The spring portal is weeks away, so things are about to get hot and heavy. Before this happens, I wanted to look at five players who are already in the portal or plan to be this spring and where they could land. Where might they land, and would we care about them at those spots? Let’s dive in…
Savion Red, Nevada, RB
Red recently entered the portal and didn’t really create a ruckus. No surprise there. He’s a Nevada transfer who didn’t necessarily crush in 2024. He did play well with limited usage, though. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and ended with just under 700 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Red was active in the pass game with 16 receptions on top of that. Maybe most importantly, his 5’10″, 214 lb. frame allows us to consider him a true RB1 for a team rather than a gadget player wherever he lands.
Red is a former Texas Longhorn, so there’s some recruiting pedigree here. He was once committed to SMU back in 2020, and Kansas also offered him out of high school. You could easily argue that both teams have some need for running back help, but SMU’s need is much higher. Both options or a G5 transfer would make him an intriguing option in 2025 drafts.
TJ Harden, UCLA, RB
What happened to TJ Harden? Did we lose him at the Battle of Little Bighorn? The often drafted running back of 2023 and 2024 entered the portal, and we’ve yet to hear from him 4-5 months later. We’ve seen running backs with less talent commit elsewhere, so something smells funky here. My best guess is his desire to wait until the spring portal window to help him ensure optimal playing time.
Out of high school, the California native received offers from Michigan State, Oregon State, USC, and Ole Miss, among others. None of these feel like realistic options at this point. Predicting a landing spot feels foolish at this point. If he transfers to the G5 level, then I would be very intrigued. This is a guy who has a 40-reception season as well as an 800+ rushing yard season under his belt.
Christian Fitzpatrick, Marshall, WR
Fitzpatrick is a four-year guy who only has value if he transfers even lower within the G5. As a Michigan native, will he humble himself and transfer to a MAC school? Wouldn’t it be great if he went to Ohio, Toledo, or to be the WR2 at a directional school? His 2024 production isn’t eye popping, but he has excellent size at 6’4″, 217 lbs. and showed a little of that on the field with his 16.9 yards per reception last season.
Unfortunately for us, this one feels like a situation where he transfers above his talent level and falls into the abyss. Fitzpatrick has visited Virginia Tech as of the 11th, and he’s also been contacted by Louisville, Arkansas, Colorado, and Baylor. Really, only Arkansas is interesting, considering their need to replace Andrew Armstrong.
Gavin Hoffman, Iowa, TE
Hoffman was a favorite super late stash in C2C leagues thanks to Iowa and his athleticism (.827 Star Index), but now he’s in the portal and looking to do damage (I hope). His frame of 6’5″ and 237 lbs. is quite intriguing considering the athleticism score. Can he go somewhere that will use him in a way that makes him CFF relevant? Hoffman wasn’t the biggest recruit going into Iowa, so maybe he does entertain a transfer down to G5. MAC schools loved him from the start of his recruiting cycle, but I doubt he goes that route.
Could Hoffman land at Purdue, a school that offered him out of high school? Arkansas was another team to offer him, which could be an interesting landing spot. Nebraska is the other big Midwest school to show interest in the Kansas native. All three would be fine landing spots, with Purdue being my favorite considering Max Klare’s 2024 season.
Anthony Carrie, Georgia Tech, RB
Georgia Tech loves to use multiple backs, and because of that, we got to see a little bit of Carrie in 2024. He flashed against Georgia State, VMI, and Virginia Tech, rushing for a combined 16 times for 111 yards and one touchdown. Not bad for a freshman!
Of his top 12 schools he noted in late 2022, Arkansas is the only one that may carry immediate buzz. That room is thin and has no proven backs. Even then, Carrie wouldn’t be a guy you’re taking unless you hear reports this summer that he’s taken over the RB1 role. He is a Tampa native, so could USF or UCF be in play? USF has five backs on their roster, but no one to write home about. UCF’s roster is thick with options, but the system is something we’re all interested in. Both schools offered Carrie out of high school.
