With college football season over, there has been a fair share of movement involving SEC teams in the transfer portal, per usual.
Tennessee has made a couple splashy adds, such as Oregon transfer wide receiver Dont’e Thornton, Texas tackle Andrej Karic, BYU linebacker Keenan Pili, Miami offensive tackle John Campbell, and others.
The Vols have addressed plenty positions of need so far in the portal, such as tight end, kicker, wide receiver and the offensive line, but they have yet to address quarterback–something Heupel and co. may do with Tayven Jackson now entering the transfer portal.
Jackson entered the portal on Friday after spending one season on Rocky Top. The former four-star recruit was unlikely to win the starting job over Joe Milton III or five-star freshman Nico Iamaleava, so his actions make sense. However, Tennessee’s depth in the quarterback room does take a hit, and a transfer portal addition at quarterback would make sense for the Vols.
While the Vols have yet to make any moves in the quarterback market, some SEC teams already have. Additionally, other SEC teams have had significant QB news for their program outside than the transfer portal, such as players choosing to stay or enter the 2023 NFL Draft.
Let’s take a look at some of the most notable quarterback movement across the SEC so far.
SEC East
Kentucky
Adds: N.C. State senior transfer QB Devin Leary commits to Kentucky on December 20
Departures: Starting QB Will Levis opts for NFL Draft on December 7.
Thank you #BBN 💙 pic.twitter.com/VYkrC4j2yM
— Will Levis (@will_levis) December 7, 2022
South Carolina
Adds: None
Departures: None
Key Returns: Starting QB and upcoming fifth-year senior QB Spencer Rattler announces he will return to South Carolina for one more year.
— Spencer Rattler (@SpencerRattler) January 11, 2023
Florida
Adds: Florida adds Wisconsin transfer QB Graham Mertz. Mertz has two years of eligibility remaining after spending four seasons at Wisconsin.
Departures: 2022 Starting QB Anthony Richardson declares for 2023 NFL Draft on December 5.
Marathon continues… 🏁 pic.twitter.com/3UqmJIWE1d
— Anthony Richardson † (@GVOaant) December 5, 2022
Missouri
Adds: None.
Departures: Backup quarterback Tyler Macon enters transfer portal on December 5 after two years with the program.
I am now officially in the Transfer Portal! pic.twitter.com/KNNbMonNNL
— Maco (@tylermacon_) December 5, 2022
Macon committed to Alcorn State on December 21.
They wrote me off, but I ain’t write back. #Bravenation let’s go 💜💛
COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/hnqFV343y1— Maco (@tylermacon_) December 22, 2022
Georgia
Adds: None
Departures: None
Vanderbilt
Adds: None
Departures: 2022 starting QB Mike Wright enters transfer portal on December 5. Wright has two years of eligibility remaining.
I am blessed for my time at Vanderbilt. Thank you for the memories Commodore Nation🖤 #MW5
-Mike Wright pic.twitter.com/NtWHfHb6cC
— ⁵Mike Wright₅ (@mike5wright) December 5, 2022
More From RTI: Pro Football Focus Lists Hendon Hooker as a Top 5 Graded Quarterback
SEC West
Alabama
Adds: None
Departures: Starting quarterback Bryce Young declares for 2023 NFL Draft
As Bryce Young declares for 2023 NFL Draft he says, "Coming here was the best decision of my life and I'm forever grateful for the University of Alabama." @CBS_42 @_bryce_young @YoungCJB pic.twitter.com/j66lw4L7YO
— Ronald Gaines, Jr. (@RonGSports) January 2, 2023
Auburn
Adds: None
Departures: Backup quarterback Zach Calzada enters transfer portal on December 5 after one year with Auburn. Calzada had previously spent three years at Texas A&M.
Calzada later committed to Incarnate Word.
LSU
Adds: None
Departures: Backup and true freshman QB Walker Howard enters transfer portal on January 13.
Key Returns: 2022 starter Jayden Daniels announces he will return to LSU for the 2023 season.
— Jayden (@JayD__5) December 22, 2022
Mississippi State
Adds: None
Departures: Trio of reserve quarterbacks enter the portal in Daniel Greek (Dec. 4), Braedyn Locke (Jan. 3) and Sawyer Robertson (Jan. 4).
NOTE: Starting QB Will Rogers has yet to announce decision on future. Rogers has two years of eligibility remaining but could declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Ole Miss
Adds: None
Departures: QB Luke Altmyer (sat most of 2022) transferred from Ole Miss to Illinois. Altmeyer entered the portal on November 28.
Arkansas
Adds: UNC transfer QB Jacolby Criswell commits to Arkansas on December 10.
Departures: Backup QB Malik Hornsby enters transfer portal December 5. Hornsby later committed to Texas State.
Key Returns: 2022 starter K.J. Jefferson announced on December 2 he will return for another year with Arkansas.
Can't stop what God got for you🙏🏽 #KMT 💰 pic.twitter.com/Tn2OY1qx7K
— KJ_Jefferson2 (@kj_jefferson2) December 2, 2022
Texas A&M
Adds: None
Departures: Pair of backup quarterbacks–Haynes King and Eli Stowers–enter transfer portal on December 2 and December 5, respectively. King went to Georgia Tech, and Stowers went to New Mexico State. The Aggies have only two quarterbacks on the roster in Max Johnson and Conner Weigman.
*Key QBs still in the transfer portal*
OK State QB Spencer Sanders (Ole Miss heavily recruiting Sanders)
Boise State QB Hank Bochmeier
LSU QB Walker Howard
Washington QB Sam Huard
Oregon State QB Chance Nolan
Vanderbilt QB Mike Wright (Ole Miss heavily recruiting Wright)
Central Michigan QB Daniel Richardson
Colorado QB Brendon Lewis
Arizona QB Jordan McCloud
UAB QB Dylan Hopkins
