Portal Watch: SEC players to monitor as potential transfers
The transfer portal opens in just over two months and there are dozens of players across the country already weighing the decision to transfer or not. With half of the season in the rear-view mirror, now is a good time to take note of the players to watch once the transfer portal opens on Dec. 9.
Today we continue a conference by conference Portal Watch series highlighting players who we’re keeping an eye on as portal season gets closer. Up next is the SEC.
1. Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma
After some impressive performances last season, Oklahoma handed the keys to the offense to Arnold this year. Things were going relatively well for Arnold until the Tennessee game. In that fourth contest of the season, the former five-star didn’t play up to expectations and was benched before the end of the first half.
Arnold’s replacement, freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., has played well enough to hold onto that job and is already in a Dr. Pepper commercial promoting this weekend’s Red River Rivalry game against Texas. If Hawkins keeps playing well and doesn’t let Arnold get another opportunity this season, Arnold could be portal-bound after the season.
2. DJ Lagway, Florida
College coaches around the country are licking their chops looking at Florida’s roster. Head coach Billy Napier’s job security is tenuous at best and, if Florida does end up removing him as head coach, Lagway would have a big decision to make about his future in Gainesville.
If a coaching change does occur and Lagway chooses to enter the transfer portal, he’d be one of the top prizes of this portal cycle. The thing is, even if Lagway does enter the portal, there remains a decent chance he’d return to Florida depending on who the Gators hire as the next head coach.
3. Dylan Lonergan, Alabama
The depth chart at Alabama is working against Lonergan. The former Rivals250 prospect from the 2023 class is looking at a competition with Ty Simpson and Austin Mack for the starting job next season plus five-star Keelon Russell will be arriving in Tuscaloosa after this season.
Considering Simpson is the second-string quarterback right now and Mack transferred to Alabama from Washington with Kalen DeBoer, it certainly feels like Lonergan could be the odd man out.
4. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
Texas A&M is on the rise with new head coach Mike Elko but it wouldn’t be in the position it is in right now without Reed. The former four-star from the 2023 class started three games while Conner Weigman was injured and showed a lot of promise.
The problem for Reed is that Weigman seems to be entrenched as the starter in College Station and he has two years of eligibility remaining. Reed, a redshirt freshman, might look elsewhere for playing time following the season.
5. Eugene Wilson, Florida
Just like Lagway, Wilson would be a huge prize in the transfer portal. The explosive receiver hasn’t played since the Samford game due to injury but, right now, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be sitting out the rest of this season.
Wilson has been Florida’s best receiving option and there are dozens of teams around the country that would love to add him to their receiver corps. He’ll face a similar decision as Lagway if there is a coaching change in Gainesville but, just like Lagway, it wouldn’t be surprising if he suited up for Florida again next year if he likes the next regime.
