Spring practices for many college football teams are already ongoing or starting soon. The spring transfer portal window opens in mid-April. The college football offseason news cycle is in full swing, and we’re rounding up the most notable player updates here.
We’ll have updates from spring games. We’ll also check in when some teams announce their starting quarterbacks heading into the fall.
As a reminder, the focus of our college football offseason news is on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. The updates in today’s edition range from late February through mid-March.
While many notable updates are shared here, to see a more full listing of updates, to see more details on the updates shared here, or to search for a specific player, check out the Unabated CFB News Feed.
Major College Football Player Updates
Ball State RB Marquez Cooper entered the transfer portal, becoming one of the top running backs available at this point. He began his career with three seasons at Kent State, rushing for 1,205 yards in 2021, then 1,326 yards in 2022. Then in 2023 at Ball State he had 227 attempts for 1,043 yards, along with 18 catches for 163 yards. He has run for 33 total touchdowns for his career across both teams.
Houston QB Donovan Smith had labrum surgery on his shoulder and will miss spring practice. Smith was the starter for Houston last season, passing for 2,801 yards and 22 TDs for 13 interceptions as well as rushing for 428 yards and 6 TDs. In the offseason Houston did add Louisiana transfer QB Zeon Chriss to compete with Smith.
Troy WR Chris Lewis was diagnosed with cancer, a malignant bone tumor in his left leg, and is scheduled to have surgery in early April which will help to determine his future. Lewis was Troy’s second leading receiver by yardage in 2023, totaling 32 receptions for 735 yards and leading the team with 10 receiving TDs.
Ole Miss RB Logan Diggs, a transfer from LSU, was announced by Lane Kiffin to have had offseason knee surgery and does not sound expected for spring practice, but is hopeful to contribute in the 2024 season. Diggs began his career with two seasons at Notre Dame then played for LSU in 2023, rushing for 653 yards and 7 TDs, With Ole Miss having lost Quinshon Judkins in the portal to Ohio State, they may now be looking to add additional RB help from the portal.
TCU QB Josh Hoover will miss spring practice due to injury but is expected to be ready for summer workouts. Hoover was the leading passer for the Horned Frogs in 2023 when he took over after Chandler Morris went down with an injury, throwing for 2206 yards and 15 TDs with nine interceptions. TCU did add Vanderbilt transfer QB Ken Seals in the offseason.
Arizona State QB Jaden Rashada was reported by Chris Karpman of 247 Sports to have had surgery on the thumb of his throwing hand and will miss spring practice, but could be cleared by the end of spring. Rashada was limited by different injuries in 2023, passing for 485 yards and 4 TDs in three games. Arizona State added Michigan state transfer QB Sam Leavitt in the offseason.
Quarterback News
- Baylor – Dequan Finn (Toledo transfer) and Sawyer Robertson are competing to start this spring.
- Connor Bazelak, Bowling Green – had offseason knee surgery and will miss spring practice.
- Gerry Bohanon, BYU – the South Florida transfer is active in spring practice (shoulder).
- Doug Brumfield, UNLV – announced he was medically retiring from football.
- California – Fernando Mendoza begins the spring as the favorite but is competing with North Texas transfer Chandler Rogers.
- Zeon Chriss, Houston – the Louisiana transfer is participating in spring practice (leg).
- Jalon Daniels, Kansas – was throwing to begin spring practice (back), continues to be evaluated.
- Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss – limited in spring practice after having a lower body procedure in the offseason.
- Jayden de Laura, Arizona – after previously announcing he would transfer to Texas State, de Laura instead decommitted and declared he would enter the NFL Draft.
- Hunter Herring, Louisiana-Monroe – is active in spring practice (collarbone).
- Max Johnson, North Carolina – the Texas A&M transfer is participating in spring practice (ribs).
- Noah Kim, Coastal Carolina – the Michigan State transfer is active this spring after missing the latter half of 2023.
- Cooper Legas, Utah State – is full speed to begin spring after missing time late last season (shoulder).
- Riley Leonard, Notre Dame – the Duke transfer is active in practice after an offseason ankle procedure.
- Gio Lopez, South Alabama – enters the spring as the frontrunner to start.
- Grayson McCall, NC State – the Coastal Carolina transfer is active in spring practice after a head/neck injury last season.
- Jordan McCloud, James Madison – announced he was transferring to Texas State.
- Cade McNamara, Iowa – was observed throwing while wearing a knee brace as spring practice began (ACL).
- Graham Mertz, Florida – is active in spring practice after a late-season collarbone injury.
- Tony Muskett, Virginia – will be active in spring practice but non-contact (shoulder).
- Drew Pyne, Arizona State – announced he will transfer to Missouri. He began his career with 3 seasons at Notre Dame.
- Cameron Rising, Utah – active in spring practice after missing the 2023 season recovering from a knee injury.
- Shedeur Sanders, Colorado – coach Deion Sanders said the fracture in his back is healing well, and he has been seen in practice video to begin the spring. Shedeur added that he feels “great” and “healed”.
- Tyler Shough, Louisville – the Texas Tech transfer is participating in spring practice (leg).
- Preston Stone, SMU – is throwing in spring practice but still limited (leg), hopeful to be ready for summer workouts.
- Payton Thorne, Auburn – is in the lead to start as spring practice began.
- Conner Weigman, Texas A&M – will be available to start spring practice but is not yet 100% (foot), Coach Mike Elko said he begins the spring as QB1.
- Cardell Williams, Tulsa – underwent an offseason shoulder cleanup procedure and is expected to miss spring practice.
Running Back News
- Ajay Allen, Miami – not expected to practice this spring (undisclosed).
- Rashod Dubinion, Arkansas – is good to go this spring (knee).
- Kaden Feagin, Illinois – limited in spring practice (shoulder).
- Mark Fletcher, Miami – not expected to practice this spring (foot).
- Ashton Hayes, Nevada – expected to miss spring practice (knee).
- Isaiah Jacobs, UAB – still sidelined this spring (knee).
- Lexington Joseph, Florida International – is full speed to begin spring (knee).
- Damien Martinez, Oregon State – active in spring after sitting out the bowl game after being suspended then reinstated.
- Alton McCaskill, Colorado – is healthy for spring practice after redshirting the 2023 season.
- Henry Parrish, Miami – is expected to enter the transfer portal. He began his career at Ole Miss.
- Rocket Sanders, South Carolina – the Arkansas transfer is expected to miss the spring (shoulder surgery).
- Terrion Stewart, Bowling Green – will be limited in spring practice (leg).
- Lawrance Toafili, Florida State – is active in spring practice after missing the bowl game.
- Noah Whittington, Oregon – observed taking part in spring practice drills (lower body).
- Keshawn Wicks, Old Dominion – entered the transfer portal.
Wide Receiver and Tight End News
- Andrel Anthony, Oklahoma – will not be available this spring (knee).
- Cam Camper, Boise State – the Indiana transfer is unavailable for spring practice (knee).
- TE Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech – the Arizona State transfer is expected to miss the spring (broken foot).
- TE John Copenhaver, North Carolina – the team announced he will miss spring practice (lower body).
- Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech – the Florida transfer is practicing this spring (lower leg).
- Jahmal Edrine, Purdue – began spring practice in a non-contact jersey (knee).
- TE Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame – will not be available this spring (knee).
- Kyle Ford, UCLA – entered the transfer portal. Began his career with four seasons at USC.
- TE Oronde Gadsen, Syracuse – expected to be ready for fall camp (foot).
- Matthew Golden, Texas – the Houston transfer is active in spring practice (toe).
- Donavon Greene, Wake Forest – is not expected to take part in full team practice as the team is cautious with his return (knee).
- Jack Hestera, Charlotte – will enter the transfer portal. Previously played at Colorado in 2022.
- JJ Jones, North Carolina – the team announced he will miss spring practice (undisclosed).
- TE Brant Kuithe, Utah – is active in spring practice after missing the 2023 season recovering from a knee injury.
- Justin Lockhart, San Jose State – participating in spring practice after missing the 2023 season (hand/arm).
- Bru McCoy, Tennessee – continues to rehab his leg injury as spring practice began, seen working off to the side.
- TE Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina – the team announced he will miss spring practice (lower body).
- Mycah Pittman, Utah – is active in spring practice after missing most of the 2023 season.
- TJ Sheffield, Purdue – re-opened his recruitment in the transfer portal after previously committing to Michigan State.
- Rara Thomas, Georgia – was not yet full speed as spring began (foot).
- Dont’e Thornton, Tennessee – taking part in spring practice (lower leg).
Reminder: the college football offseason news information on this list relies upon reputable reporters and sites rather than rumors or sources inside and around programs.
For up-to-the-minute college football offseason news, transfer updates and position battles, check out the College Football News page, or follow us at @Unabated_CFB on Twitter. Want to talk CFB with Unabated members and staff? Come hang out with us on the Discord.
