In case you missed it, there was a bit of drama over Easter weekend in Norman, Okla., involving a former five-star defensive tackle recruit and the transfer portal.
On Friday, David Stone became one of the biggest free agents of the spring window when he entered his name into the portal. Less than 48 hours later, Stone — the No. 9 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 — announced he was staying put.
Sooner Nation after taking the necessary time & examining my options… I have removed my name from the portal & will be furthering my education & career at 🅾️U!! Sooner Born…Sooner Bred… & when I die I’ll be Sooner dead!! #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/dTBdzXWFu6
— David “Stoney” Stone Jr. (@iamdavidstonejr) April 21, 2025
Whether it was a moment of indecision or done to create negotiating leverage with Oklahoma’s name, image and likeness collective, Stone became the latest example of an elite former recruit to test college football’s free agent waters within a season or two of arriving on campus.
Eight of the top 100 players in the 2024 cycle in the 247Sports Composite switched schools in the winter window, after just one season on campus. Three more have since put their names into the portal this month.
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That includes former four-star safety Zaquan Patterson and four-star receiver Ny Carr, who were both at Miami. The other is former five-star receiver Micah Hudson, who left Texas Tech in December for Texas A&M but is back in the portal. Hudson is expected to return to Texas Tech.
At this point last spring, 16 of the top 100 recruits in the 2023 cycle had already been on the move. Another 22 have since entered the portal, including four entrants this spring. That includes former four-star edge rusher Bai Jobe and four-star receiver Jalen Brown, who are both looking for their third school.
In the Class of 2022, 39 of the top 100 prospects transferred at least once within their first two years of college.
Why are nearly 40 percent of the top 100 high school recruits looking for new homes within two years of signing? Money matters, but there are typically other factors.
“You can’t blame the players for wanting more money if there’s options to do so. Coaches do the same thing,” an NIL agent who represents several elite former recruits said this week. “But I really haven’t had many situations where the players I’ve represented are just asking for more money. It’s more about their fit, how quickly they can get on the field to get to the NFL.”
A former Power 4 staffer said: “When an elite kid leaves, it’s usually because they just don’t fit in the program or don’t play early. Most P4 coaches have around the same salary cap to keep the guys starting happy. Guys who aren’t playing, who feel like they should, hit the portal and see if they can go somewhere else for the same money and start. Usually, guys give it a couple years unless they just want to go and play.”
Of those 16 players in the 2023 cycle who transferred to a new school before the 2024 season, seven became full-time starters at their new programs last fall. The list includes:
- Caleb Downs, S (Alabama → Ohio State)
- Caden Green, OL (Oklahoma → Missouri)
- A.J. Harris, CB (Georgia → Penn State)
- Lance Heard, OL (LSU → Tennessee)
- Eli Holstein, QB (Alabama → Pittsburgh)
- Dezz Ricks, CB (Alabama → Texas A&M)
- Noah Rogers, WR (Ohio State → NC State)
Downs was the only one who was a full-time starter at his first school.
Quarterback shuffle
Monday’s biggest portal headline involved UCLA losing quarterback Joey Aguilar after Nico Iamaleava signed with the Bruins. That was until news broke later in the day that Aguilar, who transferred to UCLA in December after two years at Appalachian State, was likely headed to Tennessee in what is essentially a one-for-one quarterback trade.
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SEC’s top defensive pickups
Iamealava was the best available offensive player in the spring window.
Georgia landed arguably the best defensive player in former Army starting linebacker Elo Modozie, who was one of three portal pickups this weekend by Kirby Smart. The others are former Miami defensive lineman Josh Horton and former Illinois running back Josh McCray, who should provide depth at their respective positions for the Bulldogs.
Arkansas has been busy adding experienced starters on defense during the spring window. The Razorbacks picked up edge rusher Phillip Lee (Troy), cornerback Julian Neal (Stanford), linebacker Trent Whalen (Kent State) and safety Shakur Smalls (Maine).
Auburn has signed three defensive players during the spring window — defensive linemen James Ash (Florida A&M) and Jay Hardy (Liberty) and linebacker Caleb Wheatland (Maryland). Ash and Wheatland were full-time starters last season. Hardy began his career at Auburn.
(Photo of Zaquan Patterson: Sam Navarro/ Imagn Images)
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