The first period of college football’s transfer portal window has come and gone, and with it was an intense flurry of notable player movement.
Quarterbacks such as Dillon Gabriel, Riley Leonard, Dante Moore, DJ Uiagalelei and Cameron Ward all found new homes and–given that they play the most important position in the sport–have inspired new hope within their respective fan bases.
Of course, QB was not the only position group that saw some major moves, as plenty of contenders brought in new players on both sides of the ball to bolster their roster.
Here are the five non-QB portal goers that I believe will have the biggest impact in their new homes:
Mario Anderson | Memphis
5-foot-9 | 208 lbs. | Summerville, Sc. | Senior | Running Back
Former School: South Carolina
Career Stats (FBS): 143 carries, 707 yards, 153 receiving yards, 4 total TDs
Notable PFF Stat: Forced 39 missed tackles in 2023.
Mr. Anderson (hey Matrix fans) has a unique backstory that may remind some of the path Cody Schrader took to excellence.
Much like the former Missouri running back, Mario Anderson started out at the D-II level, toting the rock at Newberry College in South Carolina from 2019-2022. Anderson became the starting running back during the 2020 season but truly took off with back-to-back 1,000 yard campaigns to end his career, including a school-record 1,560 in ‘22.
He then opted to test his luck at the highest level in the sport, and Anderson generally passed with flying colors at South Carolina. Despite running behind a leaky offensive line, the Summerville-product showed great promise in attempting to balance the Gamecocks’ offense. He knows how to use his low center of gravity to his advantage, making him tough to tackle in the open field and hard to find at the line of scrimmage. And, when Anderson finds a seam, he has top-tier speed to put defenders in the dust. I hate to draw too many comparisons between them, but his frame and running style reminds me a lot of Schrader as well.
I’m a huge fan of this move not only because of Anderson’s potential, but also because of the fit. Memphis has seen star running backs like Tony Pollard, Antonio Gibson, Kenneth Gainwell, Darrell Henderson Jr. and Blake Watson come through its program in recent years, and you can even go as far back as to include DeAngelo Williams in that conversation. The Tigers have a tradition of utilizing running backs to their fullest potential, and Ryan Silverfield’s offense is very kind to his dynamic athletes.
Anderson’s body control, speed and versatility make him a perfect match for this Memphis attack, and I can see him posting some gaudy numbers in 2024.
Going low doesn’t really work on him either:
Trevor Etienne | Georgia
5-foot-9 | 205 lbs. | Jennings, La. | Junior | Running Back
Former School: Florida
Career Stats: 249 carries, 1,492 rushing yards, 5.9 YPC, 238 receiving yards, 15 total TDs
Notable PFF Stat: Had a breakaway % (runs going for 15+ yards) of 45.2%
Transferring from Florida to Georgia has to be against a rule somewhere, right?
Trevor Etienne is testing that theory, as he will join the Bulldogs following two-straight productive seasons in Gainesville. The younger brother of former Clemson Tiger and Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne, Trevor is similar in that he is nimble on his feet, cuts well at the line of scrimmage and has great burst in the open field. However, the younger brother is also a bit stockier at 5-foot-9, 205 lbs., making him just as much of a short-yardage weapon as he is anywhere else. Etienne was virtually impossible to tackle at times in 2023 (just ask Tennessee) and has all of the tools to become an NFL back one day.
And, he enters a situation that is tailor-made for his success. The Dawgs have an elite offensive line, a tradition of producing high-quality RBs and a balanced offense that won’t put too much pressure on Etienne. His one-cut mentality should translate well in Athens and remind UGA fans of D’Andre Swift, and Etienne is sure to create plenty of explosive plays as a result.
That meeting with Florida on Nov. 2 will be incredibly intriguing to watch…
Will Sheppard | Colorado
6-foot-3 | 198 lbs. | Mandenville, La. | Senior | Wide Receiver
Former School: Vanderbilt
Career Stats: 152 catches, 2,067 yards, 21 TDs, 131 rushing yards
Notable PFF Stat: Has not recorded more than nine drops in a season.
The embarrassment of riches in Boulder never ceases to amaze, and Deion Sanders landed a gem in Will Sheppard.
The former 3-star recruit played four seasons at Vanderbilt under two different head coaches (Derek Mason, Clark Lea). After a breakout campaign in 2022 where he recorded a career-high 60 catches for 776 yards and nice touchdowns, Sheppard was ready to see how a Commodores team that went 5-7 would fare with a more experienced AJ Swann at the helm.
Vanderbilt fell back down to Earth in ‘23. Swann battled injuries and inconsistencies, leading to a plethora of appearances from Ken Seals. The defense struggled, and even with freshman phenom London Humphreys (who has since left for UGA) taking some of the pressure off of Sheppard, the offense as a whole took a step back.
Thus, Sheppard now arrives in Colorado for his final season of college football, looking to put his full display of skills on the table with Shedeur Sanders slinging him the rock.
And man, I fully believe that this guy is going to have a field day within this Buffaloes offense. At 6-foot-3, Sheppard has a large frame that has made him a popular target in the red zone or in just letting him win one-on-one battles downfield. His ball skills are superb, he’s fluid with his movements and he’s sneaky quick in the open field.
Sheppard is a dangerous threat at any level, and I’m more than certain Sanders will find great chemistry with an experienced receiver from the SEC. And, with Travis Hunter lining up on offense as well, opposing teams won’t be able to focus their entire attention on Sheppard. That should lead to some beneficial matchups.
Princely Umanmielen | Ole Miss
6-foot-5 | 260 lbs. | Manor, Tx. | Senior | Defensive End
Former School: Florida
Career Stats: 98 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
Notable PFF Stat: Forced 28 QB hurries in 2023.
Princely Umanmielen has “NFL” written all over him.
The All-SEC Second Teamer enjoyed a productive four-year career with the Gators, and going to the pros was certainly in the cards for him this offseason. Perhaps, he just wanted to play for a College Football Playoff contender, or perhaps Lane Kiffin’s transfer portal pull is just this strong.
Whatever it may be, Umanmielen is set to be a force in Oxford. With an arsenal of pass-rush moves and an endless motor, the Texas-native is a nightmare to contain coming off the edge. On top of that, Umanmielen has a built, rangy frame and uses his hands with the best of ‘em. He should be very productive for an Ole Miss program that has only been one or two stars on defense away from contending for an SEC title as of late.
He also joins TAMU phenom DT Walter Nolen in this transfer class, and both should be productive in Oxford.
Easton Mascarena-Arnold | USC
5-foot-11 | 225 lbs. | Mission Viejo, Ca. | Senior | Linebacker
Former School: Oregon State
Career Stats: 159 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 pass breakups
Notable PFF Stat: Primarily lined up in the box (573 snaps) or in the slot (128 snaps).
A member of the Oregon State exodus, Easton Mascarena-Arnold will bring a much-needed presence to the USC defense.
The California kid will get to play in his home state after spending three seasons in Corvallis. Mascarena, a former 3-star recruit, broke into the rotation as a sophomore in 2022, but he had his breakout campaign this past season. He racked up 107 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 2 INTs as one of the leaders of a stout Beaver defense.
USC’s defense has been in dire need of some tone-setters. Well, new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has one in Mascarena. His physicality and instinctive play will be welcomed with open arms in Los Angeles, and perhaps more importantly, Mascarena is a bona fide playmaker. At the bare minimum, he’ll create some explosive plays for the Trojan defense, which will go a long way in changing the culture of that unit.
Honorable Mentions: Silas Bolden (WR, Texas) | Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State), Antwane Wells (WR, Ole Miss), Cayden Green (OL, Missouri), Tyler Baron (DE, Louisville), Andrew Mukuba (S, Texas), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB, Kentucky), Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss), Nyland Green (CB, Purdue), Raheim Sanders (RB, South Carolina), Chip Trayanum (RB, Kentucky), London Humphreys (WR, Georgia), Matthew Golden (WR, Texas), Benjamin Yurosek (TE, Georgia)
About the author
I grew up a Tennessee fan in Atlanta, and yes it was certainly rough to live amongst so many UGA fans. Oregon has also been a favorite team of mine for as long as I can remember. I currently attend the University of Missouri studying sports journalism. I also cover Mizzou's FB and MBB teams for Rock M Nation.
