SEC Football: Top Transfer Portal Targets

The spring transfer portal has been nowhere near as exciting as the winter one, but has still had some action.

Recently, a few key names have entered the portal that are heavy SEC targets and some project to commit to transferring to an SEC school.

Meet the Top SEC Football Transfer Portal Targets Currently in the Portal

Damien Martinez (RB, Oregon State)

Martinez has been a stud since arriving in Corvalis for his freshman year in 2022. In that season, Martinez rushed for 982 yards and seven touchdowns, followed by an even more impressive sophomore campaign in 2023 rushing for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns.

This elite transfer prospect is rumored to have been making $400,000 with the Beavers, so expect whoever offers him to have to put up more. Based on his production, I would say it is well worth it.

Potential landing spots in the SEC I have heard as rumors are Ole Miss and Tennessee. Even with Henry Parish Jr. being rumored to transfer back to Ole Miss where it all began for him a few years ago under head coach Lane Kiffin, Kiffin has not been one to shy away from depth and competition. Therefore, do not expect the Rebels to be out of the running for a star prospect like Martinez even if Parrish Jr. returns to Oxford.

Jaden Rashada (QB, Arizona State)

Rashada has had quite the saga since before even arriving on a college campus. This was the former four star quarterback who was signed his national letter of intent to play for the Florida Gators in 2023, but with the deal falling apart ended up as a member of the Arizona State Sun Devils this past season.

Rashada only appeared in three games as a backup this past season for the Sun Devils, but is rumored to be targeting a leap to the SEC, which would make sense as that is where he was committed to initially.

The team rumored heavily for Rashada is the Georgia Bulldogs. Rashada would be in the mix for a backup role on the roster as Carson Beck will lead the Bulldogs at quarterback for the 2024 season. Rashada will compete with quarterbacks Gunner Stockton (redshirt sophomore) and Ryan Puglisi (freshman).

With the transfer of former number two quarterback Brock Vandagriff to Kentucky in the winter transfer portal, it would make sense that the Bulldogs would be willing to take on another quarterback. And knowing their head coach Kirby Smart, he is not one to want anything other than the best competition at each position.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith (WR, Penn State)

Lambert-Smith was a member of the 2020 high school recruiting class and is going into his fifth season of college football with the first four being for the Nittany Lions. Lambert-Smith has been a contributor as a starting wide receiver for the past three years in State College.

In the past three years, Lambert smith has appeared in all 39 games the Nittany Lions have played, catching 111 passes for 1,583 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Lambert-Smith’s productions lines him up to be a number two or three receiving option, so his NIL potential may be limited. Unless he opts to return to Penn State,  Auburn or Texas A&M could be good landing spots for Lambert-Smith.

Auburn is deep at receiver, so adding another one to the room would run the risk of another receiver already on campus transferring out. But the Aggies however could use another body, and Lambert-Smith would figure to be more of a primary option.

Dallan Hayden (RB, Ohio State)

Hayden had a phenomenal freshman year for the Buckeyes in 2022 rushing for 553 yards on 111 carries. Hayden appeared in only three games for the Buckeyes in 2023 who opted to redshirt the running back, which is odd considering the productivity he had freshman season.

Georgia Tech is a school rumored to have interest in Hayden. But a running back that ran for over 500 yards as a freshman in the Big 10 is quite impressive, and could also catch the eyes of some SEC teams.