Transfer portal news is hot and fast, so rather than do a story on each one, our editor / publisher / king of all things TFB Mitch Lucas has decided to roll transfer news into a couple of updates a week. Here’s the first one, and it comes with a bit of surprising news.
Former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord has picked his destination, and it’s not Clemson, it’s not Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, or any traditional football power. At least, not a program thought of as a football power in 2023.
McCord will transfer to Syracuse, it’s being reported (Report: Ex-Ohio State QB Kyle McCord to transfer to Syracuse).
McCord, who helped Ohio State finish 11-1 in the current season, decided to get out while the getting was good from the Buckeyes, and now he’s landed in New York. Syracuse is now coached by Fran Brown, and McCord said there’s a familiarity there.
“It was good, it was good,” McCord told 247Sports. “I like Fran a lot and have known him for a while. The comfort level is definitely there.”
In the Buckeyes’ 2023 season, the Philadelphia native threw for 3,170 yards, 24 TDs and six interceptions.
Around the transfer portal:
- Former South Carolina wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells is headed to Oxford, Mississippi, to join Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels (Ole Miss lands former All-SEC WR Antwane ‘Juice’ Wells).
- Penn defensive tackle Joey Slackman, the Ivy League’s defensive player of the year, will soon be a Florida Gator (Florida lands Ivy League DPOY Joey Slackman from Penn).
- ESPN is reporting that former Malachi Nelson, currently a quarterback for Southern Cal, is leaving, entering the transfer portal. Nelson was the top recruit in the ESPN 300 last year. Nelson was originally committed to Oklahoma and wound up flipping to USC. Is this an indication that Caleb Williams might be coming back to the Trojans for another season? Hmmmmmm.
- Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn, who helped the Rockets go 11-2 this season, is leaving the MAC to head to the Big 12. Finn announced Sunday he’s headed to Baylor (Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn transferring to Baylor). Finn has a year of eligibility left after throwing for almost 2,700 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine picks this year.