Transfer Tracker: The Rumor Mill
The Transfer Portal never stops, but it has slowed down a bit as we are in the month of March. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a bunch of rumors out there regarding kids who are looking for a new home, including former five-star Derion Kendrick, who has been a tough one to follow.
*****
MORE FARRELL: Three-Point Stance on top coaches, more | Mind of Mike on what's next for Les Miles and Kansas?
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
COVERAGE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series
*****
Derion Kendrick, the former five-star from South Pointe in South Carolina, entered the portal last week and was immediately inundated with interest despite being dismissed from Clemson. Early rumors had him headed to Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi State or somewhere else in the SEC, but Texas also emerged and others are rumored. I’ve talked to a couple of ACC teams who are very interested but don’t want their names revealed and one major program told me they have had a hard time getting in contact with Kendrick. UGA seems to be the natural fit, but I think the Gamecocks would be great for him with their history of players from his high school. This feels like one of those situations where he will just announce his new home on Twitter and someone will be getting an instant impact/immediate starter who can hopefully redeem himself at his new home. And it could be one of the many schools who have told me they don’t have room for him.
*****
I know I keep saying this, but one of the coaches heavily recruiting Vols transfer linebacker Henry To’oto’o finally told me it’s probably a done deal for Alabama. The talented linebacker from Northern California will finish classes at Tennessee and move on to Bama unless there is a stunning change of heart.
*****
Speaking of a change of heart, I’m hearing that former Notre Dame linebacker Ovie Oghoufo could be looking at other schools. Oghoufo committed to Texas in January, but some have suggested he could be having second thoughts. We could see this a lot with transfers as they are essentially just showing up after the semester to their new school and aren’t locked in. What other schools could he be looking at? I have no idea just yet - or if this is even true. That’s why we call it the old rumor mill, right?
*****
A few Longhorns websites went all in on former Alabama LB Ben Davis committing to Steve Sarkisian and Texas. However, Davis says this isn’t true and he hopes to have a top five or so by the end of the month and take his time with his decision. When asked what schools I could mention for him, Davis continued to say his early list of Arizona, Texas, USC, FAU, Marshall, Colorado, Kentucky, Florida State, FAMU, Virginia Tech, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern and Michigan State is what he has at this point, and he’s wide open.
*****
Former four-star recruit and Vols linebacker Quavaris Crouch, like many in the portal, has been very quiet about schools of interest, but I’m hearing that Michigan State is doing an amazing job with him and showing him how he fits its scheme. That’s where I expect him to end up, unless he has a change of heart and sticks with Tennessee.
*****
Former Texas DL Marqez Bimage, who has two years left, will likely end up at Cal, I’m hearing. He can provide immediate depth for the Bears and they were one of his earliest offers out of high school. I’m not sure when this will be announced.