Predicting Every SEC Team’s Most Impactful Transfer
Who you need to know heading into the 2025 college football season.
Folks, we are almost there. Yes…the heat may be insane. Sure, talking season continues to spiral out of control as we get closer and closer to kickoff. But if you are paying close attention, you know that football season is almost here. With under a month until the season is finally upon us, check out who I believe will be every SEC team’s most impactful transfer.
Alabama
Kam Dewberry — Guard
When you think about Alabama in the heyday of the Saban years, many things come to mind. One of the key parts of those teams' identity (that is often overlooked) is dominant offensive lines. If the Crimson Tide want to get back to competing for National Championships under new Head Coach Kalen DeBoer, the o-line must improve. While Bama had talented offensive linemen last season, the Crimson Tide were unable to (or chose not to) run the football with the same dominance we are used to seeing. To address this, Alabama went out and added transfer Kam Dewberry. Starting for Texas A&M for 30+ games before transferring this offseason, Dewberry will provide stability and excellent run-blocking for the Tide. With new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb expected to place more of an emphasis on the running game in the 2025 season, expect Alabama to rely heavily on an offensive line unit that has the potential to be one of the best in the country.
Arkansas
Rohan Jones — Tight End
Poor Arkansas. Over 25 players entered the portal and left the program this past offseason as coach Sam Pittman sits firmly on the hot seat heading into the 2025 season. Included in this wave of exits was TE Luke Hasz, who PFF ranks as one of the top 10 returning tight ends in college football. To make up for this loss in production, the Razorbacks brought in one of the most intriguing tight ends in the transfer portal in Rohan Jones. A transfer from Montana State, Jones’ combination of size (6ft 3in) and speed (4.6 40-yard dash) makes him one of the higher upside players in the SEC. While he is still raw as a player, watch for Arkansas to feed Jones early and often this year.
Auburn
Jackson Arnold — Quarterback
This was actually much closer than you may think. I fully expect Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr. to have a great year for the Tigers. That only happens if the man shown above has the kind of year Hugh Freeze believes he is capable of. After a poor start to his career in Oklahoma, Arnold comes to the Plains with a ton to prove. Billed as a five-star prospect coming out of high school, Arnold was featured on an offense that had issues from the top down last season. If Auburn is going to take the next step and contend in a loaded SEC this year, Arnold will have to improve on his 91st-ranked QBR from last season.
Florida
J.Michael Sturdivant — Wide Receiver
I’ll be honest, I am not as high on Florida as seemingly everyone else is in the college football world. While the talent of DJ Lagway is undeniable, he has yet to prove that he can remain healthy enough to develop on the field (reports are that he has yet another injury entering fall camp). Yet if Lagway is going to continue to develop during the 2025 season, J. Michael Sturdivant has got to be a major part of the Gators’ offense. A transfer from UCLA, Sturdivant projects to be Lagways’ top target on an offense that could be one of the SEC’s best. Following Elijah Badger’s departure to the NFL, Florida will turn to Sturdivant to fill the void left in his absence.
Georgia
Elo Modozie — EDGE
Ladies and gentlemen…Georgia may have an elite defense this season. While Georgia under Kirby Smart has always had good to great defenses, the Dawgs have not had a truly elite-level pass rusher in recent years. Elo Modozie may just be the next in a long line of special Georgia EDGEs. Modozie brings top-notch pass-rush juice, with freaky bend and burst when rushing the passer. While not the biggest player for Army last season, look for Georgia to utilize him as a 3rd-down specialist as he wreaks havoc on SEC quarterbacks this year.
Kentucky
Zach Calzada — Quarterback
As a reminder, this article is focusing on the most impactful transfer for each team. Calzada’s selection does not mean I think that he will be a good quarterback in the SEC. In fact, I think Kentucky will be quite bad this year. But if Calzada beats out Cutter Boley and wins the starting job for the Wildcats this year, he will have the chance to influence this team more than anyone else. While previous stops at Texas A&M and Auburn did not work out, the Wildcats are hoping Calzada can help turn around one of the worst offenses in the SEC from last season.
LSU
Tamarcus Cooley — Safety
LSU Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker needs to see his unit improve this season. One of the biggest issues that plagued the Tigers last season was poor safety play, as LSU defenders consistently gave up completions and fit the run incorrectly. To address this, Brian Kelly’s squad went out and got Tamarcus Cooley from the transfer portal. Expected to be an immediate starter, Cooley earned an 80.8 overall PFF grade last season for NC State, making him a top 25 returning safety in college football.
Mississippi State
Fluff Bothwell — Running Back
Mississippi State is a tough job in the age of the transfer portal and NIL. Head Coach Jeff Lebby is attempting to turn State into a winner with a flurry of transfers after losing 37 players to the portal…yes, you read that right, 37. If the Bulldogs are going to have any success (and pick up their first SEC win under Jeff Lebby) this season, their ground game will have to be much more productive than it was last season (80th in the country). Fluff Bothwell (I can’t say his name without feeling like I have a lisp) was a dynamic rusher for South Alabama last season, ranking as one of the most effective running backs in the country according to PFF. Mississippi State will need him to contribute in a big way if they wish to improve on their 2–10 record from last year.
Missouri
Ahmad Hardy — Running Back
Can I be honest with you for a second? I hate Missouri. I can’t stand Eli Drinkwitz’s stupid face. As a South Carolina fan, I can’t remember a game against these guys that didn’t almost give me a heart attack. While I love hating on fake Columbia, for the sake of the article, I will move on. Ahmad Hardy may not be a household name for SEC fans, but after this season, you will know his name. Hardy transfers into Missouri as one of the most dynamic rushers in the nation, combining great vision and size. Worst of all is that he is only a sophomore, so I will undoubtedly have to worry about him for years to come. While others may say that Beau Pribula will be the most impactful newcomer for the Tigers this year, I believe Drinkwitz will deploy a heavy rushing attack to help break in his new quarterback. With Missouri’s stretch run-heavy offense, Hardy should fit right in and be one of the best running backs in the SEC this season.
Ole Miss
Kewan Lacy — Running Back
With Jackson Dart gone to the NFL, the Rebels are breaking in new quarterback Austin Simmons. A new quarterback’s best friend is a dependable running game, and Ole Miss will need to have their backfield step up this season. Head Coach Lane Kiffin addressed this area of concern by bringing in running back Kewan Lacy from Missouri via the transfer portal this offseason. Lacy made the most of his limited carries last season, averaging 4.5 yards per carry in a crowded backfield. Look for Kiffin to use Lacy’s speed out of the backfield this season and create mismatches with him in the passing game.
Oklahoma
John Mateer — Quarterback
Unless you have been living under a rock this past offseason, you already knew who the selection would be for Oklahoma. John Mateer has been the talk of college football since transferring (with his OC) from Washington State. While many are high on Oklahoma as a result of Mateer’s arrival in Norman, seemingly everyone has forgotten the schedule that the Sooners have to play this fall. With a six-game stretch of Texas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and LSU, there is a chance Oklahoma could be much better than they were last year, and nobody will know it. Regardless of the tough schedule, Mateer will be the straw that stirs the Sooners’ drink this season.
South Carolina
Boaz Stanley — Center
This one was a true toss-up. I could have very easily gone with Brandon Cisse, who will be a starter for the Gamecocks in the secondary. I went with Stanley, a transfer from Troy, for a few reasons. South Carolina is going to need to lean on its offense much more than it did last season after losing A TON of production to the NFL Draft. Head Coach Shane Beamer’s squad will need to rely on its offensive line to pave the way for a solid running game and protect LaNorris Sellars much better than last season (41 Sacks allowed). Stanley will serve as the quarterback of the o-line, and his play will set the tone for the Gamecocks’ offensive success in 2025.
Tennessee
Joey Aguilar — Quarterback
It’s shocking how many SEC teams have new quarterbacks via the transfer portal who will be starting this fall. Aguilar arrives in Knoxville after the Vols’ previous QB Nico Iamaleava left the program to head to UCLA. Make no mistake, this is a downgrade in talent for Tennessee. Aguilar will need to cut down on INTs this season (14 INTs in 2024) to be an effective passer in the SEC. Yet Head Coach Josh Heupel is known for developing solid quarterback play, and I expect Aguilar to embrace the pace and space of Tennessee’s offensive scheme.
Texas
Jack Endries — Tight End
Texas is quickly becoming the most talented program in the country. With Head Coach Steve Sarkisian dialing up one of the most potent offenses in the SEC, the Longhorns can send wave after wave of blue-chippers at opposing defenses. Heck, just look at their secondary this year…FOUR former five-star prospects will start this season. FOUR?! Anyway, former Cal Bear Jack Endries gets the nod as the most impactful transfer due to his combination of size and skill. Sark is known for maximizing the potential of tight ends in his offense, and I fully expect Endries to be the next in a long line of dynamic playmakers for the Longhorns.
Texas A&M
Kevin Concepcion — Wide Receiver
With the departure of Noah Thomas to Georgia this offseason, Texas A&M needed to fill the void left by their top pass catcher. They addressed this need by getting Kevin Concepcion via the transfer portal from NC State. Though at one point thought to be heading to South Carolina (I’m not mad), Concepcion brings proven production and dynamic playmaking ability to an A&M offense in search of consistency. Returning quarterback Marcel Reed will need to find ways to improve heading into this season, and Concepcion will go a long way in helping maximize his potential.
Vanderbilt
CJ Heard — Safety
This dude’s nickname is “The Sea Snake”. How do you not pick this guy? That’s the coolest nickname in college football this season. Not only does he have an incredible nickname, but he is also really good at football. So good, in fact, that he was named a Freshman All-American last year at FAU. Heard is a thumper, playing downhill with a mean streak that Head Coach Clark Lea will utilize all over the field this season. If Vanderbilt is going to rise above the expectations again this year and not fall back into the same old same old, they will need to have a solid defense to pair with star quarterback Diego Pavia. Look for Vandy to beat the pre-season projections and surprise people yet again this season with solid play from guys like CJ Heard.