The transfer portal is officially open for underclassmen.
The spring window opened up on Wednesday as most FBS programs have now concluded their spring practice seasons. Teams all over the SEC have been evaluating their rosters for the last few weeks with an eye on adding either potential starters or depth options via the portal.
Most teams have multiple pressing needs on their roster, but this story will focus on just one area of improvement for each SEC football program.
SEC spring transfer portal needs
Here’s a spring transfer portal breakdown for every team in the SEC:
Alabama: Tight end
Alabama was hit hard by injuries at the tight end position this spring. Jay Lindsey was the only scholarship tight end who ended the spring healthy. True freshman Kaleb Edwards will provide some depth when he enrolls in the summer, but Alabama could use a little bit more insurance behind presumed starters Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis this fall.
Cuevas is Alabama’s top returning option at tight end following the departures of CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts this offseason. Last season, Cuevas caught 16 passes for 218 yards and 1 touchdown. With Jalen Milroe gone, Alabama’s passing rate will likely increase which could mean more opportunities for tight ends through the air.
Arkansas: Safety
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman discussed the Hogs’ spring portal plans with reporters at length on Tuesday. Barring any surprise departures, Pittman told local media that Arkansas will look to add about 5 players via the portal — all on the defensive side of the ball. The Razorbacks are thin and unproven at safety with Jayden Johnson now out of eligibility and TJ Metcalf now at Michigan.
Arkansas was aggressive in the winter portal period on the offensive side of the ball. Of the 22 transfers Arkansas has signed already, only 7 are on defense. Expect the Razorbacks to be active in the defensive transfer market in the coming weeks.
Auburn: Linebacker
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze did well to address the Tigers’ needs during the winter period. Auburn signed high-profile transfers such as quarterback Jackson Arnold, receiver Eric Singleton, defensive back Raion Strader and plenty more. In total, Auburn has already signed 15 transfers for the 2025 season.
However, Freeze recently conceded that linebacker is a position where Auburn could look to add some experience. This is a room full of youth, as Demarcus Riddick, Xavier Atkins, DJ Barber, JJ Faulk, Elijah Melendez and Bryce Deas are all in their first 2 years of college football. The lone upperclassman expected to contribute from this group is redshirt junior Robert Woodyard.
“I really like our young linebackers,” Freeze said. “Could we use one that has some experience? If one’s available, probably so.”
Florida: Wide receiver
Florida has been picky in the transfer portal so far this year, signing just 5 transfers in the winter period. One was a receiver — former UCLA wideout J. Michael Sturdivant. But the Gators don’t have much certainty elsewhere at WR, particularly with Eugene Wilson’s hip injury. UF’s top 2 receivers from last season have both moved on, opening up plenty of opportunity to catch passes from DJ Lagway.
Finding another elite receiver could go a long way toward making this an elite offense. Lagway has already proven he’s willing and able to make tough throws — he was one of two qualified SEC quarterbacks who averaged more than 10 yards per attempt last season. But if Florida’s wide receivers are unable to get open downfield, Lagway can only do so much to change the fortunes of the Florida program.
Georgia: Running back
The Bulldogs bring back Nate Frazier, who is certainly going to have every opportunity to earn the lion’s share of reps in this backfield. But with Trevor Etienne gone to the NFL, Georgia doesn’t have a clear No. 2 option to pair with Frazier. Given Frazier’s fumbling issues dating back to high school, that’s something UGA will likely address this spring.
Georgia has only signed 6 transfers so far this offseason so there should be more room for additional help this spring. Three of those 6 transfers play receiver and the Bulldogs haven’t added any other offensive players via the portal so far.
Kentucky: Safety
Kentucky has already done a ton of work in the transfer portal this offseason. Mark Stoops and his staff signed a whopping 19 transfers back in the winter period. However, none of UK’s transfer additions play safety, which is a position it will likely look to strengthen during the spring window.
Zion Childress and Kristian Story have departed while Alex Afari moved to linebacker. That leaves a significant number of snaps in Kentucky’s safety rotation available. Younger players may take some of those reps, but the Wildcats could use some depth.
LSU: Defensive tackle
LSU made a ton of progress during the winter portal period, but it did not address its need on the defensive interior with a surefire starting-level player. Ahmad Breaux, Dominick McKinley, Sydir Mitchell and Shone Washington appear to be the top options coming out of spring camp with Jacobian Guillory still recovering from an Achilles injury.
Of the 16 transfers LSU has taken so far this offseason, only one (Mitchell) is an interior defensive lineman. LSU might have more pressing depth needs at a position like safety, but getting a starting-level defensive tackle could be a needle-mover for LSU in a crucial season under Brian Kelly. Adding talent would also help plug one of LSU’s major weaknesses from a year ago when the Tigers finished 13th in the SEC in defensive rushing average (4.3 yards per carry).
Mississippi State: Offensive line
Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby has already confirmed plans to bring in at least 1 offensive lineman during the spring portal window. The Bulldogs hired new offensive line coach Phil Loadholt shortly after the winter portal closed earlier this offseason, so this will be his first opportunity to recruit veterans who fit his style of play.
Mississippi State is tasked with replacing 3 starters on the O-Line this offseason. The Bulldogs have already brought in a few transfers to potentially fill those roles, but that was before Loadholt joined the staff.
“I think offensive line will be priority one,” Lebby said this month, via the Clarion Ledger.
Mizzou: Wide receiver
Mizzou had one of the best wide receiver tandems in the SEC last year with Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr. Both are now off to the NFL, leaving new quarterback Beau Pribula without a top option in the passing game. Marquis Johnson, who went for 352 yards last season, is Mizzou’s leading returning wide receiver.
Missouri signed former Mississippi State receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. in the spring and he should definitely help. But the Tigers look like they need another option at receiver if they’re going to keep the momentum going offensively in 2025.
Oklahoma: Wide receiver
It would not be an understatement to say last year’s receiving corps was the worst Oklahoma has seen since the turn of the century. Much of that was injury-related and some had to do with a dysfunctional offensive system that saw Brent Venables make an OC change midway through the year. But the reality is OU has to be much better at receiver in 2025 if the Sooners want to make real progress.
Oklahoma already added a couple of receivers during the winter period, but one of them — Javonnie Gibson — has already suffered a significant injury. If any high-level receivers hit the portal this spring, I’d expect Oklahoma to be involved.
In any event, expect the Sooners to be aggressive this spring as they go through their first portal season with general manager Jim Nagy at the head of personnel efforts. OU has already made a big splash by adding former Cal running back Jaydn Ott and more waves could be on the way.
Ole Miss: Safety
Ole Miss is tasked with replacing several key defensive backs this offseason, particularly at safety. Trey Washington, John Saunders Jr., Louis Moore and Yam Banks have all departed. Per Pro Football Focus, those 4 players represent the only Ole Miss safeties to earn more than 60 snaps last season.
Ole Miss does have several potential true freshmen who could contribute this season, but I’d imagine Lane Kiffin and the Rebels will be looking for a bit more certainty in the short term if possible. Whether its a starter-level player or veteran depth, safety seems like a position Ole Miss will prioritize in the spring portal.
South Carolina: Wide receiver
South Carolina lost a ton off of last year’s team that made a surprise Playoff push, but there’s one position the Gamecocks must get more from if they’re going to build off of 2024’s success: wide receiver.
Despite having a promising quarterback in LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina didn’t have a single wide receiver with 400 yards last season. That has to change in 2025 of the Gamecocks want to reach their lofty expectations. Some of that could come from internal development (Nyck Harbor makes the leap, perhaps?) but South Carolina should be looking at external options to strengthen that room as well.
Tennessee: Quarterback
Well, this one was easy. Josh Heupel has already confirmed the Vols will look to add a third scholarship quarterback following Nico Iamaleava’s departure. The only question is whether or not the Vols will be able to land a surefire starter out of the portal — which is somewhat rare for the spring window — or if they will settle for someone who can compete with Jake Merklinger for the QB1 job.
If it’s the former, it would be pretty exciting for Tennessee fans. Saturday Down South’s Connor O’Gara wrote about some potential options in the portal for the Vols on Wednesday. The options range from CJ Carr — if he loses the Notre Dame QB battle — to Cam Rising and a few more potential options for replacing Iamaleava.
Texas: Tight end
Gunnar Helm is off to the NFL and Texas has already pursued a tight end this offseason. The Longhorns went after Max Klare, who ended up at Ohio State. Steve Sarkisian and his staff will presumably go back to the well in the spring window looking for a difference-maker.
Tight end has historically been a pretty productive position in Sarkisian’s offense. Between Helm and Ja’Tavion Sanders, a Texas tight end has recorded at least 600 receiving yards in each of the last 3 seasons. The Longhorns should be looking for another potential difference-maker in the portal this spring.
Texas A&M: Wide receiver
Texas A&M went into the portal and got former Texas Tech wideout Micah Hudson in the winter, but Hudson didn’t last long in College Station. He’s already departed the program, leaving the Aggies with a starter-level vacancy in their WR room.
Kevin Concepcion is a potential No. 1 option who they’ve already added via the portal this cycle, but Aggies could use another big-time target for their passing game.
Vanderbilt: Wide receiver
Vanderbilt is coming off of its best season yet under Clark Lea, but the Commodores will need to make some changes if they want to keep the momentum going in 2025. While adding depth on either side of the trenches is certainly an option, Vandy is another SEC team who should be in the market for a starting receiver this spring.
Junior Sherrill is back after leading all Vandy wide outs with 411 yards last season. But a couple of other contributors have departed the program and the Commodores have not made any significant WR additions this offseason. While Vandy is largely going to rely on the running game, picking up a bigger target for Diego Pavia on 3rd-and-long situations would be wise.
Spring transfer portal: 1 major need for every SEC team in 2025 Saturday Down South.
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