The spring 2024 transfer window is expected to be one of the most chaotic since its inception. Recent litigation between the NCAA and various parties has resulted in courts issuing injunctions that significantly limit the NCAA's ability to regulate the transfer portal.
In December, the court issued a preliminary injunction blocking NCAA rules that limit multiple transfer eligibility until the end of the spring 2024 sports calendar. The impact was felt during the winter transfer window that closed in January. Another court issued an injunction in February. The NCAA objects to the NCAA's suspension of enforcement of its rules regarding third-party negotiations for NIL compensation pending a final decision in a case stemming from an NCAA violation investigation into the University of Tennessee.
Anything is possible, regardless of what players have said or done in the past. All of this creates a potential chaos scenario for the team, where they may have been able to keep their star in the first window but may find it difficult to do so now.
This is not meant to be a prediction, nor is it a guarantee that anything outlined will actually occur. These are just the possible transfer events that could happen after the spring transfer window opens on Tuesday, some of which could have a huge impact on the situation in the country.
Arizona stars look elsewhere
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetailoa McMillan bucked a new college football trend by deciding to stay after former Wildcats coach Jed Fisch left for Washington. Those are two elite building blocks for new coach Brent Brennan, despite some significant transfer losses elsewhere. Last season, both combined for over 1,000 yards as McMillan earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors and Fifita was named the Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year.
Since the first transfer window closed, both sides have insisted they are happy with the status quo and have no intention of entering the portal. The same goes for Oregon State running back Damian Martinez, who has chosen to take his talents elsewhere and is currently looking for a new home. In particular, Fisch could try to strengthen his relationship with McMillan — Kevin Cummings, who scouted McMillan to Arizona, is also now in Washington — and give the Huskies, who are losing some of their top talent, a wide receiver position. Off last season's College Football Playoff national championship runner-up team could use some help.
Alabama's QB room will be short-handed.
The transfer portal has made it nearly impossible to build quality depth at the quarterback position. After all, he's only one player who can really step into that position, and it doesn't help with retention if he has multiple mouths to feed. Given this situation, new Crimson Tide coach Karen DeBoer is stepping into a privileged position at Alabama. He inherited a quarterback room with three scholarship options, including incumbent starter Jalen Milroe, but that was before bringing in Austin Mack from Washington.
That doesn't mean Alabama plans to leave this spring with its quarterback room intact. Former five-star Ty Simpson is in his third year with the program playing in just 10 games and making no starts. His four-star signee, Dylan Lonergan, a 2023 graduate, redshirted his first year with the program. It seems a long way off before Simpson sees the field in Tuscaloosa, especially with the addition of Mack. Milroe's return means Simpson will go at least another year without meaningful work, but his blue-blood status (he chose Alabama over Clemson in the Blue Bloods Battle) makes him eligible for another year. The program may give you a chance soon. Milroe's return gives Alabama a top-tier starter, but the departure of one or two players to the transfer portal could be disastrous for the depth of the College Football Playoff contenders.
Penn State loses top returning WR
Penn State hopes an expanded playoff format and a new Big Ten Conference schedule that eliminates the loaded East Division will open the door to a key postseason berth. While the pieces are certainly there to compete on a national level, the Nittany Lions remain dangerously thin at wide receiver. Last year, only one player, regardless of position, had over 500 yards receiving: KeAndre Lambert-Smith. He's back for another try, at least for now.
Penn State also turned to the portal to add former Ohio State wideout Julian Fleming as a solid option for young quarterback Drew Aller. Given his experience and reliability, Fleming already looks like the go-to piece for Penn State's offensive line. Is Lambert Smith happy with that? He will almost certainly be expected to play a similar role given his status as alpha last season. 247Sports' Matt Zenitz reported that after Lambert Smith spent the week away from the team leading up to the spring game, he is already considering a move to the portal. The Nittany Lions can't afford to lose a wide receiver, let alone the only returning player with any impact at the position.
No player in the room at this position beyond Fleming has even owned 600 career yards, so the Nittany Lions are looking to maximize quarterback Drew Allard's junior campaign under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnick. We have to take advantage of it,” Lions 247’s Tyler Donahue said.
UNLV wide receiver will be prime target
Group 5 rosters are usually watered down by the transfer portal, but occasionally a prolific star decides to stay and play despite significant interest from programs across the country. . So is UNLV wide receiver Ricky White, who did not enter the portal during the first period and said in December that he would return to the Rebels in 2024. His teammate and former quarterback Jayden Maiava said he was, too. He is excited to “get back together” with UNLV next season. Maiava is currently at USC and is battling Miller Moss for the Trojans' starting position.
White will instantly become one of the top wide receivers when he hits the market. Since transferring to UNLV in 2022, he has only produced, last season while helping lead UNLV to the Mountain West Conference Championship Game in coach Barry Odom's first year with the program. He broke out with 88 catches for 1,483 yards and eight touchdowns. Needless to say, White's departure would be devastating for a team that has already lost its starting quarterback.
UNC RB added to existing deep group in portal
North Carolina had to fight off transfer portal poachers a season ago. Coach Mack Brown said star QB Drake Maye “turned down a lot of money” to remain in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels avoided such concerns over the winter and didn't lose a coveted player, but he just so happens to be UNC's best offensive player but also its most aggressive portal player. Two of his spenders happened to play the positions needed…
Running back Omarion Hampton, who rushed for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, saw the potential for a nice payday in the NIL and decided to give it a try. There are some teams like Ole Miss and Miami who are willing to spend a lot of money and sell running back help (Martinez, mentioned above from Oregon State, could stick with either team). be). Hampton will be an immediate addition to the offensive ceiling.
It may not be easy to pry him away from the Tar Heels, as he will take on a featured role at the University of North Carolina, especially as the offense is undergoing a massive shakeup after the loss of Drake Maye . But Ole Miss has upside as a College Football Playoff contender, while Miami persuades former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward to decline the NFL draft and join the Hurricanes. It became a hot topic within the portal. That's a big selling point for Miami. Meanwhile, the University of North Carolina is coming off an 8-5 season that saw them miss out on the ACC, losing to Virginia, which ranked last in the conference, and losing 30-10 to West Virginia in the Duke Mayo Bowl.
