Just a few days after news broke QB Jackson Arnold would enter the transfer portal, Oklahoma Sooners WR Nic Anderson has followed suit. Which landing spots make the most sense for the towering pass catcher?
Where Will Nic Anderson Transfer?
At 6’4″, 220 pounds, and coming off an Oklahoma freshman record 10-touchdown campaign, the sky was supposed to be the limit for Anderson in 2024.
Instead, a hip injury sidelined him for all but one game, throwing ice-cold water on a red-hot rise.
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After playing in just three games as a true freshman, Anderson broke out in 2023, hauling in 38 passes for 798 yards and 10 TDs.
With Arnold entering the portal and a new offensive coordinator coming to town, it appears Anderson wants to seek greener pastures outside of Norman. Where do those greener pastures lie?
Texas A&M Aggies
College Station, Texas, is just an hour-and-a-half drive away from Anderson’s hometown of Katy, Texas. But outside of proximity to his family, the Texas A&M Aggies are on the rise under Mike Elko. The program finished the regular season at 8-4 but was just a few plays away from making the SEC Championship Game.
Additionally, they have the QB of the present and future under center in redshirt freshman Marcel Reed, and they will need a big-play threat on the outside with Jabre Barber and Jahdae Walker seniors.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
This projection doesn’t take much analysis:
Jeff. Lebby.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach was Oklahoma’s OC during Anderson’s breakout campaign. Who better to get the skywalking WR back on track after a disappointing season?
Now, the Bulldogs were dreadful in Lebby’s debut, going 2-10. An injury to QB Blake Shpaen certainly muddied the waters, but true freshman Michael Van Buren Jr. flashed on the field.
Oregon Ducks
Anderson originally committed to the Oregon Ducks out of high school before flipping to the Sooners. Could the two sides come together once more?
Dan Lanning has turned the Ducks into a superpower, currently sitting at No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings. With two-thirds of the team’s WR corps running out of eligibility (Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden), he’ll need reinforcements to keep the good times rolling.
LSU Tigers
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish were once a favorite to land Anderson during Brian Kelly’s tenure. Now the head coach of the LSU Tigers, could Kelly seek Anderson’s services once more?
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He should, as the Tigers are coming off a mediocre 8-4 season that fell below fan expectations. Top pass catchers CJ Daniels (transfer) and Kyren Lacy (redshirt senior) will be gone next year, meaning QB Garrett Nussmeier needs a new No. 1 on the outside.
Wherever Jackson Arnold Goes
Some friendships exceed institutions — is that Arnold and Anderson? It’s not out of the question for the Texas natives. It helps that Arnold, a former five-star recruit, is talented in his own right, meaning his potential landing spots feature blueblood programs as well.
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