The first transfer window has closed, but there are still plenty of available players in the portal who could provide an impact for their next school. Today, Rivals.com looks at the top linebackers on the board.
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Juwan Mitchell, Tennessee
Mitchell entered the transfer portal last month after serving as a part-time starter at Tennessee last season. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker logged seven starts over 10 games, recording 43 tackles to go with three quarterback hurries and two pass deflections. He also intercepted projected top 10 pick Will Levis during the Volunteers’ 44-6 win over Kentucky.
Mitchell transferred to Tennessee from Texas in 2021, but played in just three games that year after suffering a season-ending injury. He started a combined 13 games over 21 appearances during his two seasons with the Longhorns, tallying a combined 101 tackles, including eight stops for loss and three sacks. Mitchell began his college career at Butler (Kan.) Community College, where he earned all-conference honors. He will have one year of eligibility remaining at his next school.
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Daniel Martin, Vanderbilt
Martin entered the transfer portal in September, two days after being dismissed from Vanderbilt’s team. He was one of two four-star signees in the Commodores’ 2022 class, but he did not see the field during his time in Nashville.
Martin, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, was listed as a safety by Rivals but moved to linebacker at the college level. The Marrietta, Ga., native participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and signed with Vanderbilt over offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee, among others.
While he’ll need to add more bulk, Martin has the speed and versatility to develop into a nice defensive weapon. He will have four years of eligibility remaining at his next school.
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Joe Heffernan, Dartmouth
Heffernan broke out at the Ivy League level last season, leading Dartmouth with 98 tackles over 10 games. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound defender finished second on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and also recorded 1.5 sacks, a pass deflection, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.
Heffernan has played four seasons for Dartmouth but has an extra year of eligibility remaining due to the NCAA’s COVID waiver. The Brookfield, Wisc., native chose Dartmouth over offers from Air Force, Western Michigan, North Dakota, Northern Illinois, Yale, Columbia and Cornell among others.
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Kobe Wilson, Temple
Wilson started five games over his three seasons at Temple, including four last season. He finished fourth on the team with 64 tackles last year, including 5.5 stops for a loss and 1.5 sacks. He also recorded two pass deflections, a forced fumble and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Along with his defensive duties, Wilson was an active member on special teams, serving on all five of Temple’s units. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at his new school.
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CJ Rias, South Alabama
Rias served as South Alabama’s starter at the “Wolf” position last season. Over 12 games, the 6-foot-2, 236-pound outside linebacker tied for the team lead with 11 tackles for loss while finishing with four sacks. He had 36 overall stops and recorded three quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
The Carrollton, Miss., native signed with South Alabama out of East Central (Miss.) Community College in 2021 and will have one year of eligibility remaining at his new school.
