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College Football Program Has 35 Players Enter Transfer Portal Amid Coaching Change

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan Adams | Last updated Dec 15, 2024 11:18 AM ET

Several college football programs have been hit hard by the transfer portal. Group of Five teams have been particularly vulnerable with six teams reaching 25 or more scholarship players entering the portal as of Friday, per ESPN's Max Olson.

In the Power Four, the Arizona Wildcats lead the way with 26 players entering the transfer portal. The SEC has also been hit hard with the Arkansas Razorbacks (24), Mississippi State Bulldogs (24) and Kentucky Wildcats (21) among the power programs most impacted by the portal.

It is worth noting that a player can enter the portal and opt to remain with the same team. Through the first four days of the portal opening, the New Mexico Lobos led the country with the most scholarship players entering at 35, per Olson.

New Mexico is undergoing a major transition as former head coach Bronco Mendenhall took the same job with the Utah State Aggies after just one season with the Lobos.

New Mexico WR Luke Wysong will enter the Transfer Portal

Career Stats
• 134 rec 1,465 yards 3 TDs
• 199 Rushing yards 1 TD
• 479 Kick Return yards
• 224 Punt Return yards 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/c8LJlpSQFD
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) December 5, 2024

The good news is New Mexico now has a new head coach in Jason Eck who can attempt to keep some of these players who entered the portal. Eck joins New Mexico after leading the Idaho Vandals to a 10-4 season in 2024.

ECK YES!!!!

A proven program builder with 26 years of experience, let's welcome new head coach Jason Eck to the Lobo Family!!!#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/KphjUNaMyC
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) December 14, 2024

"The theme here is easy to identify: In this era, if your head coach built with transfers and then is fired or leaves, the transfers are leaving, too," Olson wrote on Friday in regards to the Group of Five teams most impacted by the portal.

"The rosters at New Mexico, Charlotte, Marshall, Tulsa and Sam Houston are being gutted as those programs transition to new regimes. Some of these players will have an opportunity to follow their coaches to the next destination."

Utes Let’s do it!! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xfXqRLY94a
— Devon Dampier (@Devonddampier) December 11, 2024

One of the bigger names in the portal for the Lobos was ex-New Mexico starting quarterback Devon Dampier. The former New Mexico signal-caller has committed to join the Utah Utes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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