By Tony Thomas
Players by the hundreds have entered the spring transfer portal since Tuesday, looking for a new team with better opportunities for playing time (and more NIL $$$), 15 alone from the Colorado Buffaloes. Coach Prime Deion Sanders and staff seem to be having issues with roster retention, whether planned or otherwise. In addition, four other players have their suitcases packed and dollar signs in their eyes as they embark on the semi-annual journey to football Mecca.
In 2023, Alton McCaskill rushed for 59 yards in only four games. McCaskill missed the entire 2022 season after suffering a knee injury in fall camp. The 2021 season was his most productive.
Alton McCaskill is in the portal #CUBuffs https://t.co/9qBN9wcZ52
— Troy Finnegan (@troyfinnegan) April 18, 2024
Often compared to Eric Dickerson and Adrian Peterson, McCaskill rushed for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns as a true freshman. That season, McCaskill recorded three games of over 100 yards rushing and five games of multiple rushing TDs on his way to AAC Rookie of the Year and 2nd Team All-AAC honors.
A now 2-time transfer, McCaskill is leaving Boulder reportedly due to friction between the McCaskill family and the Colorado coaches, citing favoritism within the Colorado football program. The Buffaloes remain a “ahem” relevant talking point, albeit for the wrong reasons.
A school that makes sense as a landing spot for McCaskill is his old team with a new head coach, the Houston Cougars and Wille Fritz. Fritz likes to run a balanced offense and McCaskill is from the Houston area.
In 2023, Jaden Rashada passed for 485 yards, four touchdowns, and three INTs, and missed nine games as the Sun Devils limped to a 3-9 record. In week one against Southern Utah, Rashada passed for a season-high 236 yards and two touchdowns.
Just watched a little of Jaden Rashada and he actually reminds me a lot of another QB but I want to see what y’all have to say first. Who’s your comp for Rashada?
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) April 19, 2024
pic.twitter.com/055Cd6Ym1D
Rashada originally committed to Florida as part of the 2023 class. But Rashada soon de-committed from the Gators after a, dare I say, eight figure NIL deal failed to materialize.
It has been reported that the Georgia Bulldogs could be a destination, where he would be holding a clipboard and stuck behind incumbent starter at quarterback, Carson Beck.
As the leading receiver for the Sun Devils in 2023, Elijah Badger caught 65 passes for 713 yards and three TDs. Badger posted two games of 100 yards receiving, including a season-high 12 catches for 134 yards in a 27-24 loss to Colorado.
Arizona State WR Elijah Badger will transfer
— CFBTalkDaily (@CFBTalkDaily) April 19, 2024
1,579 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns during his time as a Sun Devil
He is from Sacramento, California .
pic.twitter.com/wVYWjVMUAL
In addition, Badger recorded 528 yards of kickoff return yardage and led the Pac-12 Conference with a 28.9-yard average, and posted three games of over 100 yards on kickoff returns. Badger also recorded a rushing touchdown against Washington State.
Potential destinations for Badger include Alabama, Texas A&M, Arizona, Oregon, and Michigan.
Ryan Yaites played in all 13 games in 2023 for the Tigers, recording 16 tackles and one pass breakup. Yaites was a 4-star prospect and a Top 25 player at his position out of Guyer High School in Denton, TX
LSU safety Ryan Yaites entered the portal. He played in 13 games as a freshman last season. He was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class. pic.twitter.com/MtZuNAcYkx
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) April 19, 2024
Last season, Rene Konga recorded eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble in 10 games. Schools that are interested in Konga’s services include Penn State, Kansas, Miami, Michigan State, UConn, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Cincinnati, UCF, Louisville, Western Kentucky.
Source: Texas A&M is among suitors to have already reached out to Rutgers transfer defensive lineman Rene Konga.
— Jaxson Callaway (AT) (@AggiesToday) April 17, 2024
Konga, 6-4 295 lineman from Ontario (CA), entered the portal after spending 3 years with the Scarlet Knights. Totaled 8 tackles to go with a sack and forced fumble. pic.twitter.com/FJdJ4p535h
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