The Portal Sweepstakes: Ranking the Winners in the SEC

OT Cayden Green will anchor the offensive line after allowing zero sacks in 293 pass-blocking assignments with the Oklahoma Sooners.

LB Corey Flagg was fourth on the Miami Hurricanes team in tackles with 48 tackles and seven tackles for loss a season ago and comes to Columbia with 179 career tackles to his credit. Flagg will help ease the pain of losing Ty’Ron Hopper to the NFL.

#2 Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns finished 12-2 a season ago and made an appearance in the CFP playoff vs. Washington, losing by a touchdown to the Huskies. Coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns set a school record with 11 NFL draft picks in the current 7-round draft format. As such, Sarkisian raided the portal for talented replacements.

Edge Trey Moore was on fire for the Roadrunners in their first season in the AAC. Moore earned AAC Defender of the Year and 1st Team All-AAC honors after recording 45 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. He made at least one tackle in every game he played last season.

WR Isaiah Bond moves to the 40 Acres from Natty Town, U.S.A. (aka Tuscaloosa, Alabama) after Nick Saban announced he was retiring. Bond caught 48 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner on 4th down to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Bond will fill a position of need after Xavier Worthy was a 1st-round draft pick in last weekend’s NFL Draft.

S Andrew Mukuba comes over from the Clemson Tigers. Mukuba was 3rd on the team in tackles with 42. In addition, Mukuba broke up six passes. Mukuba will fill one of the many voids left in the secondary by all the defections in the transfer portal.

#1 Ole Miss Rebels

Head Coach Lane Kiffin was the King of the Portal, landing two of the top defensive linemen in the Portal and a talented linebacker. The Rebels were ranked #3 in the Portal Team Rankings, according to On3.

DL Walter Nolen recorded 37 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks a season ago. Nolen was part of the vaunted 2022 Texas A&M recruiting class that former head coach Jimbo Fisher failed to do anything with and ultimately cost him his job. Nolen is an immediate upgrade to the Rebels defensive line.

Edge Princely Umanmielen will create a formidable duo with Nolen. Umanmielen recorded 39 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks last season. For his college career, Umanmielen has 99 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks in four seasons with the Florida Gators.

LB Chris Paul, Jr. was second on the Arkansas team in tackles with 74. In addition, Paul recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. In a 7-3 loss to Mississippi State, Paul posted a season-high 12 tackles. Paul will be a much-needed force in the middle for the Rebels.

Stay tuned to College Football Dawgs for the next article: “The Portal Sweepstakes: Ranking the Losers in the SEC.”