College football transfer portal: Where uncommitted players could be leaning

No news is good news for Texas in its pursuit of Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison, following the best available player in the college football transfer portal’s weekend visit to USC. Addison’s decision is expected in “the coming days” after visits to Texas, USC and a planned discussion with Alabama, according to Pete Thamel. Horns247’s latest recruiting roundup, from the day of Addison’s arrival at USC for his visit, pointed to intel suggesting it was a two-program race for his services.

“I talked to a source this morning that straight up said he thought that Texas made a major push but Addison would still end up in Hollywood with Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley,” Horns247 analyst Hudson Standish wrote (VIP). “Most people we’ve talked to seem to think USC is the call or are unsure of the destination. I don’t think Texas could have done much more to persuade Addison and the Horns seemed to have an extremely cohesive pitch that was very aggressive which was good to see for future big-time recruitments.”

Addison entered the portal prior to the deadline this month with a 247Sports transfer rating of 97, making him the No. 5 transfer overall in the 2022 cycle and the top transfer available. USC was the first reported candidate to land Addison when news surfaced that he was mulling a transfer. ESPN previously reported Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi called USC’s Lincoln Riley to voice his displeasure over the situation, and Panthers officials reportedly suspected tampering on the Trojans’ end. Addison won the Biletnikoff last season as the top receiver in college football and will be an immediate impact weapon wherever he signs.

Addison took an official visit to Texas earlier this month. While Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian is not allowed to discuss the visit, he gave insight on his approach to targeting players when asked about the wideout’s appearance in Austin. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers wasn’t shy about recruiting Addison to Austin on social media.

“I think I have an obligation to the University of Texas to try to recruit the best players to give us the best chance to be successful,” Sarkisian told a gathering of Longhorns supporters in Fort Worth via Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman. “So that’s what we’ll continue to do.”

Louisville is doing everything it can in pursuit of Lole and recently hosted him for a weekend visit, according to Cardinal Authority’s Jody Demling. The top uncommitted defender in the portal who entered on April 29 recorded 122 tackles — including 20 behind the line of scrimmage — and 11 sacks during the first three years of his career. Lole did not play a game in 2021 for the Sun Devils after suffering a triceps injury, but decided in late November that he was going to return for another season in college. Louisville already has 10 transfers committed to play next season, including five who were on campus and participated in spring ball, and rank No. 19 overall and no. 4 in the ACC, according to the 247Sports Transfer Portal Rankings.

Over the next three weekends, Lole is expected to visit Florida, Texas Tech and Oregon. All of those squads are in need of immediate help in the trenches and have made defensive line a priority this offseason in the portal.

Gators coach Billy Napier explained after Florida’s spring game how the UF planned to bolster the roster with more.

“I think that specifically we’re looking for players that can get in the two deep and contribute,” Napier said. “I think our roster is thin. We’re getting ready to put five walk-ons on scholarship just to get to 85. We signed half a (recruiting) class (in 2022) to some degree. When you’re in transition this is an avenue you have to explore and be aggressive in making your team better. There is certain positions where no question we need an impact player, receiver in particular would be one, a guy that can impact our team. But I do think every position, there is no position where we have substantial depth. I think we can put a pretty good first group out there but we need to continue to improve the quality depth of our football team. We’re not going to turn down any good player. We have spots. We have a room.”

Miller played significantly lighter this spring and tried his hand along Oregon’s defensive line before entering the portal, according to Duck Territory. At one point, USC, Arizona and Arizona State had inquired about Miller. According to 247 Sports Composite, as a recruit, Miller ranked No. 284 overall and no. 24 for an interior offensive lineman. Miller’s offer list out of high school including Florida, Arizona State, Texas, USC and others. Miller was one of three Oregon offensive linemen leave Dan Lanning’s program and enter the portal this spring, joining Jonathan Dennis and Jaylen Jeffers.

Earlier this month, Pearsall trimmed his group of potential suitors to Auburn, Florida and Oregon. Last season, Pearsall caught 48 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns for the Arizona State offense and scored a rushing touchdown. Over his three-year career with the Sun Devils, Pearsall totaled 61 catches for 794 yards and five touchdowns. He’s one of several impact players to leave Arizona State this spring, joining Lole, quarterback Jayden Daniels (who transferred to LSU) and numerous others. A product of Tempe (Ariz.) Corona Del Sol, Pearsall was a three-star recruit and the No. 151 wide receivers in the 2019 signing class, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings.

Joiner told 247Sports last month he was planning official visits to Duke and Virginia Tech, but has not committed anywhere just yet. A first-team All-American last season in the FCS ranks accumulated 142 total tackles to go along with seven tackles for loss and an interception. The 2021 campaign was a breakout perforder for Joiner after he began his career at Jacksonville State. Joiner never played more than 269 snaps during his time with the Gamecocks, but given a runway at Western Illinois, Joiner emerged as one of the best players in the country. Now Joiner, like so many other FCS stars, has decided to use the portal again in an attempt to create an opportunity for himself.

Chris Hummer contributed to this report.