NIL
LSU Women's Basketball Transfer Portal Update
Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers continue navigating a pivotal offseason in Baton Rouge with the staff reconstructing the roster ahead of the 2025-26 season. The program will have four returning players from last year with Flau’Jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams, Kailyn Gilbert and Jada Richard set to be back in the purple and gold. Mulkey […]


Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers continue navigating a pivotal offseason in Baton Rouge with the staff reconstructing the roster ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The program will have four returning players from last year with Flau’Jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams, Kailyn Gilbert and Jada Richard set to be back in the purple and gold.
Mulkey and Co. have seen six players from the 2024-25 roster make the decision to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason in search of new homes.
Now, all the departing Tigers have found new homes after short stints in the free agent market.
Where are the ex-Tigers heading for the 2025-26 season?
The First Entry: Sa’Myah Smith [Forward]
LSU redshirt-sophomore Sa’Myah Smith entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on March 31 after three seasons in Baton Rouge.
After suffering a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus in her knee early in the 2023-24 season, Smith bounced back for the Kim Mulkey’s program late in the Tigers’ recent season.
She posted averages of 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game this year, but her production skyrocketed in the tournament after posting double-doubles in both the Round of 32 and Sweet 16.
Smith joined the LSU Tigers during Mulkey’s second season at the helm of the program where she earned limited minutes during LSU’s 2023 National Championship run.
Now, after three seasons in Baton Rouge, Smith is headed to join the Virginia Cavaliers, she announced.
Psalm 27:3
#woohoonation
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow”. pic.twitter.com/r4iuBllBs1
— Sa’Myah Smith (@samyahsmith5) April 14, 2025
The Second Entry: Last-Tear Poa [Guard]
Poa, a member of Kim Mulkey’s 2023 National Championship squad, has played a pivotal role for the Tigers across her trio of seasons in the Bayou State.
During the 2024-25 season, Poa appeared in 30 games and made 15 starts for LSU.
She averaged 2.0 points and 1.9 assists across 12.8 minutes a night while playing a role in the Tigers’ run to the Elite Eight.
Poa joined LSU ahead of the 2022-23 season after transferring in from Northwest Florida State as a JUCO prospect.
She has since signed with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
Last-Tear Poa is officially a Sun Devil! pic.twitter.com/hNC3HzkXbk
— Sun Devil WBB (@SunDevilWBB) April 26, 2025
Poa will exercise an extra year of eligibility due to the new JUCO ruling the NCAA passed recently.
The Third Entry: Aalyah Del Rosario [Forward]
The former five-star prospect in the 2023 Recruiting Cycle showed flashes during her freshman campaign with the Tigers, but was unable to take that next step in her second year.
The 6-foot-6 frontcourt piece averaged 4.7 points per game with 3.5 rebounds during the 2023-24 season.
Fast forward to this past year and Del Rosario averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds a night on 41.7 percent shooting in six minutes per game.
She has since signed with the Vanderbilt Commodores and will remain in the Southeastern Conference.
#anchordown
pic.twitter.com/0byf9gGGwF
— Aalyah Del Rosario (@del_aalyah) April 21, 2025
The Fourth Departure: Jersey Wolfenbarger [Forward]
Wolfenbarger entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in April after spending one season with the purple and gold.
The 6-foot-5 forward recently wrapped up her first season in Baton Rouge as a rotational piece for Mulkey and the Tigers after transferring in from Arkansas.
In her first year with the program, Wolfenbarger served primarily as a backup center for LSU with averages of 4.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with 24 blocks in total on the season.
She played 13.2 minutes per game with nine starts after handling minutes behind both Aneesah Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith.
Wolfenbarger has since signed with the Tennessee Volunteers.
Go Lady Vols
#Committed pic.twitter.com/bPGtIHc9sp
— Jersey Wolfenbarger (@JerseyWolf4) April 23, 2025
The Fifth Departure: Mjarcle Sheppard [Guard]
Sheppard made the move to Baton Rouge last offseason after playing her true freshman campaign with the Mississippi State Bulldogs the season prior.
The Kent (Wash.) native played in 32 games for the Tigers with two starts after helping lead the LSU program to an Elite Eight appearance.
Sheppard averaged 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game on the season with 32 steals and 21 total assists on the year.
Now, after stints with Mississippi State and LSU, Sheppard will head to her third school in as many years after committing to the Cal Bears on Wednesday.
The 5-foot-10 sophomore will make the move back to the West Coast where she will be closer to home for the 2025-26 season.
The Sixth Departure: Amani Bartlett [Forward]
In April, backup forward Amani Bartlett revealed her intentions of hitting the free agent market for her final season of eligibility.
Bartlett, a reserve piece for Kim Mulkey and the Tigers during her time with the program, suited up in 17 games last season as a senior.
A member of Mulkey’s first roster in the Bayou State, Bartlett became the first player to play four years under her at LSU.
Out of high school, Bartlett was labeled as the No. 3 player out of Texas by Premier Basketball and had a 93-scout grade from ESPN HoopGurlz as well.
Bartlett has since signed with the Houston Cougars.
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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU Tigers.
NIL
UCF Knights Softball Historic Season Leads To A Bright Future
The UCF Knights Softball team’s historic season ended Sunday with a 9-0 loss to No. 6 national seed Texas. The Longhorns (49-10) advance to the NCAA Super Regionals for the sixth straight season, their first as a member of the SEC after leaving the Big 12. They will host No. 11 Clemson in a best-of-three […]

The UCF Knights Softball team’s historic season ended Sunday with a 9-0 loss to No. 6 national seed Texas.
The Longhorns (49-10) advance to the NCAA Super Regionals for the sixth straight season, their first as a member of the SEC after leaving the Big 12. They will host No. 11 Clemson in a best-of-three series next weekend for a spot in the Women’s College World Series.
As for UCF (35-24-1), it extends its record run of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances to five while reaching a regional final for the seventh time in program history in 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and first regional final since 2022.
It also marks the 15th time in 24 seasons the Knights have won at least 35 games in a season.
The Knights also notched seven wins over top 25-ranked opponents this season, the most ever. This counts their final win of the season over the Wolverines, who were ranked No. 25 in the most recent ESPN/USA Softball poll. Impressive accomplishment considering the youth on the roster.
Once again, UCF Softball showed it is arguably the most successful UCF program, especially since the arrival of Cindy Ball-Malone, who may have done her best job this year, taking basically a new team after graduating the greatest senior class in program history.
Saturday Offense Explosion
The Knights knocked off the Eastern Illinois Panthers and the No. 25 Michigan Wolverines, 10-2 and 10-8, respectively, to punch their ticket to the Regional Final out of the loser’s bracket after losing to the Wolverines 4-3 on Friday.
Head coach Cindy Ball-Malone earned the 250th win of her UCF career in the team’s rout of the Panthers, and with the win over the Wolverines, recorded the 350th win of her NCAA head coaching career.
The Knights pulled off their run on the strength of a prolific offense between the two elimination games, highlighted by three home runs, 20 combined runs, 21 combined hits and 34 combined total bases.
Pitchers Isabella Vega and Kaitlyn Felton combined to keep Eastern Illinois at bay throughout the matchup, allowing just two runs on four hits in the Knights’ five-inning 10-2 win.
Stormy Kotzelnick led the way in the Michigan win, tying a career-high she set against Houston on April 27. She also became the third Knight in program history to record four hits in an NCAA Tournament game, joining Tiffany Lane (2008) and Chloe Evans (2024).
Looking Forward To 2026
Looking into the future is risky in the age of the transfer portal, as we learned with other UCF sports, but the Knights could field a top 25 team that can contend for the Big 12 title in 2026, even if it loses a couple of players.
Sunday’s lineup featured two juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen, plus a redshirt freshman pitching ace in Vega — UCF’s All-Big 12 First-Team selection. The entire infield, SS Aubrey Evans, 3B Sierra Humphreys, 2B Coco Jaimes and 1B Ashleigh Griffin, is projected to return, along with DP/RF Izzy Mertes, catcher Beth Damon and LF Samantha Rey.
Jaimes hit a team-best .667 (8-for-12) during the weekend in the Austin Regional, and in UCF’s last 14 games of the season represented her team’s leading hitter, going 16-for-34 (.471) with seven runs scored, two doubles, one home run, eight RBI and 21 total bases in that span.
Aubrey Evans paced the Knights with 10 home runs, 33 RBI, 99 total bases and 20 walks with a 576 slugging percentage and .320 batting average. She earned All-Big 12 and All-Region honors.
Humphreys set single-season career-bests in average (.355), on-base percentage (.440), slugging percentage (.506), runs scored (43), hits (61), doubles (10), total bases (87), home runs (4), walks (26) and stolen bases (15) as she made All-Big 12 honors.
Mertes was UCF’s third leading hitter by average (.315) and leads UCF in doubles (16) and walks (30). Her 16 doubles not only rank second-most in the Big 12 Conference, but also second all-time at UCF behind Evans’ 2023 program single-season record of 18 as she made All-Region and All-Big 12.
Damon, like Mertes, joined the Knights as a four-star recruit out of high school, made an immediate impact, hitting .277 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs, and made All-Big 12.
Vega’s historic freshman season concluded with a 14-7 record with a 1.70 ERA and getting named a Freshman All-American by Softball America. She also received a Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week award, two D1Softball National Freshman of the Week awards, and two Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week awards while getting All-Big 12 First Team.
Ball-Malone is also adding another freshman class headlined by left-handed pitcher/outfielder Hildie Dempsey and infielder Kendall Trimm, the latter of whom is the No. 59 overall player in the nation and a four-star recruit per On3 Sports. Dempsey ranked 33rd.
The 2025 Knights have given fans hope not just for the future of softball, but for all UCF Athletic teams that they can succeed at this level of the P4/NIL era. The culture is there as long as Ball-Malone is here. She earned the most benefit of the doubt of any UCF head coach.
Now it is up to UCF to be aggressive and provide some more financial support to back Ball-Malone, such as upgrades for the currently outdated softball facilities and NIL backing. The program has earned it on the field and proven it can make revenue for the school, so now is the time for it to be provided support before other schools call and try to lure Ball-Malone with said support. That assist could lead the program to future trips to OKC in June for the World Series.
NIL
Enforcement agreement aims to end college sports’ ‘wild west’ era, but stiff legal battles are sure to follow
On Monday night, leaders representing the Power Four conferences began circulating a binding document that could radically transform rules enforcement in college football, according to Yahoo Sports. The agreement would create the College Sports Commission, a new entity geared toward rules enforcement. Power Four schools would be required to sign the contract or risk expulsion […]

On Monday night, leaders representing the Power Four conferences began circulating a binding document that could radically transform rules enforcement in college football, according to Yahoo Sports.
The agreement would create the College Sports Commission, a new entity geared toward rules enforcement. Power Four schools would be required to sign the contract or risk expulsion from their leagues and having member schools refuse to play games against them. Additionally, it would limit the ability for schools to sue over enforcement decisions, radically transforming the outlook of the new era of college athletics.
On the surface this sounds like a move toward much-needed regulatory relief in what many have called the “wild west” era of college sports. But upon further review, the thorny legal issues that have defined the NIL and transfer portal era of college sports continue to stare you in the face. This document doesn’t make those problems go away.
College sports is in the midst of a governance shift. If you’ve ever complained that football, in particular, lacks a commissioner-style leader or that the power conferences should break away from the NCAA — congratulations, you’re more or less getting what you want.
Assuming the House settlement is finalized, as many in the industry believe could happen as soon as this week, the Power Four conferences will hire a CEO. That process is already underway. This person will oversee a new enforcement arm and effectively relegate the NCAA’s role to handling eligibility and organizing competition in its sponsored sports.
When it comes to salary cap issues expected to follow the House settlement — set at roughly $20.5 million in Year 1 for an entire athletic department — and the legitimacy of NIL deals over $600, oversight will fall to the CSC.
The existence of such a document isn’t exactly surprising. ACC athletic directors were briefed during their meetings last week in Florida, and Big Ten ADs are expected to get in the loop during their prescheduled meetings outside Los Angeles. Make no mistake, what the leagues are discussing is necessary in theory. There is a glaring need for this sort of binding agreement. Without it, what’s the point of investing all this time, effort and money to settle the House case in the first place?
What happens when a school inevitably tries to bend or break compensation rules — something that has happened repeatedly over the last 150 years of college athletics? That’s the rationale behind this agreement. Ideally, a penalty structure would exist to fine rule-breaking schools and distribute the money to rivals as a deterrent. But whether such a model could be enforced long term remains unclear.
The most important thing to remember about the current state of college sports is that the legitimacy of any rule doesn’t hinge on what fans, experts on social media or even school administrators think. It only matters if the rule can hold up in court — and legal challenges are coming.
Just because a school can’t sue the CSC if it signs on doesn’t mean a state Attorney General couldn’t. Take Tennessee, for example. Last week, it passed a law prohibiting its schools from participating in any regulation that restricts athlete compensation in violation of federal law.
Open questions remain about the House settlement, and guess where those will be answered? The settlement doesn’t determine whether college athletes should be employees. It doesn’t settle how Title IX will apply to future compensation models. Schools are taking vastly different approaches to distributing the $20.5 million across their athletic departments.
Because college sports lacks an antitrust exemption and athletes are not a unionized labor force, there’s still plenty of room for lawsuits targeting rules that weren’t collectively bargained. So for now, a new enforcement organization and a Deloitte-backed audit of school spending may be a necessary evil — but legal clarity is still lacking. Whether or not the Power Four conference members sign a blood oath, everyone needs to play in the same sandbox. The question is whether the agreement will be worth the paper it’s printed on.
NIL
Boogie Fland shocks college basketball with NIL power move
Boogie Fland isn’t just running it back. He’s cashing in. After testing the NBA Draft waters, the former McDonald’s All-American stunned the college basketball world by announcing his return—not to Arkansas, but to Florida. And while his decision boosts the Gators’ title odds, it also signals a seismic shift in college sports: NIL is now […]

Boogie Fland isn’t just running it back. He’s cashing in.
After testing the NBA Draft waters, the former McDonald’s All-American stunned the college basketball world by announcing his return—not to Arkansas, but to Florida. And while his decision boosts the Gators’ title odds, it also signals a seismic shift in college sports: NIL is now the game within the game.
According to CBS Sports, Fland is set to receive a reported $2 million NIL package, placing him among the highest-paid college athletes in the country. That figure isn’t just headline-worthy—it’s history-making. For Florida fans, it’s a statement that the Gators are not just building a contender, they’re building a brand.
Fland, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 15.1 points and 5.7 assists in just 18 games last season before a hand injury cut his year short. Despite limited action, his efficiency and poise on the court caught national attention—and apparently, deep-pocketed NIL investors too.
NIL
NBA super agent David Falk's advice for sports execs
Donning a pair of Air Jordan 11s, FAME founder and former NBA super agent David Falk took the stage at SBJ’s 4se conference in Manhattan on Tuesday for a no-holds barred question-and-answer session that touched on everything from his days representing NBA legends such as Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Patrick Ewing to his views […]


Donning a pair of Air Jordan 11s, FAME founder and former NBA super agent David Falk took the stage at SBJ’s 4se conference in Manhattan on Tuesday for a no-holds barred question-and-answer session that touched on everything from his days representing NBA legends such as Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Patrick Ewing to his views on the state of the sports industry.
Here are the highlights from Falk’s discussion with SBJ’s Abe Madkour.
Would Falk want to be an agent today? “Absolutely not”
Falk estimated nearly three-quarters of NBA contracts are “not negotiated” — i.e., fixed rookie-scale deals, maximums, minimums or exceptions — and said an increasingly competitive landscape has led to lower commission fees.
He also railed against the current “NBA empowerment era,” which he claims isn’t necessarily new because of the influence athletes have — see: his most famous client — but because of the way players wield it.
“I made lots of trades, but I would never do it publicly,” Falk said. “It demeans the game that you’re all making money from.”
‘Feel the future’
Falk’s advice to aspiring sports industry executives in the room was to always try to look into the future instead of the past, citing growth areas like gambling and streaming.
“The really amazing and successful people, like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, they feel the future, they see the future,” Falk said. “I would say, for someone who wants to be really successful in the sports industry, figure out where it’s going to be five years from now. What needs are you going to have?”
But he would not recommend going into ownership unless you can afford a majority stake.
“I’m so opinionated,” Falk said, “being an owner and not being able to have a meaningful say would drive me crazy.”
Representing Jordan
Falk reminisced on the prosperous early days of the Jordan Brand, but he also remembered the difficult times representing the Bulls star, like navigating the scandal after Jordan was found to have paid infamous scammer Slim Bouler tens of thousands of dollars after gambling on the golf course in the early 1990s. Falk said he believed Jordan was going to fire him after confronting him at a lunch meeting about publicly apologizing for the incident.
But, as Falk recounted, “[Jordan] apologized to his parents. He apologized to the owner. He apologized to his teammates — and it was over,” Falk said. “If you think I wanted to have a confrontation with Michael Jordan — hell, no. But if you want to have a relationship with someone like that, or Mike Krzyzewski, or John Thompson, they have to know, at all times, when they ask you for your advice, that you’re never going to flinch, you’re not going to B.S. them, and you’re going to tell them exactly what you think.”
Forecasting Jordan’s role with NBC
Falk was clear he has not spoken to his former client since it was announced Jordan will appear as a “contributor” on NBC Sports’ NBA coverage. But asked if he believed MJ would be good on air, he offered a blunt prediction.
“I’ll be surprised if he’s [Jordan] on three times,” Falk said. “It’s just personal. I haven’t asked him.”
Settling the G.O.A.T debate
To no one in the room’s surprise, Falk quickly answered Jordan when asked who his G.O.A.T is. Asked for No. 2, he said either Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Kobe Bryant.
Is LeBron James in his top 10?
“Probably,” Falk said, before delivering the quote of the day: “I really like LeBron,” he said. “But I think if Jordan had cherry-picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he would’ve won 15 championships.”
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Ranking the top 25 college football teams
I all but flipped a coin back in January when choosing between Penn State and Texas for No. 1. Then Steve Sarkisian’s team became arguably the biggest winner in the spring portal window and made the decision easier this time. 1. Texas (Too-early 2025 ranking: 2) Familiar faces: QB Arch Manning, RB Quintrevion Wisner, WR […]

I all but flipped a coin back in January when choosing between Penn State and Texas for No. 1. Then Steve Sarkisian’s team became arguably the biggest winner in the spring portal window and made the decision easier this time.
1. Texas (Too-early 2025 ranking: 2)
Familiar faces: QB Arch Manning, RB Quintrevion Wisner, WR Ryan Wingo, edge Colin Simmons, LB Anthony Hill Jr., S Michael Taaffe
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Notable spring additions: WR Emmett Mosley V (Stanford), TE Jack Endries (Cal), DT Maraad Watson (Syracuse), K Mason Shipley (Texas State)
Despite losing 12 draft picks, Texas looks like the closest thing to a complete team. Everyone knows about Manning, but the ’Horns should again be teeming with skill talent and strong in the trenches. Mosley and Endries become immediate targets for Manning, while Watson (6-foot-3, 313 pounds), a true freshman starter, Purdue transfer Cole Brevard and North Carolina transfer Travis Shaw fill a need at defensive tackle.
2. Penn State (Previous: No. 1)
Familiar faces: QB Drew Allar, RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, DT Zane Durant, S Zakee Wheatley
Notable spring additions: WR Trebor Pena (Syracuse), LB Amare Campbell (UNC)
Penn State most closely fits the 2023 Michigan/2024 Ohio State “everybody’s staying” mold, but last year’s College Football Playoff semifinalist still had one glaring deficiency: wide receiver. Coach James Franklin hopes he’s addressed that with a trio of transfers: USC’s Kyron Hudson, Troy’s Devonte Ross and Pena, a breakout star on last season’s 10-win Syracuse team (84 catches for 941 yards). Campbell was highly productive with 76 tackles and 10 1/2 TFLs in 2024.
3. Clemson (Previous: No. 5)
Familiar faces: QB Cade Klubnik, WR Antonio Williams, DEs T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, LB Sammy Brown, CB Avieon Terrell
Notable spring additions: None
I was already high on Clemson, and then two things happened. 1. Coach Dabo Swinney finally got some transfers, and one of them, former Southeast Missouri State receiver Tristan Smith, stole the show at the Tigers’ spring game with five catches for 137 yards. 2. Early 2026 mock drafts emerged, and every guy listed above (save for second-year player Brown) was a projected first-rounder. Clemson should have its best team in five years.
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4. Ohio State (Previous: No. 6)
Familiar faces: WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, LBs Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, CB Davison Igbinosun, S Caleb Downs
Notable spring additions: DE Beau Atkinson (North Carolina)
My first 2025 top 25 was published the morning after the Buckeyes’ national championship win, at which point it was hard to overlook how many key players they were losing. (As it turned out, 14 draft picks.) But coach Ryan Day still has a lot of veterans, and now he’s added Atkinson (7 1/2 sacks last season), who could start opposite returnee Kenyatta Jackson. But it all comes down to how expected QB1 Julian Sayin performs.
5. Notre Dame (Previous: No. 3)
Familiar faces: RB Jeremiyah Love, WR Jaden Greathouse, LBs Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed, CB Leonard Moore, S Adon Shuler
Notable spring additions: None
Coach Marcus Freeman’s QB competition seemingly resolved itself in the spring as redshirt freshman CJ Carr seized control of the race, prompting veteran Steve Angeli to portal his way to Syracuse. Love is a Heisman contender, TE Eli Raridon is poised for a breakout and former Virginia WR Malachi Fields arrives this summer.
6. LSU (Previous: No. 4)
Familiar faces: QB Garrett Nussmeier, RB Caden Durham, WR Aaron Anderson, LBs Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr.
Notable spring additions: DT Bernard Gooden (USF), S A.J. Haulcy (Houston)
I’m still high on LSU despite the two-spot drop. Coach Brian Kelly added to what was already the nation’s No. 1 transfer class with Gooden, who had 10 TFLs last season, and first-team All-Big 12 safety Haulcy. WR Nic Anderson from Oklahoma is a big get. Reports out of spring indicated that the Tigers’ D-line will be a strength, thanks to Florida transfer Jack Pyburn and Nebraska transfer Jimari Butler.
7. Georgia (Previous: No. 7)
Familiar faces: QB Gunner Stockton, RB Nate Frazier, TE Oscar Delp, LB CJ Allen, CB Daylen Everette
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Notable spring additions: RB Josh McCray (Illinois), LB Elo Modozie (Army)
I was mildly surprised to see Georgia’s Vegas win total is only 9.5. If there’s concern, it may be either that Stockton is still relatively unproven or that the D-line is not up to previous standards. Stockton should have plenty of guys to throw to with the additions of USC’s Zachariah Branch and Texas A&M’s Noah Thomas. McCray (609 yards, 10 TDs in 2024) should be a nice complement to Frazier, and Modozie (6 1/2 sacks) should make an impact.
8. Oregon (Previous: No. 8)
Familiar faces: RB Noah Whittington, WR Evan Stewart, pass-rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, MLB Bryce Boettcher
Notable spring additions: None
Oregon’s prospects depend heavily on former five-star QB Dante Moore, once a freshman starter for UCLA. He went 12-of-20 for 140 yards in the spring game. RB Makhi Hughes (2,779 yards in two seasons) is poised to take the Big Ten by storm. Transfer LT Isaiah World (Nevada) and G Emmanuel Pregnon (USC) should be immediate starters. Dan Lanning has no shortage of pass rushers with Uiagalelei, Tuioti and LB Blake Purchase.
9. Miami (Previous: No. 15)
Familiar faces: QB Carson Beck (Georgia), RB Mark Fletcher Jr., OT Francis Mauigoa, DE Rueben Bain Jr., LB Wesley Bissainthe
Notable spring additions: WR/KR Keelan Marion (BYU), RB CharMar Brown (North Dakota State), LBs Mohamed Toure (Rutgers) and Kamal Bonner (NC State), CB Keionte Scott (Auburn/Houston), K Bert Auburn (Texas)
No one was more active in the spring portal window than coach Mario Cristobal, who added a potential breakout star in Brown (1,181 yards, 15 TDs), the Jerry Rice Award winner for best FCS freshman; an All-American kick returner in Marion; and a proven seventh-year senior (!) in Toure (93 tackles, 10 TFLs in 2023), who missed 2024. Freshman WR Malachi Toney had a great spring game. Beck has been cleared for summer workouts.
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10. Alabama (Previous: No. 14)
Familiar faces: WRs Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, DT Tim Keenan III, LB Deontae Lawson, CB Domani Jackson
Notable spring additions: TE Brody Dalton (Troy)
It’s notable that no Alabama players hit the portal after spring practices, indicating coach Kalen DeBoer is pleased with his roster. Fourth-year junior QB Ty Simpson seized control of the starting job this spring. He has plenty of options to throw to among Williams, Bernard and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton. This should be another top-10 defense, with Colorado LB Nikhai Hill-Green filling one of the few holes.
11. Arizona State (Previous: No. 9)
Familiar faces: QB Sam Leavitt, WR Jordyn Tyson, TE Chamon Metayer, DT C.J. Fite, S Xavion Alford
Notable spring additions: Edge Joshua Shanklin (juco)
Coach Kenny Dillingham mostly recruited for depth in the spring because he has so much coming back from last year’s Big 12 title team (with the notable exception of star RB Cam Skattebo). He previously nabbed Army RB Kanye Udoh (1,110 yards) to join promising returnee Kyson Brown. Fresno State WR Jalen Moss (48 catches, 563 yards) looks like a solid complement to Tyson. ASU’s concern is generating a better pass rush.

The Gators never gave up during an up-and-down 2024 campaign, and optimism abounds under QB DJ Lagway. (Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
12. Florida (Previous: No. 11)
Familiar faces: QB DJ Lagway, RB Jadan Baugh, C Jake Slaughter, DE Tyreak Sapp, DT Caleb Banks
Notable spring additions: None
Billy Napier only took five transfers between the winter and spring windows and expects major contributions from his freshman class. Early enrollee WR Dallas Wilson set a Florida spring game record with 10 catches for 195 yards. While the talented Lagway is the biggest reason for so much optimism around the Gators, they’ll also be strong in the trenches. Slaughter, OT Austin Barber, Sapp and Banks are all garnering early first-round NFL Draft buzz.
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13. BYU (Previous: No. 10)
Familiar faces: QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, WR Chase Roberts, LB Isaiah Glasker, K Will Ferrin
Notable spring additions: WR Tiger Bachmeier (Stanford), DT Justin Kirkland (Oklahoma State)
Notable spring defections: WR/KR Keelan Marion (All-American kick returner), LB Harrison Taggart (69 tackles in 2024)
Several key pieces from BYU’s 11-win season last year return, most notably the dual-threat QB Retzlaff. But it hurt to lose Taggart, the Cougars’ second-leading tackler last season, and Marion, a spring practice standout at receiver. Two Utah transfers, TE Carsen Ryan and DT Keanu Tanuvasa, are expected to start. BYU has a lot of proven veterans on defense, like Glasker and S Tanner Wall.
14. Oklahoma (Previous: No. 25)
Familiar faces: RB Jovantae Barnes, WR Deion Burks, DE R Mason Thomas, S Robert Spears-Jennings, LB Kip Jennings
Notable spring additions: RB Jaydn Ott (Cal), G Jake Maikkula (Stanford)
Notable spring defection: RB Gavin Sawchuk (744 yards in 2023)
I didn’t realize in January how much Oklahoma would transform its offense. Washington State QB John Mateer, one of the most coveted QBs this offseason, reunited with his former offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Then coach Brent Venables got Ott, who ran for 2,212 yards and 20 TDs the past two seasons. Top receiver Burks is back after missing most of last season. Florida State’s Marvin Jones Jr. adds to an already talented defense.
15. Texas A&M (Previous: No. 17)
Familiar faces: QB Marcel Reed, RB Le’Veon Moss, DE Cashius Howell, LB Taurean York, S Dalton Brooks
Notable spring additions: None
Reed is the face of A&M’s offense now. Coach Mike Elko spent the winter cycle upgrading his receivers and D-line, which showed in the spring game. Mississippi State’s Mario Craver and NC State’s Kevin Concepcion both made big plays. DEs T.J. Searcy (Florida) and Dayon Hayes (Colorado) and DT Tyler Onyedim (Iowa State) should be starters or rotation guys, as well as freshman Marco Jones, who had five sacks in the spring game.
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16. Illinois (Previous: 12)
Familiar faces: QB Luke Altmyer, LT J.C. Davis, OLB Gabe Jacas, S Matthew Bailey, DB Xavier Scott
Notable spring additions: DL Carter Hewitt (Northern Iowa)
Notable spring defection: RB Josh McCray (609 yards, 10 TDs in 2024)
I went a bit overboard on the Illini in January, before they lost top returning rusher McCray to Georgia. But there’s still a lot to like coming off a 10-win season. Unsurprisingly, coach Bret Bielema’s team is built up front, with four O-linemen who earned All-Big Ten honors in 2024. Former Wisconsin DL James Thompson Jr. helps fill a need, as does former West Virginia WR Hudson Clement (51 catches, 741 yards).
17. South Carolina (Previous: No. 16)
Familiar faces: QB LaNorris Sellers, WR Nyck Harbor, DEs Dylan Stewart and Bryan Thomas Jr., DB Jalon Kilgore
Notable spring additions: DE Demon Clowney (Ole Miss)
Notable spring defection: OL Jakai Moore (28 career starts, injured in 2024)
Sellers should be one of the stars of the sport after a breakout redshirt freshman season (2,534 yards passing, 674 yards rushing). Freshman WR Malik Clark could become one of his targets. The Gamecocks lost a lot from last year’s dominant D-line. Coach Shane Beamer got help on the interior with Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (Texas A&M) and Troy Pikes (Georgia Southern). NC State’s Brandon Cisse will help in the secondary.
18. Indiana (Previous: 20)
Familiar faces: WRs Elijah Starrett and Omar Cooper Jr., LB Aiden Fisher, OLB Mikail Kamara, CB D’Angelo Ponds
Notable spring additions: WR Jonathan Brady (Cal; 98 career receptions for 1,317 yards), edge Kellan Wyatt (Maryland; 80 career tackles, 8 1/2 sacks), DE Stephen Daley (Kent State; 51 tackles, 9 TFLs in 2024)
Coach Curt Cignetti used the portal in the winter to reload on offense, landing Cal QB Fernando Mendoza (19 career starts), Maryland RB Roman Hamby (2,276 career rushing yards), Tennessee TE Holden Staes and three potential starters on the O-line, most notably Notre Dame’s Pat Coogan. In the spring, he added two proven pass rushers in Wyatt and Daly. Indiana plays a tougher Big Ten schedule in 2025.
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19. Texas Tech (Previous: NR)
Familiar faces: QB Behren Morton, WR Caleb Douglas, LBs Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts, S Maurion Horn
Notable spring additions: WR Micah Hudson (Texas A&M), C Cash Cleveland (Colorado), DE David Bailey (Stanford)
Notable spring defection: Edge Joseph Adedire (14 career starts)
Texas Tech reportedly spent more than $10 million on its winter portal class, and that was before a seven-figure deal for Bailey, who had 14 1/2 sacks in three seasons. He and Georgia Tech’s Romello Height give coach Joey McGuire two big-time ends, joined by disruptive DTs Lee Hunter (UCF) and Skyler Gill-Howard (NIU). Other impact guys include USC RB Quinten Joyner and Miami (Ohio) WR Reggie Virgil.
20. Michigan (Previous: 18)
Familiar faces: Edges Derrick Moore and TJ Guy, LB Ernest Hausmann, CB Zeke Berry, S Rod Moore
Notable spring additions: RBs CJ Hester (UMass) and John Volker (Princeton), P Luke Bauer (Missouri)
All signs point to five-star freshman QB Bryce Underwood assuming the reins come Week 1. Coach Sherrone Moore needs new skill players to emerge. Alabama RB Justice Haynes is one proven guy, as is Indiana WR Donaven McCulley (48 catches for 644 yards in 2023). Michigan’s defense should again be a strength, with experience across the board. Arkansas’ TJ Metcalf should be a factor in the secondary.
21. Baylor (Previous: 19)
Familiar faces: QB Sawyer Robertson, RB Bryson Washington, WR/KR Josh Cameron, TE Michael Trigg, LB Keaton Thomas
Notable spring additions: WR Louis Brown IV (San Diego State; 38 catches for 620 yards in 2024), CB Caldra Williford (Tennessee Tech; 88 tackles over two seasons)
Baylor has the chance to field one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses, led by Robertson, Washington and four returning O-line starters. Coach Dave Aranda added several capable receivers, including Alabama’s Kobe Prentice. The defense has questions, though; Aranda will count on Oregon LB Emar’rion Winston, FIU LB Travion Barnes (129 tackles in 2024) and Northwestern S Devin Turner (130 career tackles).
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22. Boise State (Previous: 21)
Familiar faces: QB Maddux Madsen, WR Latrell Caples, TE Matt Lauter, Edge Jayden Virgin-Morgan, S Ty Benefield
Notable spring additions: Edge Sterling Lane II (Arizona), S Derek Ganter Jr. (Eastern Washington)
Notable spring defections: LB Andrew Simpson (25 career starts), P James Ferguson-Reynolds (three-year starter)
Boise, which returns its QB1 and four offensive line starters, will be the Group of 5 front-runner again. While there’s no replacing Ashton Jeanty, Fresno State RB Malik Sherrod (172 carries, 966 yards in 2023) was the star of spring and will be joined by promising redshirt freshman Sire Gaines. Boise lost several big names on defense from last year’s Playoff team and saw its D-line thinned by portal exits.
23. Louisville (Previous: No. 22)
Familiar faces: RBs Isaac Brown, WRs Caullin Lacy and Chris Bell, LBs TJ Quinn and Stanquan Clark
Notable spring additions: WRs Dacari Collins (NC State) and TreyShun Hurry (San Jose State), S Joseph Jefferson (Purdue)
Notable spring defection: G Austin Collins (14 starts over two seasons)
Jeff Brohm has the makings of another potent offense with USC QB Miller Moss, who played well in the spring game, two solid running backs and the return of Lacy, a 1,316-yard receiver in 2023 who was injured last season. Brohm stocked up on receiver depth in the spring. Three transfers could start on the O-line. Louisville needs to get much better in pass coverage. Southern CB Rodney Johnson should help.
24. Auburn (Previous: NR)
Familiar faces: WR Cam Coleman, DE Keldric Faulk, LB Demarcus Riddick, CB Kayin Lee, S Sylvester Smith
Notable spring additions: DE James Ash (Florida A&M), LB Caleb Wheatland (Maryland)
I predict Auburn will be one of the most improved teams in the country. Despite going 6-7, it fielded a top-20 defense last year with many young players, nearly all of whom return. Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold should fare better now that he’ll have a bunch of stud receivers, led by freshman standout Coleman and Georgia Tech’s Eric Singleton Jr. (1,468 yards in two seasons). Some running backs will need to step up.
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25. Kansas State (Previous: No. 23)
Familiar faces: QB Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards, WR Jayce Brown, LB Austin Romaine, S VJ Payne
Notable spring additions: RB Antonio Johnson Jr. (Southeastern Louisiana), OLs JB Nelson (Penn State) and Terrence Enos Jr. (Pittsburgh)
New OC Matt Wells has several proven playmakers in Johnson, Edwards and Brown and TE Garrett Oakley, and K-State added another potential impact receiver in Purdue’s Jaron Tibbs. Head coach Chris Klieman addressed several needs on the offensive line by bringing in Ohio State T George Fitzpatrick, Nelson and Enos Jr. Standout Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado (175 career tackles) was a big get.
Dropped out: No. 13 Tennessee, No. 24 Navy
Just missed: SMU, Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri, Ole Miss
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Kevin C. Cox, Tim Warner, Carmen Mandato, Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
NIL
Penn State HC James Franklin Unloads on How NIL Deals, Transfer Portal Are Changing College Football
Expectations are through the roof for HC James Franklin’s Penn State team. The team retained nine important starters from last year, added Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and snagged three wide receivers in the transfer portal, putting them in the national championship discussion. Franklin sat down with the Reading Eagle to discuss NIL challenges, […]

Expectations are through the roof for HC James Franklin’s Penn State team. The team retained nine important starters from last year, added Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and snagged three wide receivers in the transfer portal, putting them in the national championship discussion.
Franklin sat down with the Reading Eagle to discuss NIL challenges, transfer portal chaos, and his optimism for Knowles as the team’s new defensive coordinator.

Penn State Coach James Franklin Opens Up On New Age Challenges
Penn State head coach James Franklin called the NIL and transfer portal system a “beast,” comparing himself to Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni.
“The reason I call it a ‘beast’ is that it’s so different from the college football I grew up with. The other thing is you’re essentially Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni. You’re both. You’re kind of filling both positions,” Franklin told the Eagle.
“You’re having to navigate all those things. That’s what makes it a beast. I think you are swimming upstream, but I do think there’s still a decent amount of families and kids that are trying to choose a college for the same reasons why student-athletes have been choosing colleges for the last 100 years.”
Franklin isn’t alone in this sentiment. While the sport is booming with “new age” coaches who have seemingly nailed the transfer portal and NIL, many “old guard” coaches are struggling to gain a foothold on recruiting.
“I still think there’s a good amount of people out there, but the money can be significant. That’s where it becomes most challenging. These numbers are not insignificant. You have to be consistent. If you’re recruiting a kid and they’re leading with money, as much as you like the kid, he’s probably not the right kid for you,” he explained.
“The same way with the family. The same thing with us. I must ensure our entire coaching staff isn’t leading with money because we must be consistent across the board. We have to ensure we’re getting the right kids and attracting the right kids.”
But despite the chaos and high level of responsibility that comes with being a college football head coach, the Nittany Lions have kept more players than most, something Franklin said is due to consistency and the way they treat their players.
“I think relationships are more important than they’ve ever been,” Franklin said. “I think recruiting is more important than it’s ever been. You’re bringing the right kids and families here. We’ve been able to close the (NIL) gap because we were behind. You can’t just ask people to walk away from significant money. You have to be able to be in the ballpark,” Franklin said.
“We’re able to show recruits that they’re important to us in a lot of different ways. We show them the best players in the other programs are leaving. Our best players are coming back. It shows you that we’re going to invest in our own roster rather than in somebody else’s roster.”
Franklin also attributed success to Penn State’s trustees, chairman David Kleppinger, President Neeli Bendapudi, and Athletic Director Pat Kraft, who have allowed him to push the Nittany Lions to the next level. But it also comes down to assistant coaches, and Penn State made a big hire with Knowles.
KEEP READING: James Franklin Throws a Wrench in Nebraska, Oregon, and Texas A&M’s Recruiting Plans
Franklin praised Knowles’ experience at Duke, Oklahoma State, and Ohio State, telling the Eagle it helped Knowles learn a lot and become effective at his job.
“Sometimes when I hire people and they’ve only been at the blue bloods, when you’ve always had the best resources and the best players, it’s a very different learning experience and a very different learning curve,” Franklin said. “He’s also been a head coach before. He’s also from the footprint, from a prominent high school in St. Joe’s Prep.”
“All of those things matter. I’ve learned that he’s a man of few words. He can turn it on, but he’s not a talker. In the building, in staff meetings, he’s a man of few words. He doesn’t talk much, and he’s not loud. You have to lean in. When he talks, people listen.”
Now, with Penn State one of the favorites to win a championship, Franklin, Knowles and the rest of the Nittany Lions will each have to put in their all to get the team over the hump.
Despite coaching for three decades, 11 years of which were for Penn State, this could be Franklin’s most impactful year yet.
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