/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71751725/1443117994.0.jpg)
The transfer portal expanded this year to a 45-day window starting December 5th, and another 15-day window that begins May 1st. When the one-year wait period for transfers ended in 2018, we saw a significant rise in the numbers of players that have entered the portal and the numbers keep rising every year. This year is no exception and another record number of players will have entered this transfer portal before the window closes.
That can cause unease in every fan base, and certainly the Oregon Ducks fan base is not immune to this anxiety. We’re going to run down all of the transfers leaving and coming to the Ducks, and hopefully put you a bit more at ease while still grappling with the new reality of seeing so many players leave.
Oregon Players Entering The Portal
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292499/1432321466.jpg)
Brandon Buckner
Buckner was a 3* edge. He did not play in any games this season.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292541/1393238487.jpg)
Jay Butterfield
Butterfield came to Oregon as a 4* recruit. He played one game in 2022 and was 2-3 for 22 yards. Given his lack of playing time the past two seasons, this was not a surprise.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292550/1236237339.jpg)
Byron Cardwell
Cardwell was a 4* recruit that saw productive playing time in 2021 evaporate in 2022 as the Ducks sported a loaded RB room. He played two games this season and had 11 carries for 76 yards and 1 TD.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292560/1439561896.jpg)
Sean Dollars
Dollars was a 4* recruit that did not play in 2021 due to injury. In 2022, Dollars played in 12 games. He ran 34 times for a net 188 yards and 1 TD.
Committed to The University of Nevada #HomeisNevada pic.twitter.com/LLOkWc7cdi
— Sean Dollars (@SeanDollars) December 12, 2022
Dollars was picked up a few days ago by the University of Nevada.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292576/1432321734.jpg)
Jonathan Flowe
Flowe was a 4* defensive back that did not play in 2022.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292580/1243488900.jpg)
Justin Flowe
Justin Flowe was a highly-touted 5* LB that spent an unfortunate amount of his Oregon career out with injury. This season he played 10 games with 35 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292591/1236403481.jpg)
Adrian Jackson
Jackson was a 4* linebacker that left the team before the start of the 2022 season.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292596/1236995619.jpg)
Jackson LaDuke
LaDuke was a 3* linebacker that played in 12 games this season with 13 tackles.
Finally Home. Committed to THE University of Nevada!! #HomeIsNevada pic.twitter.com/OJqDqEMkAR
— Jackson LaDuke (@Jackson_laDuke) December 10, 2022
LaDuke was picked up last week by the University of Nevada.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292612/1243833991.jpg)
Moliki Matavao
Matavao came to Oregon as a 4* tight end. He played in 12 games and had 10 catches for 134 yards and 1 TD.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292653/1243121940.jpg)
Seven McGee
Seven came to Oregon as a 4* running back. Early in the season it looked like he might break out as a receiver, and that never really materialized. He played in 7 games, receiving 7-11 with 67 yards and rushing 3 times for net -11 yards.
Blessed ! Committed @CoachTaylor010 pic.twitter.com/1bsRT6UCwv
— 7 (@McgeeSeven) December 14, 2022
McGee has since transferred to Jackson State.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292617/1357125251.jpg)
Jabril McNeil
McNeil was a 3* edge that played in no games in 2022.
— Malachi Russell (@_MalachiRussell) December 9, 2022
Malachi Russell
Russell was a 3* wide receiver that did not play in 2022.
This is a walk-on running back for Oregon this year. Safe to say the Ducks have been pushing that weight this offseason.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) August 6, 2021
(Aaron Smith, FR, San Jose, Calif) pic.twitter.com/8e2sOF2QlV
Aaron Smith
Smith was a 2* running back that did not play in 2022.
Tom Snee
Snee was a walk-on punter that did not play in 2022.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292630/1338332510.jpg)
Bradyn Swinson
Swinson came to Oregon as a 3* defensive lineman. In 2022, he played in 12 games with 8 tackles, and 1.5 tackles for loss.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292677/1244919227.jpg)
Dont’e Thornton
Thornton was a 4* wide receiver that was one of the more productive players of those whom have transferred to date. He played in 11 games this season, with 17 catches for 366 yards and 1 TD.
Oregon TE Terrell Tilmon entered the transfer portal; he played in 15 games during his two seasons with the Ducks @TTilmon16 @mfarrellsports pic.twitter.com/tpxnHBZNtt
— FarrellPortal (@farrellportal) December 6, 2022
Terrell Tilmon
Tilmon was a 3* tight end. He played in one game in 2022 and recorded no stats.
Miami offers Oregon transfer OL Bram Walden, a former Top 100 recruit and the top-ranked player in Arizona in the Class of 2021, on the first day of the portal window.https://t.co/AgwTaakSx2 pic.twitter.com/veLmPAcewY
— Gaby Urrutia (@GabyUrrutia247) December 5, 2022
Bram Walden
Walden was a 4* offensive tackle. He played in two games in 2022 and there are no statistics available for him.
What to make of this? Any kind of look at the players transferring so far reveals a group that for the most part comprised a small amount of production this season - Justin Flowe and Dont’e Thornton notwithstanding. The majority of player were not seeing much game time, and their entry into the portal would be the natural choice, because every player wants to play.
However, just because a player enters the transfer portal doesn’t mean his situation is going to improve and will realize his goal of more playing time. Earlier this year, Sports Illustrated reported that 54% of transfers enrolled at a new school, 41% have not found a new school, or are still looking for a school, or have transferred to a non-NCAA school, or left football. 59% of scholarship transfers picked up a scholarship at a new FBS school, and 8% left their scholarship and became walk-ons.
There will be a significantly greater number of transfers this time around, and it’s safe to say that the transfer portal will not pan out for half of them, and perhaps more than half. A very good, high-profile player will likely be able to improve their playing circumstances, but for the majority of transfer portal entrants there likely is no light at the end of the tunnel. That’s just the reality of college football.
Portal Players Coming To Oregon
Dan Lanning and Co. made excellent use of the transfer portal ahead of the 2022 season. The new reality in college football is that yes, you do need to recruit well, but wise use of the transfer portal in bringing talent is essential for winning programs. This is the new paradigm and it isn’t going anywhere. There is still plenty of time for the Ducks coaching staff to acquire talent in areas of need, and so they’ve only signed two players to date from the portal. However, these players are a known quantity and certainly address positions where the Ducks need depth.
Jestin Jacobs
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292736/1229517009.jpg)
Jacobs comes from Iowa, and was a 4* recruit in the 2019 class. He chose the Hawkeyes over Michigan State and Ohio State. He only played in two games this season due to a season-ending injury.
Jacobs has bulked up and is now listed as 6-4 and 238 lbs. With the departure of Flowe and Noah Sewell possibly entering the NFL draft, the addition of Jacobs looks like an excellent choice by Oregon.
A dream come true #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/tVUnysYnY9
— Jestin Jacobs (@jestinjacobs__) December 11, 2022
Traeshon Holden
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24292755/1444825951.jpg)
Holden comes to the Ducks from the Alabama Crimson Tide. He entered Alabama as a 4* recruit, and is 6-3 and 208 lbs. Holden isn’t necessarily a deep threat but can use his height for red zone productivity, as evidenced by his 6 TDs in 2022. This was a critical need for Oregon, with Chase Cota leaving and the transferring of Seven McGee and Dont’e Thornton. The Ducks need to shore up the wide receiver room and this is a step in the right direction.
Happy birthday Grandma
— Traeshon Holden (@Traeski11) December 12, 2022
COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/DNLt3VC2tW
Loading comments...