Tracking Transfer Portal News

[MDUte]

With the Portal open today, thought a thread for tracking the news would be good. WR Sidney Mbanasor is the first I’ve seen:

According to a source, Utah WR Sidney Mbanasor has entered the transfer portal.

— Steve Bartle (@SBartle247) April 16, 2024

[highlandute7]

Thread from yesterday also noted linebacker Shay O’Kelly entered.

[MDUte]

Miami running back Henry Parrish has officially hit the transfer portal, @On3sports has learned.

One of top backs in the portal, his old school Ole Miss will be the one to watch. He's rushed for 2,057 career yards with 15 touchdowns. https://t.co/VNvB2Ek6qR pic.twitter.com/UlWpATqBuz

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) April 16, 2024

[MDUte]

Receiving word that former 5 ⭐️ CB Cormani McClain is set to enter the transfer portal…

Teams I’d lookout for to land McClain :

USC, Utah, LSU, South Carolina, Louisville and USF.

— PolkWay (@polk_way) April 16, 2024

[UtesRule]

Utah was close on McLain coming out of high school. Hope we get him!

[Yergensen]

Whoa! Cormani McClain, that would be, as they say, a huge get.

@MDUte – do we have ties to the Miami RB that you posted is in the portal?

[MDUte]

No, I don’t think so. But from my understanding whenever really good options become available in the portal, Utah takes a flier on them to see if there’s mutual interest. And having such a good reputation for running the football I’d think good RBs (assuming they don’t require huge NIL to get) would consider Utah as they weigh their options.

[The Miami Ute]

Parrish is good but not much better, if at all, than guys like Bernard. He most certainly is not to the level of guys we’ve had here in the past like a truly healthy JJ, TT in his right mind or Zack Moss… don’t get me wrong, I would most definitely take him because you can’t ever have enough quality backs but, if he came to Utah, I would not expect him to catapult our running game to the elite level.

[MDUte]

I wonder how much NIL Martinez ends up getting. He turned down $400K to stay at Oregon St. Some people think he’s going to want close to $1M but I wonder if he ends up getting much closer to Oregon St’s offer. Or maybe more like $500K. Utah wasn’t willing to pay JJ $500K but Martinez would be an upgrade over JJ IMO.

[MDUte]

Miami is the team to watch for Oregon State transfer RB Damien Martinez, @PeteNakos_ reports🙌

Martinez rushed for 2,167 yards and 16 TDs in his first 2 seasons of college football.

Intel: https://t.co/XhZqY1k4c9 pic.twitter.com/kNdlt3NDDX

— On3 (@On3sports) April 16, 2024

[MDUte]

Source: Utah center Koli Faaiu plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. He started eight games at center for the Utes. @UFaaiu.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 16, 2024

[The Miami Ute]

Okay…is this a playing time or NIL transfer?

[MDUte]

Good question. I think that one hurts a bit.

[MDUte]

This is p**sing me off…I want this kid!! Would suck to see Arizona land him. Their donors seem to be throwing around the cash lately. I heard Gronk is leading the charge with their NIL.

BREAKING: Former Oregon State RB Damien Martinez has locked in 5️⃣ Visits, he tells @on3sports

Arizona: April 17-18
Mississippi State: April 19-20
Tennessee: April 21-22
Kentucky: April 23-24
Miami: April 25-27

He is the Top Available Player in the Portal (per On3) 👀… pic.twitter.com/RjgcfetYLl

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 16, 2024

[Tednab]

Martinez at AZ suddenly makes that game interesting

[The Miami Ute]

He was getting sufficient playing time at Utah so I have to imagine there’s some sort of recompense involved. I’d be interested to see how much in NIL a guy like Faaiu commands. I mean, he’s just a serviceable starter.

[D T]

63.4 PFF

[//r00t4Utes]

I remember him being on Talkin’ Utes and him taking about playing in Washington since he’s from Washington.

[MDUte]

Utah safety Briton Allen has entered the transfer portal https://t.co/XNcf077Xpl

— Steve Bartle (@SBartle247) April 16, 2024

[Anfernee]

Meh on this one.

[Anfernee]

I’m wondering if this one of the “we will be shocked at some of the names that leave” @utah was talking about in a previous post about transfers. 🤔

[MDUte]

Faaiu?

[Anfernee]

Yeah. Center to portal.

[Central Coast Ute]

So far, I’m not shocked by anyone. I wasn’t expecting Faaiu but when i heard shocked, i would have thought of a full time starter

[D T]

Faaiu had a 63.4 PFF grade.

Who’s going to reward him with additional NIL for such a performance?

I suspect he was informed his starting gig was going to be given to another or at least that it was up for grabs.

[MDUte]

What’s everyone’s thoughts about Cooper Legas as a potential QB2/3 depth piece?

Another solid QB in the portal today. Utah State's Cooper Legas, who started 15 games the last two years and has 32 career TD passes. He's a graduate transfer.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 17, 2024

[RedUte14]

We take the guy Bryson Barnes is forcing out. Thats kinda funny.

[MDUte]

Yea good point! I know I’m in the minority but I really liked Barnes. Not as a QB1 but as a backup.

[RedUte14]

Im not sure I like the idea of having a backup just to be a backup.
I like having a backup that is more of a future starter, just not ready yet.
Potential is important in depth.

[MDUte]

Me too. The problem is that usually that type of QB requires a level of NIL that I don’t know if we have or not. Having a Cam and Isaac Wilson is more than I would expect to have that meets that definition in our QB room. Realistically I think we have to be open to a good (not great) 1 or 2 year rental QBs looking for an opportunity to compete.

[2008 National Champ]

Does this mean he got beat out by Barnes?

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Martinez would be awesome. Doesn’t look like we have the $$$ to get him. Imagine making 500,000 plus as a college student. Nil cap is a must or this will get to out of hand. NIL is not sustainable.

[MDUte]

Looks like K Scott is pushing this kid to go to Utah.

Would love for my guy to be at @Utah_Football with the 🐐’s @UteReef33 & @RSNBUtes . Great size at CB (6’3), physical, and could jump/run. https://t.co/jvobctb246

— Kenneth Goobie Scott (@Kscott_2) April 18, 2024

[MDUte]

Thank you to the University of Utah, I have entered the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility left. pic.twitter.com/mMPxAsb2j3

— Chase Kennedy (@chasekennedy_5) April 19, 2024

[highlandute7]

I saw the DesNews reported that QB Crowton has also entered. I wonder if this means we have eyes on another QB to bring in?

[MDUte]

Looks like Utah is not going after Cormani McClain.

Cormani McClain tells @on3sports that he’s heard from these 1️⃣1️⃣ Schools since entering the Transfer Portal

Where Should He Go?👀https://t.co/xSqXS0NCGh pic.twitter.com/1Q7sywmMyP

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 20, 2024

[Rick Walker]

I read that he left Colorado because he had behavioral issues with Deion and if that is the case I don’t think he could hack it under Coach Whitt.

[MDUte]

Looks like Faaiu made himself some money.

Former Utah center Koli Faaiu is committing to Texas A&M, his agent Alex Beglinger of Disruptive Sports confirms to @247Sports. Faaiu will not be taking any other visits@ESPNRittenberg first to report#GigEm X @GigEm247 pic.twitter.com/yk1QRExq7g

— Collin Kennedy (@CKennedy247) April 20, 2024

[MDUte]

If accurate, Barnes isn’t projected to start at USU. It’s going to be Spencer Petras. So maybe McCae Hillstead would be a nice get for all those worried that he got beat out by Barnes.

Last week Blake Anderson named Spencer Petras the starting QB going into fall, which prompted the transfer of Cooper Legas. pic.twitter.com/urge2IR2ec

— Scott Garrard (@ScottyGZone) April 20, 2024