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Colorado Loses Another Player to the Portal and More News
© Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

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.

RB Alton McCaskill

Colorado Buffaloes

6’1”, 200 lbs.

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. 

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.

QB Jaden Rashada

Arizona State Sun Devils

6’4”, 185 lbs.

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.

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.

WR Elijah Badger

Arizona State Sun Devils

6’2”, 190 lbs.

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.

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.

S Ryan Yaites

LSU Tigers

6’1”, 203 lbs.

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

DL Rene Konga

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

6’4”, 290 lbs.

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.

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

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