The transfer portal is in full swing right now, with every team trying to take advantage of the madhouse by pulling talented players to give them a boost going into next season. With all of the talent available, it’s hard to keep track of the best players in the portal with so many names flying in.
Enter CFN’s very own transfer portal rankings.
Top 10 SEC Transfer Portal Departures in 2023
Find all other top transfer portal departures from each conference around the country: ACC | AAC | Big Ten | Big 12 | CUSA | MAC | Mountain West | Pac-12 | Sun Belt
10) Will Sheppard, WR, Vanderbilt
The lone bright spot over the last few years on a struggling Vanderbilt offense, Will Sheppard threw his name into the portal to put himself on a bigger stage with NFL opportunities ahead of him.
The Commodores product is an excellent route runner and a big-play threat waiting to happen.
Sheppard racked up 2,060 receiving yards in four years with the Commodores and 21 touchdowns.
9) Chris Paul Jr., LB, Arkansas
One of the best run-stoppers in the country, Paul has close to 900 snaps in his career. A tremendous athlete, Paul brings sideline-to-sideline range and pursuit ability with excellent physicality. Paul received plenty of Power Five offers as soon as he hit the portal, an unsurprising fact after watching his film.
8) Juice Wells, WR, South Carolina
As the name implies, Antwane “Juice” Wells has the, well, juice. Wells missed most of 2023 with a foot injury, but his 2022 season was stellar. Wells led the SEC in yards after the catch and finished second in the conference in receiving yards with 911.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
Wells was a weapon in the open field for the Gamecocks and will look to be part of a more functional offense.
7) Rocket Sanders, RB, Arkansas
With explosiveness that backed up his “rocket” nickname, Sanders is one of the top rushers in the country. He battled injuries and a poor offensive line in 2023 and will want a fresh start, given Arkansas’s offensive question marks going into next season. Sanders will be a top option for any Power Five offense next season.
6) Tyler Baron, EDGE, Tennessee
Tennessee’s pass rush was ferocious this year, and Baron was a large part of that. Baron’s 41 pressures were fifth in the conference and just behind teammate James Pearce’s 46. Baron also tallied six sacks this season. Baron has 99 pressures and 16 sacks in his career, making him one of the most productive pass rushers to hit the portal in recent memory.
5)Tyreek Chappell, CB, Texas A&M
The Aggies’ top cover corner, Chappell was one of the best corners in the SEC this season. A former All-SEC Freshman, Chappell was tied for second place on the team with four pass breakups this season. Chappell allowed just 34.5% of passes to be completed on him this season and a 32.3 QBR when targeted.
4) Walter Nolen, DT, Texas A&M
The former number-one recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, the 6’4″, 290-pound defensive tackle played in every game for the Aggies this season. Nolen tallied up 16 pressures and seven sacks in SEC play. Nolen hit the portal with plenty of fanfare and incredible upside. He should be a major contributor to any of the top Power Five teams.
3) Trevor Etienne, RB, Florida
A significant blow to Florida’s offense (dare I say hopes as well) occurred when Etienne announced his decision to transfer. Etienne was a rare bright spot for the Florida Gators and finished ninth in the SEC in rushing yards this season. The talented playmaker can start at virtually any Power Five program he wants to, and will receive plenty of interest from the top teams across the country.
2) Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma
Gabriel finished 2023 as college football’s eighth-leading passer all-time and is looking for more. A 3,000-yard season puts Gabriel over Timmy Chang for second-most passing yards all-time, and Gabriel is one of the top signal-callers in the portal.
MORE: 2023 All-Transfer Portal Team
He received interest from dozens of Power Five teams but looks to be headed to the Oregon Ducks for the 2024 season.
1) Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Florida
In arguably the most surprising entry into the transfer portal, many regarded Umanmielen as a potential Day 2 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, with the ability to be a second-round pick if he tested well. Umanmielen’s 45 pressures and seven sacks will hit the portal as one of the most talented players to hit the market in this cycle and maybe ever.