COLLEGE STATION, Texas — With the 2023 college football season in the books, and many already looking forward to the 2024 season, some athletes are looking to take their talents and academic careers elsewhere for the next college football season.
Additionally, with new head coach Mike Elko officially at the helm, there will inevitably be a change of the guard when it comes to who will be part of the first team under a new head coach in Aggieland come August. Seeing the announcements of players entering the portal certainly doesn't feel good as a fan, but will continue until things change via the establishment of some sort of governing organization over college football.
While the official fall transfer period closed on Jan. 2, players can still enter into the portal before midnight on Dec. 4, with many announcing their intentions prior to entering. Another window will open for players to enter their name into the transfer portal following spring practice, which lasts from April 16 to April 30, according to the NCAA.
For A&M, some of the biggest needs for players were made evident in the wide receiver and defensive back rooms, especially during the Aggies' Texas Bowl appearance against Oklahoma State, as only Moose Muhammad III, Jahdae Walker, and Micah Tease were Texas A&M's lone scholarship wide receivers for the game.
That game also saw Sam Mathews, the 12th Man, get significant playing time at linebacker against the Cowboys, which is another position group that Mike Elko and his staff will look to add suitable talent and depth at for next season.
With that in mind, here are the players that have entered their name into the transfer portal so far:
- Jan. 2, 2024: Jurriente Davis (LB)
- Jan. 1, 2024: Tony Grimes (CB)
- Dec. 27, 2023: Jordan Anthony (WR)
- Dec. 21, 2023: Isaiah Raikes (DL)
- Dec. 20, 2023: Naquil Bertrand (OL)
- Dec. 19, 2023: Evan Stewart (WR)
- Dec. 13, 2023: Fernando Garza (TE)
- Dec. 11, 2023: Kent Robinson (CB)
- Dec. 9, 2023: Deuce Harmon (CB)
- Dec. 6, 2023: Tyreek Chappell (DB)
- According to 247sports, Chappell withdrew his name from the portal on Feb. 16.
- Dec. 6, 2023: Walter Nolen III (DL)
- Dec. 6, 2023: Fadil Diggs (DL)
- Dec. 6, 2023: Chase Bisontis (OL)
- According to 247sports, Bisontis withdrew his name from the portal on Dec. 19.
- Dec. 6, 2023: Jake Johnson (TE)
- Dec. 5, 2023: Micah Overton (DL)
- Dec. 5, 2023: LT Overton (DL)
- Dec. 4, 2023: James Bailey (OL)
- Dec. 4, 2023: Jardin Gilbert (S)
- Nov. 30, 2023: Jordan Spasojevic-Moko (OL)
- Nov. 30, 2023: Remington Strickland (OL)
- Nov. 26, 2023: Max Johnson (QB)
- Nov. 12, 2023: Raymond Cottrell (WR)
- Oct. 26, 2023: Hunter Vivaldi (WR)
- Oct. 26, 2023: Charles Shelling (RB)
- Sept. 22, 2023: Jalen Waddy (LB)
By far the biggest blows to the team when it comes to news of who will be searching for new programs to play for in 2024 and beyond include Walter Nolen, LT Overton, Fadil Diggs, and Evan Stewart. However, Mike Elko has been much more aggressive pursuing players in the portal to find new starters for next season and add depth across the entire roster, even in position rooms that are returning many starters, such as on the offensive line.
In interviews since his signing, coach Mike Elko has emphasized that he doesn't want to rely as much on the transfer portal for replenishing a roster and wants A&M to be a "recruiting-based" program that takes advantage of the major high school recruiting grounds across the Lone Star State in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas while not excluding any towns that may foster promising prospects, as in the case with five-star signee Terry Bussey, who was being heavily recruited by other heavyweight recruiting schools like Georgia and LSU.
The new blood coming into College Station may not have the same number of stars next to their names as Evan Stewart, Walter Nolen or LT Overton, but they're players that have starting experience in their programs and look to elevate their talents alongside the Aggie offense and defense in 2024, which will hopefully put Texas A&M on a different and more upward trajectory at the start of a new era in Aggieland and the SEC, with previous Big 12 rivals and opponents now entering the fray.
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