Power Ranking each SEC team’s performance in the transfer portal

Jimbo Fisher brought in a historically great recruiting class in 2022, and with his departure, that underachieving class, which was already cracking, fractured. Walter Nolen left for Ole Miss, Evan Stewart transferred to Oregon, and LT Overton chose Alabama. A&M lost a loaded class of 23 transfers, which left a lot of work for Mike Elko to rebuild the roster. 

Elko brought in 23 players from the portal and filled a lot of those holes with experienced players, he hopes will be ready to take on the challenge of the SEC. He addressed wide receiver by adding Jabre Barber, who made 75 catches for 999 yards for Troy in 2023, and Cyrus Allen from Louisiana Tech, who posted 778 yards on 46 catches last year. He also added two productive tight ends, Tre Watson from Fresno State and Garrett Miller from Purdue. 

If Elko taught us anything in his time at Duke, it’s that he’ll build on the defensive side of the ball. He’s doing the same at A&M, bringing in impact defensive linemen like Nic Scourton who was second-team All-Big Ten at Purdue, and Cashius Howell who was third-team All-Mac at Bowling Green in 2023.