Justin Rogers and Jack Sears were household names in the college football recruiting game prior to 2020. Everyone viewed high-level power-five programs as promising quarterback prospects.
Years later, having each already made two college stops, both are still searching for what might be their final college stop while navigating the NCAA transfer portal—where more than half of the entries remain tied as hundreds of other transfers make college signings in time for the upcoming season.
CJ Rogers is on the other end. A freshman who left Baylor after just one season as a reserve quarterback, he played in the BU spring game and still has considerable playing eligibility. It should help make him a commodity for others moving forward, something already tangible on his side. A week after his entry into the portal, a first offer (Texas State) for Rogers was received.
While available QB talent is relatively thin among those available, other positions have more promising prospects that are still keen to make the next move. sports illustrated takes a look at 10 of the top college football players still on the transfer portal as of the morning of June 15th.
OT Jazston Turnetine
The process for the South Carolina transfer, who is looking for a fresh start for his final college football season, is nearing the end of the process. On Sunday, he announced Michigan State and Florida State finalists face a selection expected in the coming days. The massive, 6ft 7 tackle talent is expected to be a plug-and-play option regardless of where he lands, although MSU and FSU offer different playstyles and upfront responsibilities.
RB Ramon Jefferson
The Sam Houston State and FCS All-American transfer appeared to be off the board with a commitment to Colorado in January, but he backed out of the decision in the spring. Since then, other programs have jumped on the New York City native and former junior college back, who rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. Jefferson tells 247Sport he recently visited Kentucky while Tennessee and others have shown renewed interest. It would be a surprise if he didn’t make a splash this fall by completing the end of the recruiting process.
LB Lorenzo McCaskill
The Louisiana transfer is a decorated transfer portal who was awarded the All-Sun belt by various outlets in 2021 after scoring 84 tackles in the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 13-win season. After coming across the portal in January, he announced offers from USC, Tennessee, Missouri and many others. Kansas is the latest to court the veteran linebacker, he reported Monday. The compact linebacker’s play hasn’t garnered much attention, but McCaskill could offer reliability in the middle of a power-five defense this fall.
WR Demon Demas
It was never a question of talent for the former Texas A&M wide receiver, who immediately saw the field for the Aggies as a freshman. He’s tall, athletic and has that natural ability to play when the football is in the air. However, he hasn’t seen the field with Jimbo Fisher’s program as much since spring football began after he was arrested on a family violence charge in February. About a month later, Demas announced his intention to find a new collegiate home, where of course the programs are awaiting due process before possibly proceeding with High School All-American recruitment.
Scroll to Next
DL Darel Middleton
While the West Virginia transfer announced verbal commitments to Deion Sanders and Jackson State on June 4, it continues to visit as part of his reinstatement, most recently at Tennessee State. Florida, Mississippi State and Texas Tech were also involved in the prospect of the interior line of defense, which has only one year remaining on future use. Middleton spent his early college years in Tennessee before playing in West Virginia in 2021, where he only registered stats against Long Island University in September.
IOL Clay Webb
The Alabama native, one of the most decorated homeland offensive recruits of the last half decade, hasn’t been able to move up the depth chart of an overloaded Georgia roster since. However, with experience at center and guard and many programs to deepen at both positions, Webb has a chance to be a quality addition ahead of the 2022 season. Initially, SI heard rumors about Clemson, who was heavily involved in his high school recruiting, as a contender. Other information suggests that a return to his hometown of Oxford, Alabama, near the state of Jacksonville, would also make a lot of sense.
QB Jack Sears
If there’s another surprise among the best, it has to be Sears in the most important position of the game. The California native, a former USC high school signee, was last in a crowded QB room in Boise State. Sears was a top-10 quarterback recruit in the class of 2017 and he’s made a few starts over the past two seasons. An efficient pro-style passer with experience in multiple systems, he could be a fall camp challenger in a collegiate program looking for depth in position.
DB Ahman Ross
A team captain with significant experience isn’t usually available beyond spring football, but that’s the case with the former Florida Atlantic standout. Ross stumbled onto the portal after the South Florida Spring Ball and brings a wide range of safety and/or nickel experience prior to his final playing eligibility. Ross saw action as a true freshman and has since been an Impact player for the Owls, appearing in 45 collegiate games to date.
QB Justin Rogers
As excellent a prep passer as there are among those still available, the next stop will be the third of his college career for the Louisiana native. Rogers signed with TCU after high school and spent 2021 at UNLV, where he played on spot duty for the Rebels — including a two-touchdown 300-yard game against top-20 program San Diego State in November. Rogers displayed great arm, touch and toughness against an aggressive Aztec defense that night.
DL Derick Hunter
The Texas A&M Line Transfer has announced offers to play in the SEC, the Big Ten and beyond, and recently made a trip to Jackson State. A defensive line projector out of high school, Hunter began his aggie career on that side of the ball before moving to the offensive line in 2021 where he saw limited SEC action. The portal movement likely suggests Hunter wants to work on defense, which is where he’s currently most comfortable.
Other notable prospects available: WR Deangelo Gibbs, LB Tyler Johnson, LB Isi Etute, S Javien Burke, LB Jabar Triplett, CB Khalen Leonard
More from SIAA Football:
–
