Logan Diggs is Ready for a “Hotty Toddy,” Alabama is Sweet Home No More for Kristian Story, and the Latest Portal News

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports | By Tony Thomas | Last updated 1/11/24

By Tony Thomas

Logan Diggs has punched his ticket on the Lane Train, Florida State lands an all-conference defensive lineman from the transfer portal, Sparty welcomes a highly productive linebacker to East Lansing, and a former Northwestern DB will be praying to Touchdown Jesus in the Fall.

RB Logan Diggs

Ole Miss Rebels (from LSU)

6’1”, 215 lbs.

The 2^nd leading rusher on the LSU team behind only Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, Logan Diggs rushed for 653 yards and seven touchdowns. Diggs recorded three games over 100 yards rushing. Against Missouri, Diggs rushed for 134 yards and a TD in a 49-39 comeback win. For his college career, Diggs has rushed for 1,705 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Diggs enters an Ole Miss running back room that is void of Quinshon Judkins, who has transferred to Ohio State. Ole Miss is arguably the best team in this portal cycle, consistently grabbing quality players from the portal on both sides of the ball.

LB Wayne Matthews III

Michigan State Spartans (from Old Dominion)

6’2”, 225 lbs.

A 3^rd Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2023, Wayne Matthews III racked up 135 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Those 135 tackles were good enough to rank 11^th in the country. Matthews recorded eight games of double-digit tackles, including a season-high 16 against Georgia State in a 25-24 win.

DB Kristian Story

Kentucky Wildcats (from Alabama)

6’1”, 211 lbs.

Kristian Story has traded in Sweet Home Alabama for My Old Kentucky Home. In 2023, Story recorded 15 tackles, one tackle for loss, one INT, and two pass break ups. Against his new team Kentucky, Story made four tackles and one tackle for loss.

Story is just one of what may be many Crimson Tide players that might now be looking to play elsewhere after the news that Nick Saban is retiring from college football after 17 seasons as head coach at Alabama.

DL Sione Lolohea

Florida State Seminoles (from Oregon State)

6’3”, 266 lbs.

A 2^nd Team All-PAC-12 selection, Sione Lolohea led the Beavers in tackles for loss with 8.5, to go with 47 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Against UCLA, Lolohea racked up 10 tackles in a 36-24 win. Lolohea comes to Tallahassee and will reunite with former Oregon State teammate QB DJ Uiagalelei.

DB Rod Heard II

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (from Northwestern)

5’11”, 190 lbs.

In 2023, Rod Heard II was third on the team with tackles with 85. In addition, he made four tackles for loss, one sack, picked off a pass, broke up four passes, and forced two fumbles. Heard II recorded six games of seven tackles or more, including 13 tackles vs Purdue and 12 vs Utah.

He is an experienced defensive back, having played in 37 games at Northwestern, and will provide leadership to a young and inexperienced Fighting Irish secondary.

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

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