Texas A&M Roster Taking 4-Star Hits in NCAA Transfer Portal
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
What’s the magic number of college football players to lose and to receive via the modern-day NCAA Transfer Portal? Who knows? But as the overall portal number spikes north of 1,500, some teams are feeling the crunch while others are raking in the talent. One team taking some heavy losses is Texas A&M with 18 leaving and only one heading to campus.
Not every player who transfer signals a problem to the fanbase, but losing highly recruited talent can be problematic down the line throwing years’ past recruiting rankings out the window. The quarterback room in College Station was once busting with prized signees but has taken a hit seeing former four-star James Foster (Charlotte) and three-star Connor Blumrick (Virginia Tech) seek other options.
While the Aggies may still be deep under center with Haynes King, Zach Calzada, and true freshman four-star Eli Stowers, losing four-star receivers Dylan Wright (Minnesota), Kam Brown (UCLA), and Shadrach Banks along with former three-star Camron Buckley has to raise some eyebrows. The lack of star power may not hurt the depth charts during the 2021 campaign, but A&M is not guaranteed to replace perceived level of talent with a similar potential impact player. Furthermore, they will have to rely more heavily on unproven talent. It hurt losing Banks, a “player of the future” who was an early enrollee.
The status of another former four-star, offensive lineman Chris Morris is still in limbo. Morris did not complete spring practices with the Aggies leaving head coach Jimbo Fisher to declare his future with the program in question.
Attrition has also hit Mike Elko’s defense. Gone are four former four-stars and two three-stars. Easy to point out losing safety Derrick Turner, and corners Travon Fuller and Clifford Chattman as the hardest hit area on that side of the ball. Every SEC defense needs a deep rotation in the secondary. Chattman, a former starter, and Fuller, who battled with Jaylon Jones opposite of Myles Jones at corner during the 2020 season, are not easily replaced.
If there is one positive to the portal action for the Aggies, it was seeing former Tennessee left tackle Jahmir Johnson sign. Johnson, a 6-5, 300-pound, redshirt senior, provides immediate help to an A&M line decimated by the NFL hopefuls.
Offense (10)
QB James Foster – 4-Star to Charlotte
QB Connor Blumrick 3-Star to Virginia Tech
QB Colton Taylor – undecided
WR Dylan Wright – 4-Star to Minnesota
WR Kam Brown – 4-Star to UCLA
WR Shadrach Banks – 4-Star – undetermined
WR Camron Buckley – 3-Star – undetermined
WR Andrew Boykin – undetermined
OG Kyle Ohlen – undetermined
OC Thomas Spann – undetermined
Defense (7)
DE Jeremiah Martin – 4-Star to Washington
DT Josh Rogers – 3-Star – undetermined
LB Ke’Shun Brown – 4-Star – undetermined
LB Keeath Magee II – 2-Star – Charleston
DB Derrick Tucker – 4-Star – undetermined
CB Travon Fuller – 4-Star – undetermined
CB Clifford Chattman – 3-Star – undetermined
Special Teams (1)
LS Jake Pagel – undetermined
Incoming
OL Jahmir Johnson – from Tennessee
Photo credit: gigemgazette.com; Shadrach Banks