If you followed the college football action during the offseason, then you likely remember the constant movement that was the NCAA transfer portal.
Dating back to late 2024, the SEC as a whole brought in countless transfers across all 16 teams via the portal, with many likely to make significant impacts during the upcoming 2025 season for every program.
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However, included in that group of transfers are likely a few in particular whose impact in 2025 might just be a bit more than others.
Here is a preseason prediction for who the most impactful offseason transfer portal addition will be for every SEC team during the 2025 season, starting with a look at Alabama.
Apr 12, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton (1) catches a pass for a touchdown behind Alabama defensive back Dijon Lee Jr. (5) during A-Day at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Alabama’s transfer portal class could feature a few additional starters this season such as cornerback Cameron Calhoun and offensive guard Kam Dewberry, but the name to watch for in particular is likely wide receiver Isaiah Horton. Coming to Alabama from Miami, Horton racked up 70 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns over three seasons with the Hurricanes, and is likely to feature as one of Alabama’s top options at receiver this fall.
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Arkansas’ most impactful transfer portal addition might just come along the offensive line in Corey Robinson II, a tackle who is expected to play a key role after joining the Razorbacks from Georgia Tech. With the Yellow Jackets, the redshirt senior was a three-year starter at left tackle, a position Robinson will likely start at in 2025 as well.
Auburn Tigers – Jackson Arnold, Quarterback
Auburn Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) throws the ball during football practice at Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, Ala., on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Auburn’s transfer portal class featured numerous names that could make an instant impact such as wide receiver Eric Singleton and offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin, but it’s hard to not choose quarterback Jackson Arnold here. A junior, Arnold completed 62.9% of passes for 1,984 yards and a 16:6 TD:INT ratio, along with 181 rushes for 560 yards and four touchdowns, the last two seasons at Oklahoma, and likely enters his first season at Auburn as the starter.
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Florida Gators – J. Michael Sturdivant, Wide Receiver
Apr 12, 2025; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (9) walks on the field during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Florida was not necessarily as active in the transfer portal as other SEC teams, and when looking for their biggest impact player, it is likely wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant. The redshirt senior joins the Gators after four seasons combined between California and UCLA in which he had 123 receptions for 1,667 yards and 13 touchdowns, and is likely to rank among Florida’s top wideouts in 2025.
Georgia Bulldogs – Zachariah Branch, Wide Receiver
Apr 12, 2025; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) calls for the ball during the Georgia Spring game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Georgia’s transfer portal class was headlined by wide receivers Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas, in addition to edge rusher Elo Modozie. Taking a look at the former however, Branch might just be the most impactful addition for Georgia, as he is likely to be one of the Bulldogs top receiving options coming off two seasons at USC where he had 78 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdowns.
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Kentucky Wildcats – Zach Calzada, Quarterback
Kentucky’s Zach Calzada threw a completion against the defense of Kentucky during their Spring practice finale at Kroger Field. April 12, 2025
Kentucky is likely to have numerous impact transfers in 2025, a group that includes former Alabama wide receiver Kendrick Law, but similar to Arnold previously at Auburn, it’s hard to go against the quarterback in Zach Calzada here. The experienced transfer from Incarnate Word could easily be Kentucky’s starter in 2025, and brings SEC experience from his time at Texas A&M where he completed 55.7% of passes for 2,318 yards and a 19:10 TD:INT ratio.
LSU Tigers – Patrick Payton, Edge Rusher
LSU’s transfer portal class was among the SEC’s best this past offseason, with edge rusher Patrick Payton among the names who could make significant impacts in 2025 alongside others such as wide receivers Nic Anderson and Barion Brown, among others. Likely one of LSU’s top edge rushers, Payton spent four seasons at Florida State in which he had a combined 110 tackles, 32 TFL, 16 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
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Mississippi State is yet another program likely counting on significant impacts from their portal class, with running back Fluff Bothwell among the most notable. Bothwell comes to Starkville after a season at South Alabama where the running back had 832 yards and 13 touchdowns on 111 attempts, and is likely to rank among Mississippi State’s top rushers in 2025.
Missouri Tigers – Beau Pribula, Quarterback
While edge rusher Damon Wilson II is likely to make a significant impact in 2025, it’s hard to pick against a potential starting quarterback, as mentioned previously, here in Beau Pribula. The graduate student comes to Missouri after spending time at Penn State where he completed 66.1% of passes for 424 yards with a 9:1 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns on 94 attempts.
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Oklahoma Sooners – John Mateer, Quarterback
Oklahoma’s John Mateer looks to throw a pass during the University of Oklahoma Sooners Crimson Combine at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, April, 12, 2025.
Among the SEC’s top overall transfer additions this past offseason, John Mateer is set to takeover as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback in 2025 after coming from Washington State where he completed 65.3% of passes for 3,406 yards and a 32:8 TD:INT ratio over the past three seasons. Also rushing for 976 yards and 18 touchdowns on 203 attempts, Mateer will play a significant role for Oklahoma in 2025 alongside other transfers such as running back Jadyn Ott.
Ole Miss Rebels – Patrick Kutas, Offensive Guard
Ole Miss’ top portal addition this season could come along the offensive line in guard Patrick Kutas, who started multiple games over the past three seasons at Arkansas, and could fill a key role up front for the Rebels. Others could also have key impacts for the Rebels in 2025 such as edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen and wide receiver Harrison Wallace III in particular.
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South Carolina Gamecocks – Rahsul Faison, Running Back
South Carolina is likely to receive some significant impacts from transfer running backs this season, with Rahsul Faison the biggest name in that group after rushing for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns on 316 attempts over the last two years at Utah State. Faison could be the Gamecocks’ No. 1 option at running back this fall, and is likely to feature often, as are others such as defensive transfers Jaylen Brown and Brandon Cisse.
Tennessee Volunteers – Sam Pendleton, Offensive Guard
Tennessee offensive lineman Sam Pendleton (56) during Tennessee football practice, at University of Tennessee, Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Coming to Tennessee from Notre Dame, offensive guard Sam Pendleton is likely to play a pivotal role for the Vols’ offensive front in 2025. Pendleton started games for the Fighting Irish last season, and could do the same in 2025, along with others such as quarterback Joey Aguilar and fellow offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr..
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Texas Longhorns – Maraad Watson, Defensive Tackle
You don’t have to look at Texas’ transfer portal class very long to see that the Longhorns emphasized the defensive line this past offseason, with tackle Maraad Watson among the names who could make the biggest impact. Watson had 31 tackles, two TFL, and one sack a year ago at Syracuse, and could play a key role along the defensive front in addition to others transfers such as Cole Brevard and Travis Shaw.
Texas A&M landed a talented transfer class that also featured the duo of wide receiver Mario Craver and cornerback Julian Humphrey, but the name to watch for this fall might just be a fellow wideout in KC Concepcion. Concepcion could potentially be Texas A&M’s top receiver this season after a strong two seasons at NC State where he had 124 receptions for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also rushing for two more scores.
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Vanderbilt Commodores – Keanu Koht, Edge Rusher
Concluding with Vanderbilt, the Commodores biggest impact transfer to watch for might be a former Alabama edge rusher in Keanu Koht, who had nine tackles, three TFL, and 0.5 sacks in Tuscaloosa over the past three seasons in a limited role. Koht is likely to have a breakout season at Vanderbilt in 2025, and is one of many transfer additions that could make an impact alongside offensive linemen Jordan White and Bryce Henderson, among others.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: SEC football impact transfer portal predictions entering 2025 season
