Penn State wideout Omari Evans jumped into the transfer portal. Like left-handed pitchers in baseball, the hunt for quality receivers remains a top priority and several teams across the country are still in the market for a capable pass-catcher.
Which teams make the most sense as landing spots for Omari Evans?
Omari Evans Transfer Portal Landing Spots
When Penn State wide receiver Omari Evans decided to enter the transfer portal, teams across college football got excited. Less than seven days after a three-point defeat to Notre Dame, the Nittany Lions suffered another loss.
After a career year with 21 catches for 415 yards and five touchdowns, Evans decided to enter the transfer portal, several days after the portal closed for most players. Which schools are potential landing spots?
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Matt Rhule wants to throw the ball. This isn’t your father’s Nebraska Cornhuskers team. Rhule gave the keys to the Big Red Kingdom to Dylan Raiola. The freshman responded with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing passes at a 67.1% clip.
That interception number may seem high, but with context, it evens out. Nebraska didn’t quite have the wideouts to execute a true passing offense. Raiola can take the top off a defense. Adding a deep threat to complement fellow transfer Dane Key would help in Lincoln. Plus, the inclement weather will not bother Evans, as Happy Valley features colder games.
North Carolina Tar Heels
Bill Belichick’s foray into the college coaching ranks will not be an easy one, despite the future Hall of Famer’s enormous footprint on the sport. Belichick, much like his journey in both Cleveland and New England, has embraced the portal for one main reason.
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Belichick is not a fan of rookies and prefers veteran players as they should not be rattled in front of the bright lights of a program looking to gain national relevance and attention. For the better part of a decade the North Carolina Tar Heels struggled to climb above the middle of the ACC. Evans, as a senior playmaker, checks the boxes that could see him in Chapel Hill.
Remember, Belichick trying to leave a strong foundation at Carolina. Steve, his son serves as the head coach-in-waiting.
Ole Miss Rebels
Receiver graduation will hit few teams harder than the Ole Miss Rebels. Losing Jordan Watkins, Antwane Wells, and Tre Harris will all head out of Oxford. Picture Lane Kiffin watching 22 receiving touchdowns from last year walk out the door.
Kiffin, at the moment is more known for his social media snark, but he’s consistently recruited the portal at a high level. Ole Miss cannot fall behind, even for a second in the SEC. Pairing Evans with West Virginia Mountaineers transfer Traylon Ray softens the damage.
Iowa State Cylones
Matt Campbell waves goodbye to 167 catches and 17 touchdowns leaving Ames for the NFL. The best receiver duo in the Big 12, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, gave quarterback Rocco Becht playmakers that defenses couldn’t double.
Becht could use Evans as one-year stop gap for the Iowa State Cyclones. Coupled with East Carolina transfer Chase Sowell, he could duplicate what the Cyclones lost to graduation, not missing a beat.
Missouri Tigers
Luther Burden’s Columbia departure affects the Missouri Tigers more than any other player on this list. Burden allowed the Tigers to spread the field and opened up a running game that pounded the ball an average of 39 times per game.
Evans could serve as capable No. 2 while former Mississippi State receiver Kevin Coleman could contend for the opposing spot. This makes the most sense because the new Mizzou quarterback Beau Pribula played with Evans at Penn State.
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