Spring practices for most college football teams are currently ongoing or have just recently completed. The spring transfer portal window opens from April 16-30, although some players have already declared their intent to enter, while grad transfers can enter at any time. The college football offseason news cycle is in full swing, and we’re rounding up the most notable player updates, emphasizing significant injury updates and transfers.
Here you’ll also find updates from spring games as they are played, with a special focus on which quarterbacks started or got snaps. We’ll also check in when some teams announce their starting quarterbacks heading into the fall.
As a reminder, the focus here is on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. The updates in today’s edition range from late-March through early-April.
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
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard underwent a second ankle procedure, this time for a stress fracture, after previously having surgery in January but being available for the start of spring practice. It was initially reported he would miss a few weeks after the second procedure, but there was a chance he could return by the end of spring practice, and two weeks after the procedure he was observed throwing at practice wearing an ankle brace, limited in his participation. Leonard, a transfer from Duke, is competing with Steve Angeli to start.
SMU QB Preston Stone was cleared for full practice participation after starting out the spring limited, as he returns from a broken bone in his leg in week 13 of last season. He was dressed for the spring game but held out as a precaution, with Kevin Jennings, last year’s backup, getting the start. Stone passed for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns for SMU in 2023 prior to the injury.
Arkansas QB Taylen Green, a Boise State transfer, has earned the first team reps in Arkansas’ spring practice, and appears on track to be the starter this fall, according to offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Green passed for 3,794 yards and 25 TDs over the past two seasons with Boise, but struggled to hold onto the starting spot in 2023, eventually sharing time with Maddux Madsen before entering the portal. Green will look to replace KJ Jefferson at Arkansas, who transferred to UCF.
A number of top running backs have announced they are or will be entering the transfer portal, including UMass RB Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams, who is actually re-entering the portal after entering in December then withdrawing in January. In 2023 he rushed for 1,157 yards and 12 TDs. Oregon State RB Damien Martinez will enter after rushing for 1,185 yards and nine TDs in 2023, after a 982 yard and seven TD season in 2022. Ohio State RB Dallan Hayden will enter the transfer portal after two seasons at Ohio State, he rushed for 553 yards and five TDs in 2022. New Mexico State RB Star Thomas enters after a 2023 season where he rushed for 653 yards and four TDs, along with 22 receptions for 200 yards. Jacksonville State RB Ron Wiggins ran for 468 yards and six TDs in 2023, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt.
Quarterback News
- Auburn – in the spring game Payton Thorne started, Holden Geriner was second, with Hank Brown and Walker White also getting snaps. Before spring practice started Hugh Freeze shared that Thorne was in the lead and the job was his to lose (1,755 yards and 16 TDs in 2023).
- Ball State – getting the bulk of snaps in the spring game were Kiael Kelly and Kadin Semonza, with a report that Semonza got more of the first team reps. Kelly served as the primary QB to finish the 2023 season, while Semonza played in four September games before redshirting.
- Henry Belin, Duke – is practicing this spring after a shoulder injury caused him to miss the end of the 2023 season. He is competing with Texas transfer Maalik Murphy and Grayson Loftis.
- BYU – the team did not announce a starter to finish spring. Gerry Bohanon, a South Florida transfer, and Jake Retzlaff are expected to compete in the fall.
- Clemson – starting the spring game for one side was Cade Klubnik, as would be expected as the returning starter (2,844 yards, 19 TDs in 2023), for the other side was Christopher Vizzina, then Trent Pearman was third (and he impressed with both passing and rushing TDs).
- Heinrich Haarberg, Nebraska – is active in spring practice after an ankle injury late in the 2023 season.
- CJ Harris, Ohio – is healthy and practicing this spring after a medical emergency shut down his 2023 season after Week 1. He is competing with Parker Navarro.
- Michael Kern, Wake Forest – he suffered a finger injury in spring practice and is expected to miss a good amount of the rest of spring. He is competing with Louisiana Tech transfer Hank Bachmeier.
- Clifton McDowell, Temple – he re-entered the transfer portal after transferring to Temple from Montana in January.
- Behren Morton, Texas Tech – has been shut down for the second half of spring practice to allow his shoulder to continue to recover from a 2023 injury. He has already been named the starter for the fall, so the rest of spring will serve to help identify the primary backup.
- Cade McNamara, Iowa – although he was spotted throwing in a knee brace as spring practice began, coach Kirk Ferentz shared that he is still limited, but is hopeful to be full speed in his return from the 2023 ACL injury.
- Blake Murphy, Louisiana-Monroe – announced he will enter the transfer portal.
- Navy – Blake Horvath appeared to be getting first team spring scrimmage snaps with Braxton Woodson going next as they continue to compete.
- NC State – Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall started the spring game as expected. Freshman CJ Bailey served as second string.
- New Mexico State – Deuce Hogan (Kentucky transfer), Parker Awad (JC transfer), Brandon Nunez (JC transfer) and Jeff Davison all shared reps in the spring game, getting to work with the various teams, with no starter yet named. The team is looking to replace last season’s starter Diego Pavia who transferred to Vanderbilt.
- North Texas – Stone Earle started the spring game, Cash McCollum was second in, and Reese Mooney was third. Chandler Morris, who is transferring in from TCU, was not with the team for the spring but is expected to arrive over the summer.
- Jaden Rashada, Arizona State – was observed throwing in spring practice, increasing his practice activity after being unavailable begin spring after having surgery on the thumb of his throwing hand.
- Collin Schlee, UCLA – entered the portal as a grad transfer. He first played three seasons at Kent State followed by a season at UCLA.
- Donovan Smith, Houston – his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery is ahead of schedule, and he could begin by throwing a football by the end of April. He is hopeful to be ready for the start of fall camp.
- Southern Miss – Florida State transfer Tate Rodemaker started the spring game, Billy Wiles was 2nd, followed by Ethan Crawford then John White. The team has not yet named a starter.
- Toledo – Tucker Gleason got the bulk of the first team reps in the spring game, John Alan Richter has also been competing.
- Tulsa – Kirk Francis got the first team reps in the spring game with Cardell Williams unavailable (shoulder). Stephen Kittleman served as the backup.
- Jack Turner, Louisiana Tech – coach Sonny Cumbie said Turner is QB1 as the spring begins.
- UAB – Jacob Zeno, the returning starter (3,126 yards and 20 TDs in 2023), took the majority of snaps in the spring game. Landry Lyddy, Trace Campbell and Harrison Barker also received snaps, with Lyddy and Campbell being mentioned by coach Trent Dilfer as standing out.
- UNLV – Hajj Malik-Williams (14/22-227-3), a transfer from Campbell, and Cameron Friel (11/17-116-1) got the most drives in the spring game. Matt Sluka, a transfer from Holy Cross, will arrive this summer to compete.
Running Back News
- Byron Cardwell, Cal – was observed participating in practice after missing 2023 with a knee injury.
- Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest – is active this spring after a lower body injury caused him to miss games at the end of the 2023 season.
- Cameron Davis, Washington – is active in spring practice after missing the 2023 season with a knee injury.
- Seth Davis, Mississippi State – his knee continues to be evaluated, with one report that he may be able to return mid-season this fall.
- Greg Desrosiers, UMass – entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer (301 yards and four TDs in 2023).
- CJ Donaldson, West Virginia – will be limited this spring as he continues to recover from offseason surgery.
- Trevor Etienne, Georgia – the Florida transfer was arrested on four misdemeanor driving charges including DUI and reckless driving.
- Rodney Hammond, Pitt – will not play in the spring game due to injury (undisclosed).
- Kobe Johnson, Colorado State – is active this spring after a wrist injury caused him to redshirt in 2023 after four games.
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame – has been observed at practice getting reps at RB as well as at slot WR, potentially a glimpse of more pass-catching opportunities for him next season.
- Marcus Major, Minnesota – the Oklahoma transfer is still recovering from shoulder surgery as spring practice began.
- Josh McCray, Illinois – is healthy for the spring after a neck injury in week of 2023 ended his season.
- Juju McDowell, South Carolina – will miss the rest of spring practice to have collarbone surgery, he is expected to be ready for the fall.
- Chez Mellusi, Wisconsin – is taking part in spring practice after a week 4 leg injury ended his 2023 season.
- Dawaiian McNeely, Wyoming – will miss spring practice (ACL).
- Will Nixon, Washington – the school confirmed that he left the program and he later entered the portal.
- Ikaika Ragsdale, North Texas – was not dressed for the spring game after reports earlier in the spring that he was not yet ready to practice (lower body).
- Hinckley Ropati, BYU – was cleared to practice mid-spring after missing the 2023 season (ACL).
- Cameron Seldon, Tennessee – had shoulder surgery and will miss the remainder of spring practice, exact timeline for return was not announced.
Wide Receiver and Tight End News
- Lawrence Arnold, Kansas – was observed in a walking boot keeping him from practicing, and it was later announced by coach Lance Leipold that he will miss the rest of spring practice.
- Elijhah Badger, Arizona State – is limited in spring practice, not taking part in full team work, as he rehabs a back injury. Although he was observed running routes and catching passes as he increases his activity.
- TE Gavin Bartholomew, Pitt – is active in spring practice after a low body injury caused him to miss the end of the 2023 season.
- Latrell Caples, Boise State – is active in spring practice after missing the 2023 season with an Achilles injury.
- Omar Cooper, Indiana – is participating in spring practice after missing time at the end of the 2023 season (lower leg).
- Spencer Curtis, Nevada – entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer (30 receptions for 373 yards in ’23).
- TE Corey Dyches, Maryland – Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports reports Dyches is expected to transfer to Charlotte. In 2023 he totaled 49 receptions for 491 yards and 2 TDs.
- Preston Fox, West Virginia – is participating in spring practice after missing the bowl game (upper body).
- TE Oronde Gadsden, Syracuse – was observed participating as spring practice (foot) started, but newer reports were that he was being held out after having a screw removed from his foot as part of an expected follow-up procedure. He said earlier this spring that he is not yet 100 percent but expects to be by the start of fall camp.
- Ahmarian Granger, Old Dominion – will enter the transfer portal.
- Xavier Guillory, Arizona State – expected to miss spring practice (foot surgery).
- Jalen Hale, Alabama – suffered a “significant knee injury” this spring and will miss the rest of spring practice. The prognosis beyond spring was not yet known.
- TE DeShawn Hanika, Kansas – the Iowa State transfer suffered a reported lower body injury that required surgery, and coach Lance Leipold confirmed he will miss the rest of spring practice.
- Jayden Harrison, Notre Dame – the Marshall transfer was observed in a walking boot at a recent spring practice.
- Kobe Hudson, UCF – Gus Malzahn said he got a little banged up in spring practice and is now limited.
- TE Brady Hunt, South Carolina – is active this spring after missing the 2023 season after an ankle injury while still at Ball State.
- Ali Jennings, Virginia Tech – is active in spring practice after a Week 2 ankle injury in 2023.
- TE Max Klare, Purdue – is healthy this spring after a Week 5 ankle injury ended his 2023 season.
- TE Luke Lachey, Iowa – is participating in spring practice after a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3 of 2023.
- Ja’Mori Maclin, Kentucky – the North Texas transfer is missing time in spring due to injury (undisclosed).
- Chrishon McCray, Kent State – is limited in spring practice after a November lower body injury ended his season.
- Jackson Meeks, Syracuse – the Georgia transfer had foot surgery for a hairline fracture and will miss the rest of spring practice.
- TE Garrett Miller, Texas A&M – the Purdue transfer is active with the Aggies in spring practice after appearing to suffer a lower body injury the final game of last season with Purdue.
- Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, UCLA – active this spring after missing the 2023 season.
- Eli Pancol, Duke – is participating in spring practice after missing the 2023 season with a lower body injury.
- Hal Presley, Baylor – is active in spring practice after a lower leg injury in week 6 of 2023 ended his season.
- Key’Shawn Smith, SMU – sat out the spring game with a knee sprain but is expected to be ready to go for summer workouts.
- TE Eli Stowers, New Mexico State – the converted QB has entered the transfer portal (35 catches for 366 yards in 2023).
- TE Kole Taylor, West Virginia – will be limited/non-contact in spring practice after having offseason surgery.
- Noah Thomas, Texas A&M – is practicing this spring after missing the bowl game with an abdominal injury.
Reminder: the college football injury 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 injury 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.
