SEC Football: 5 biggest transfer portal winners of 2023 offseason

By Matt Melton | May 6, 2023

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers stands with his team in the tunnel prior to the SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) /

2. Auburn Tigers

A team that was likely expected to be active in the transfer portal this offseason, Auburn and new head coach Hugh Freeze have been exactly that, adding multiple impact players across both sides of the ball. Of those names, arguably the biggest comes along the offensive line as well, with the Tigers adding East Carolina transfer Avery Jones.

In addition to Jones, the Tigers also added two other offensive linemen who could see noteworthy snaps this season in Gunner Britton (Western Kentucky) and Dylan Wade (Tulsa), along with a pair of pass catchers in wide receiver Nick Mardner (Cincinnati) and tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (FIU). Auburn has also recently added a transfer quarterback in two-year Michigan State starter Payton Thorne, which will combine with another prominent addition in the backfield in running back Brian Battie, who rushed for 1,000+ yards last season at South Florida.

On defense, the Tigers have made numerous additions to the front seven, while includes Mosiah Nasili-Kite (Maryland), Justin Rogers (Kentucky), Lawrence Johnson (Purdue), and Elijah McAllister (Vanderbilt) along the defensive line. Auburn has also added two in-conference transfers at the linebacker position in Ole Miss’ Austin Keys and LSU’s DeMario Tolan.

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