ defensive line and linebacking corps return the majority of their best players, and the secondary has Andrew Booth Jr., who is expected to have a huge season.
Clemson has done a good job recruiting defensive backs, bringing in ESPN 300 defensive backs Nathaniel Wiggins and Andrew Mukuba in 2024 and Fred Davis and R.J. Mickens in 2024.
From West Virginia to Georgia, S: Tykee Smith
How it affects Georgia: This summer, the Dawgs acquired Kendrick at cornerback and Smith at safety. At safety, the team had lost Tyrique Stevenson and Major Burns, so bringing in a strong name like Smith was crucial.
Smith was a third-team Associated Press All-American for West Virginia last season, with 61 tackles, two interceptions, and eight tackles for loss for the Mountaineers.
With the departures of LeCounte, Webb, and Stevenson at safety, the coaches needed a backup, and Smith was one of the greatest defensive acquisitions of the offseason.
How it will affect West Virginia: In the AutoZone Liberty Bowl versus Army this past season, the Mountaineers got a taste of what life might be like without Smith. Transfer Scottie Young took his position and finished the game with four total tackles.
If the coaches want to shift parts about, they may use Alonzo Addae, Kerry Martin Jr., and perhaps any of the other younger guys. Given Smith’s performance, replacing him will be tough, but West Virginia has alternatives in the secondary.
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