Ten key Transfer Portal visits to monitor this weekend
National Signing Day is next week but the transfer portal remains incredibly busy and a lot of top college players are hitting the road this weekend for visits as well. Here are 10 we have our eye on the most:
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Devin Leary - Auburn
This is how quickly news can change in the transfer portal. Auburn was set to host former Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall this weekend but at the last minute that ended up not happening - and the Tigers might have upgraded with who they're bringing in on a visit. Leary had a phenomenal career at NC State where he threw for 6,807 yards with 62 touchdowns and 16 picks. If his new home is at Auburn, Leary would be teaming up with one of the best offensive minds in college football at a program that is in desperate need of better quarterback play.
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Rara Thomas - Auburn
Coming off a season at Mississippi State where he had 44 catches for 626 yards and seven touchdowns, Thomas is a hot commodity and the No. 37 prospect in the Rivals portal rankings. He recently had a meeting with Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin so that’s something to watch but Freeze should have a compelling pitch this weekend. The first is that Auburn’s leading receiver had only 26 catches this season.
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Haynes King - Georgia Tech
All the quarterbacks at Texas A&M struggled this season but King lost the starting job and entered the portal earlier this month. The former high three-star quarterback could be an interesting option for first-year coach Brent Key because he is talented and has playmaking ability for a team that averaged just over 17 points per game.
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Avantae Williams - Maryland
Rated as the top safety in the 2020 class, Williams has had a disappointing career at Miami but is now in the portal and looking for a fresh start. Maryland could be that spot as the former high four-star has a tremendous amount of talent, speed and instincts on the back end but could never really put it together for the Hurricanes.
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Donte Thornton - Miami
Rated as the ninth-best receiver and No. 62 overall in the 2021 class, Thornton has not found much success at Oregon but this visit is interesting because the former four-star originally committed to Mario Cristobal with the Ducks and he could now play for him in Miami. Thornton is also looking at Arizona State (which hired former Oregon OC Kenny Dillingham) but he would give the Hurricanes a huge boost as an outside receiver.
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Corey Collier - Nebraska
A five-star safety in the 2021 class from Miami (Fla.) Palmetto, Collier never really made an impact with the Gators and is now looking for a fresh start. Clemson, Florida State and many others were involved during his high school recruitment but with coach Matt Rhule taking over in Lincoln, Nebraska could be a really interesting spot for him if things go well on the weekend visit.
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Malik Hornsby - Nebraska
Hornsby sees himself as a full-time starting quarterback and while he got some opportunities like that at Arkansas, he also had to play some receiver and Nebraska is making a pitch that he’s good enough to impact the Huskers as their signal-caller. This weekend could be a really important visit for Hornsby as Rhule starts the rebuilding process in Lincoln.
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Chris Marshall - Ole Miss
The former Texas A&M receiver was a high four-star prospect in the 2022 class who was a part of the Aggies’ loaded group but he also had some off-field issues that sidetracked his career in College Station. Could Ole Miss be the landing spot for Marshall, as he could be a top target in coach Lane Kiffin’s offense? It would be an incredible addition for the Rebels to give them another weapon on the outside.
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Trey Knox - South Carolina
From his connections back at Arkansas, South Carolina makes a ton of sense for Knox, who could be reunited with Dowell Loggains, who just left Fayetteville for Columbia. With Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner headed to the portal for the Gamecocks, Knox provides an athletic, big target that could be used a lot in South Carolina’s offense.
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Mason Cobb - Texas A&M
Oklahoma State’s leading tackler is in the portal and he could be headed to Texas A&M which has a loaded defense that should be much more mature next season. Cobb had 96 tackles (13 for loss) with two sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, one interception and one forced fumble this season. The Aggies are loaded on defense with five-stars and high four-stars across the board but they were young this season. Cobb would add tremendous leadership and maturity at linebacker.