Rivals Switch Portal – 5 key place battles involving transfers within the SEC

Most groups are set to start their spring practices this month, and there will probably be a variety of hotly contested place battles involving switch gamers. Immediately Rivals.com takes a have a look at 5 competitions within the SEC involving transfers.

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FIVE KEY SPRING BATTLES: Big Ten

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Contenders: Jaxson Dart (returning starter) vs. Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State switch) vs. Walker Howard (LSU switch)

The battle: You’ll be hard-pressed to discover a quarterback battle extra attention-grabbing than the one Lane Kiffin has on his palms in Oxford, Miss. The Rebels could have a three-man competitors for the beginning position this spring as they create again returning starter Jaxton Dart whereas including Oklahoma State switch Spencer Sanders and LSU switch Walker Howard.

Dart, a former Southern California switch, is coming off a strong sophomore season through which he threw for two,974 yards and 20 touchdowns with 11 interceptions whereas including 614 yards and a rating on the bottom. Regardless of his manufacturing, he’ll have a tough time holding off Sanders, who piled up 9,553 yards by way of the air and 1,956 extra on the bottom to go together with 85 complete touchdowns over the previous 4 seasons. Howard, the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in final yr’s class, appeared in simply two video games for LSU final season however may very well be a darkish horse within the battle.

Prediction: Sanders. The Oklahoma State switch was some of the sought-after quarterbacks within the portal and joins Ole Miss with only one season of eligibility remaining. That claims loads about his confidence in successful the beginning job.

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Contenders: Jack Miller III (returning) vs. Graham Mertz (Wisconsin switch)

The battle: Offseason departures depleted Florida’s quarterback room this offseason as starter Anthony Richardson left for the NFL whereas backup Jalen Kitna was dismissed from the crew and four-star signee Jalen Rashada was granted his launch following a failed NIL enterprise. That left rising redshirt sophomore Jack Miller III to compete with Wisconsin switch Graham Mertz.

After transferring in from Ohio State final offseason, Miller’s lone look got here as he crammed in because the starter in the course of the Las Vegas Bowl towards Oregon State. He accomplished 13 of twenty-two passes for 180 yards with no landing or an interception.

Mertz joins Florida after beginning 32 video games at Wisconsin over the previous three seasons. The previous Rivals100 member has but to reside as much as his hype popping out of highschool, throwing for five,332 yards and 38 touchdowns with 26 interceptions whereas posting a 19-13 document as a starter.

Prediction: Mertz. Whereas the Wisconsin switch hasn’t been convincing over his three seasons as a starter, his expertise ought to win him the first-team position.

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Contenders: Jarquez Hunter (returning) vs. Brian Battie (South Florida switch)

The battle: Auburn loses starter Tank Bigsby however will nonetheless characteristic a loaded backfield this fall. Most anticipate rising junior Jarquez Hunter to tackle Bigsby’s position as the highest again. Nonetheless, he’ll need to earn the job from switch Mind Battie, who’s coming off a 1,000-yard season at South Florida.

Hunter broke out late final season beneath interim head coach Carnell Williams, reaching the century mark in every of his final three video games. That included a career-high 134 yards on 11 carries towards Alabama. The 5-foot-10, 202-pound again ought to profit from Williams’ return to the employees in addition to an improved offensive line this season.

Listed at 5-foot-8, 165 kilos, Battie gives a pleasant change of tempo out of the backfield. That being mentioned, the speedy ball service is ready to decrease his head and break tackles when wanted.

Earlier this month, Williams mentioned he was “ecstatic” to have Battie as a part of his backfield subsequent season. It’s simple to see why. Final season, Battie averaged 6.74 yards per carry, main South Florida with 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns on the bottom. He additionally proved he is ready to produce towards SEC competitors, working for 150 yards and a landing throughout a slender loss at Florida.

Prediction: Hunter. Battie will tackle a big position in Auburn’s offense, however Hunter has all of the momentum within the race for the beginning spot heading into the spring.

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Contenders: Sage Ryan (returning) vs. Duce Chestnut (Syracuse switch)

The battle: LSU’s secondary will look a lot completely different this fall due to some main additions by way of the switch portal. Whereas the Tigers’ beginning unit can shake out a number of methods, we’re going to imagine that Texas A&M switch Denver Harris and Southeastern Lousiana switch Zy Alexander lock down the 2 exterior roles. In that situation, the 2 likeliest candidates for the beginning nickel again position are Sage Ryan and Syracuse switch Duce Chestnut.

Ryan, a former five-star recruit within the 2021 class, has began three video games over 18 appearances throughout his two years with the Tigers. The rising redshirt sophomore noticed loads of reps whereas backing up Jay Ward within the slot final season and can be the favourite to take over the beginning position inside if not for his inconsistency in protection. In response to Professional Soccer Focus, Ryan earned a 58.8 protection grade final season, permitting 23 receptions on 34 balls thrown his method.

That would open the door for Chestnut, assuming he doesn’t earn one of many two beginning roles on the surface. The 6-foot, 198-pound defensive again began as an outdoor cornerback for Syracuse the previous two years however has the physicality to make open-field tackles and fend off greater receivers throughout the center.

Over 24 begins at Syracuse, Chestnut has compiled 83 tackles, together with 5 for a loss, to go together with 4 interceptions and 9 go breakups. He additionally earned a good 75.6 protection grade from PFF final season.

Prediction: Chestnut. Quite a bit can occur relying on how the remainder of LSU’s secondary comes collectively. But when I’m selecting between Chestnut or Ryan, the Syracuse switch’s consistency in protection provides him the sting.

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Contenders: Tyreek Chappell (returning starter), Tony Grimes (North Carolina), Sam McCall (Florida State switch)

The battle: Texas A&M’s secondary was ravaged by the portal because it noticed six defensive backs switch from this system this offseason. Thankfully for the Aggies, they had been capable of return a starter in Tyreek Chappell whereas including two of the highest 20 gamers within the Rivals Transfer Rankings in Florida State’s Sam McCall (No. 13) and North Carolina’s Tony Grimes (No. 17).

Chappell was one of many Aggies’ greatest cowl corners, permitting simply 20 receptions on 42 balls thrown his method, in line with Professional Soccer Focus. He led the Aggies with eight go breakups over 11 begins.

Grimes involves the Aggies after beginning 28 video games for North Carolina over the previous three years. The 6-foot, 195-pound defensive again labored exterior and within the slot throughout his time with the Tar Heels however is projected to play on the perimeter for the Aggies.

McCall signed with Florida State because the No. 68 general participant in final yr’s class however transferred to Texas A&M this offseason after failing to discover a dwelling at both security or cornerback within the Seminoles’ secondary. Listed at 6-foot-1, 187 kilos, he has nice athleticism for his dimension and may very well be a significant weapon if the Aggies can get him to play to his potential.

Tsoukalas’ prediction: Chappell and Grimes. McCall is likely to be probably the most proficient of the bunch, however Chappell and Grimes have the expertise Texas A&M wants because it appears to rebuild its secondary.