Alright so like usual I've been doing my homework throughout the off-season and unlike past years, the transfer portal has completely changed how quickly bad teams can become good, and good teams can become great... So let's talk about teams that have been most affected by the portal and recruiting classes.
Il start with the two teams that come to the top of my head, and Florida State and Colorado both stick out. Colorado still has a long way to go, but FSU may have been able to use the past recruiting classes and the portal to become national championship contenders.
I know it would've been crazy to call FSU a contender a year ago, but since then theyve addressed a ton of issues through recruiting cycle, and more importantly the transfer portal.
They return a ton of key starters including the best Oline in the ACC, an elite RB, and a WR corps that includes a likely 1st rd pick in Johnny Wilson, they added a superstar WR who also could be a future 1st rd pick, he lead Michigan State in every stat during his 2nd season, he's 6'4 played on the MIch state basketball team, and is coming off a 60 rec, 800 yd, 7td performance. (Jayden Reed was a 2nd rd pick but didn't have better stats in any category).
They also added a 5star freshman WR who could contribute as their 3rd wr, but regardless they have a lot of depth... Last year they didn't have much of a TE presence, but they added two borderline elite players at TE as well. One is a two time FCS All American, but the bigger get might be Jaheim Bell who was the #1 transfer TE who is a legit weapon on the outside.
Their Oline added the #1 OT in the portal, a 3yr starter at guard from Auburn, another starting guard from Colorado, and a RS freshman class that was loaded w high tier 4/5 star recruits. This should easily be the best Online in the ACC.
Defensively they return who draft analysts are projecting as a top 15 pick. On the opposite side they return freshman who had 30tkls 6TFL and 5 sacks in his first season.
Defensively they have the potential to be elite, they return their best DT Lovett after a season ending injury, but they also added 3 potential stars; including the #1 DT in the portal class, an all MWC 1st team star, they also added a former high 4star DT prospect out of highschool who started as a freshman at Maryland and after transferring to Miami he started again w 27 tkls 4.5 tfl 3sks... Finally they bring in South Carolina starting DE who had 60 tkls 9 TFL and 2 sacks as his first season as a starter.
They return 2/3 team leading tacklers at LB. Their secondary returns two starting CBs, including an all American level transfer who started at Virginia and finished as 1at team all ACC CB. Cyprus was the #1 rated DB in the portal and #2 player overall...
Now the key to actually being National championship contenders is going to come down to superstar QB Jordan Travis who is entering his 3rd season starting in Norvells offense, but he's never had this level of talent around him. Travis finished 2022 as CFBs highest graded QB in the entire country a point higher than Caleb Williams. After another 13 games of experience (10-3) and the addition of a superstar WR corps, best Oline in the ACC, and a future NFL TE....
Travis is very underrated and if he improves even slightly this is going to be a very dangerous offense.
PFF doesnt only love Jordan Travis they also love RH Trey Benson who is one of CFBs top RB's Benson finished w/ 1000 yds on 6.5 YPC but absolutely demolished PFFs record for RB w highest rate of missed tackles at 0.51... This is a crazy number and if they get a similar performance it's going to be really tough stopping the rushing attack of Trey Benson and RB Trey Benson. If teams put too much emphasis on stopping the run, it could be really tough to stop the passing game w 2-3 potential first rd picks
Appreciate the write up. I'm a Clemson fan and FSU is the team that scares me the most this season, because there's a very good chance we'll have to face them twice this year - once at home and again in the ACC Championship game. I don't think we have a chance of making the playoffs if we don't beat them both times, which isn't going to be easy.
Yeah FSU very much bringing the solid experienced roster, unbelievable how they hit the portal even w such high ret pro .. I'd say a good comparison would be if TCU brought everyone back again this year is what this feels like and seem to be rated around where I'd expect such a Frogs team to be .. def gunna be very dangerous, deep enough to play well all year and upend some pretty big apple carts .. easy to think we know how far this model of team building can go after TCU LY, but don't have much to compare on because the portal is so new plus CFB is really complicated w tons of variables .. don't like to say 'lucky' but I think the chips fell TCU's way quite a few times on their run and couple times, perfect timing on a few miracles too .. part of da game ..
O looks ready to go WR one of the few production holes LY but gotta like Wilson and Keon and both are BIIIG targets plus Norvell uses multiple TE's and has a few good ones should be alot of fun.. the trad RB run game been strong for a few years and very dynamic run game w Travis .. still weren't totally immune from having a bad game, Travis 50% vs NC State 2 picks cost em that game and NC State didn't do much on O but yeah def a chance for a really elite offense ... think the concerns are mostly still on D, the good O's moved the ball pretty well on em LY, good chance to be improved w some elite players and maybe elite CB and DE units?.. but they don't look totally buttoned up, maybe a top DC could make up the diff there but I don't think they have the coordinators for a massive move .. my gut says the D tops out inside the top 20 and if they can crack the top 10 and very consistent vs the good offenses then think things get reallllly interesting..
There are a lot of reasons I think people are overlooking FSU. The biggest thing is that Jordan Travis has 3yrs of starting experience in the Mike Norvell system that was so dangerous at Memphis.
In his 2nd year as the starting QB, Travis finished the season as PFF highest graded QB, surpassing Caleb Williams by a tenth of a point. I don't believe the average fan views Travis and the FSU QB position as having a superstar. When you factor in his experience in the system, and significant improvements around him (Wr, OL, and TE) and it's hard to think of a circumstance where Travis isn't even better this season...
Defensively they were able to use the portal to fill any holes they had, and add a lot of depth. The way the Seminoles used the portal has also guaranteed that they're a very experienced team with transfers being RS JR's and seniors. This means they will have one of the oldest teams in CFB, imo there's a pretty big advantage when almost every member of the two deep is 22-24years old. Thats a big difference from the normal roster who is relying on a lot of 18-20 yr old kids. Not only are these players more developed physically but they're also mentally ahead of younger players
@LonghornHoosier
Im really interested in seeing what the Longhorns look like. If Ewers plays to his potential, Texas could be a really tough team. The UT offense has all of the pieces to be among the best in CFB, starting w/ QB Ewers who looked like a star at times during his year 1 starting season, the OLine is really good, they have a great TE prospect, three really high level WRs in Worthy Whittington and Mitchell. Obviously lost best RB in CFB in Bijan Robinson, but they landed the #1 RB recruit in the 2023 class. Also Sarkiasian has had success in multiple offenses, and I expect this unit will be significantly better than last year. I think the defense will be better, but thats the bigger question mark imo
@alopez14325
Texas has one major weakness on defense and that is at edge rusher. They are using different players in camp this year to find the best combination. They may end up using Anthony Hill, 5* linebacker from Denton, as a situational pass rusher. If Texas D can fix this issue, they will be very tough to beat.
Miami Hurricanes i think have done well this year with the transfer portal, seems like they went big on defense, out of 16 guys they got only 2 for offense, wr Tyler Harrell from Alabama, and a Rb from Nebraska Ajay Allen, the other 14 all defense 6 LB's, 3 DL, and 4 CB, and their recruits seems like they did well there too, getting 4 kids out of IMG in Bradenton , where i happen to live now, they do seem to always have a good class, they just need to get a good qb, if Tyler Van Dryke can reach his potential they could have a great year, that school use to be QBU ....they seem to have gotten kids from good schools in the portal, if them and Clemson, and Fla st do what it looks like they could ,and add in N.Carolina they could bring the ACC back this year
gl 151
Established in 1995,
Hot Forum Topics
