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Portal losers, Alabama helmet on display at SEC Media Days ? Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Ranking of the Top SEC Transfer Portal Losers

Originally posted on College Football Dawgs
By Tony Thomas | Last updated 5/3/24

The transfer portal continues to be the bane of college football coaches, and the fans, existence. There are no real “guard rails” in place, no structure, no consideration for the near future, or any future for that matter. For now, coaches and fans are forced to suffer through the lack of action and buffoonery of the NCAA. With that in mind, here is a look at three SEC schools that were the blue-ribbon losers when it comes to the transfer portal sweepstakes.

Portal Losers

#3 Vanderbilt Commodores

The Commodores are coming off a 2-10 season in 2023, their 11th consecutive losing season. So, it stands to reason that they could not afford to lose any of their talent from their roster. And that is exactly what happened as Vandy said goodbye to 25 players.

Nothing crazy schedule wise after two games but Vandy WR Will Sheppard looks good totaling 12/130/4TD

A boundary based receiver with size at 6’3 198

Already on the Senior Bowl watch list Sheppard is a draftable prospect and potential ‘24 WR class riser
pic.twitter.com/uZ7xYvcuY5
— Joe O’Leary (@TheHQNerd) September 3, 2023

Among those outbound transfers were their top two quarterbacks: AJ Swann (to LSU) and Ken Seals (to TCU). In addition, the Commodores lost their top three wide receivers: Will Sheppard (to Colorado), Landon Humphreys (to Georgia), and Jayden McGowan (to Boston College). Also, Vandy lost their 4th leading tackler LB Ethan Barr (to UCF). Avoiding a 12th losing season in as many years just got exponentially more difficult for Vandy.

#2 Georgia Bulldogs

The back-to-back national champions of 2021-2022 were left out of the College Football Playoff a season ago and then took out their frustration on a heavily depleted Florida State team in an embarrassing beatdown of the Seminoles.

Portal; Georgia LB Marvin Jones Jr. chases down Alabama RB Roydell Williams in the 2023 SEC Championship Game. ? John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The mass exodus from Athens, GA consisted of 25 talented football players and included LB Marvin Jones, Jr. (to Florida State), LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson (to Kentucky), and QB Brock Vandagriff (also to Kentucky). It just goes to show that even talented, championship contenders can suffer personnel losses that could affect the upcoming season.

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide

Nick Saban announced his retirement after the loss to Michigan in the CFP semifinals and tossed a hand grenade into the college football world. The resulting chaos set off a chain reaction of coaching changes and player transfers, including a whopping 34 away from Alabama.

Congratulations to Caleb Downs, DB, University of Alabama! You are the 2023 Shaun Alexander Freshman Football Player of the Year. @caleb_downs2 joins an awesome family of award-winning athletes.

2018: @Trevorlawrencee
2019: @KENNETHGAINWEL
2020: @will_anderson28… pic.twitter.com/mOo9WoHKL2
— Shaun Alexander (@shaunalexander) December 27, 2023

Kalen DeBoer took over as the head man in Tuscaloosa, but the Tide suffered some significant losses from the depth chart, including DB Caleb Downs, who led the team in tackles with 107 on his way to being named the SEC Freshman of the Year, transferred to Ohio State. In addition, Alabama lost WR Isaiah Bond , the hero of the Iron Bowl, to Texas. And RB Roydell Williams , the 2nd leading rusher on the Crimson Tide team, moved on to Florida State.

Make no mistake, all eyes will be on year one of the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa this fall.

This article first appeared on College Football Dawgs and was syndicated with permission.

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