College football’s transfer portal got a jolt from a familiar face on Friday when Texas WR Isaiah Neyor announced his intentions to transfer away from Austin. Neyor, one-time transfer to Texas, will be looking for a new school to call home for the 2024 season.
What does Neyor bring to the table? And what universities could use his services?
Isaiah Neyor to Transfer Away from Texas
It should be stated that there is maybe no bigger potential impact player at the wide receiver position to hit the transfer portal than Neyor — when he’s healthy.
Neyor suffered a catastrophic knee injury prior to the 2022 season and it certainly hampered his time with the Longhorns. His torn ACL limited him during his time as he missed the entirety of the 2022 season and played just one game in 2023.
Painting the picture a bit more, Neyor is far more than the spotty contributor he was for Texas. He’s a big-play threat with some of the best routes for a big man that we’ve seen in some time.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
Back during a breakout season in 2021 with the Wyoming Cowboys, Neyor far exceeded expectations within the Cowboys’ offensive scheme. He scored 12 touchdowns and averaged a whopping 20 yards per catch. Neyor was heavily targeted in contested situations in the Wyoming offense, mainly on deep go balls or in the red zone, but he made the most out of seemingly every catch.
Utilized correctly at his next stop, Neyor could certainly develop back into that WR1 and put his name back on the map as a potential NFL Draft pick all the same.
Isaiah Neyor Landing Spots
While there is no concrete evidence of any of the following landing spots for Neyor’s services, the following schools could both use Neyor and have been major players in the transfer portal for receivers in recent history.
Florida State Seminoles
Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman are headed pro. The Florida State Seminoles not only need a No. 1 receiver, they also love big-bodied threats from the portal. Neyor, at 6’3″, 215 pounds, could be just that guy.
FSU has a lot to figure out this offseason, mostly on the offensive side of the ball, but head coach Mike Norvell has had no trouble bringing talent to Tallahassee. Neyor, when healthy, would become a fan favorite for the ‘Noles and could potentially help lure in their new signal-caller as well.
Tennessee Volunteers
Once committed to transfer to the Tennessee Volunteers, Neyor could absolutely look to rekindle previous relationships through the portal and find a home in Knoxville. The Vols need some bodies at the position as they’ll need to surround their young quarterback with talent.
Nico Iamaleava is the future of the position with Tennesee and bringing in a massive receiver like Neyor, who has been around the block, would be ideal. Neyor’s veteran leadership would pay immediate dividends.
TCU Horned Frogs
Neyor is from Arlington, Texas, so don’t rule out a trip even closer to home in Fort Worth. TCU is in a hurt box for players following their return to Earth in 2023.
The Horned Frogs have an offensive scheme that may not pit directly to big-bodied receivers downfield (look at Quentin Johnston’s usage in 2022), but it didn’t hurt his draft stock in any form. Neyor’s destiny includes the NFL, and you better believe scouts would be watching Neyor suit up for the Hypnotoad.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide have recently lost Ja’Corey Brooks as an integral part of their 2024 plans, if he wasn’t in their plans for their appearance in the College Football Playoffs as well. Their roster doesn’t quite return the most shining example of talent at the skill positions outside and Nick Saban and Co. will certainly have to be active in the portal.
With Neyor’s skill set on the outside, Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide offense would have a true lid lifter. Someone who could stretch the field vertically and give their run game a boost. Alabama and Texas have met twice since Neyor arrived on campus in Austin, though he hasn’t played a snap against the Crimson Tide.
Still, he has familiarity with how the program has been run from the other side, that commonality could move the needle for him in the portal.