Georgia Southern Football 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker

via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn

It’s the best time of the year: the transfer portal window is officially open, meaning thousands of college football players will be searching for new opportunities.

With the number of former Georgia Southern players in the transfer portal nearing 20, the Eagles will be forced to utilize the portal themselves in an effort to retool.

This article will highlight which Georgia Southern players have left the program, who has committed and where relationships stand with a number of other athletes.

Transfer Portal Departures

OL Johnnie Brown III: The former Miami transfer earned All-Sun Belt Third-Team honors this season. He has already scheduled visits to Clemson, Louisville and West Virginia.

OL Robert Wright: After posting one of the highest pass protection grades in the Sun Belt this season, Wright has already garnered Power Four interest. He will also visit Louisville over the weekend.

OL Chandler Strong: With 32 starts and over 2,000 snaps at center for the Eagles, Strong could also attract some Power Four eyes.

QB Tyler Budge: With limited playing time available due to a log jam at the quarterback position, Budge decided to go portaling. He has already received an offer from Rhode Island at the FCS level.

QB JC French: This was perhaps the most surprising portal entry for the Eagles, as French served as the program’s starting quarterback for the past two seasons. While we have no inside information, this feels like a situation where a larger program came calling.

OL Caleb Cook: The departure of Cook marked the last of the Eagles’ starting offensive linemen from the 2025 season. The First-Team All-Sun Belt selection will almost certainly end up at the Power Four level.

CB Elijah McDowell: Despite showing flashes in limited playing time, McDowell hit the portal after a number of Eagle defenders announced their return. He broke up four passes and hauled in one interception in 2025.

CB Ayden Jackson: Another Eagle who should attract some Power Four offers, Jackson recorded 74 tackles, three pass breakups and three interceptions this season.

DE MJ Stroud: The Sun Belt leader in tackles for loss with 15.5 has already scheduled visits to Colorado, Michigan State and West Virginia. He has since withdrawn his name and announced his return to Georgia Southern.

WR KD Dorsey: Despite early — albeit limited — playing time in 2023, Dorsey continued to get pushed down the depth chart over the past two seasons.

DE Davion Rhodes: All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention honors capped an impressive season for Rhodes, who accounted for 37 tackles, seven sacks, one pass deflection and a fumble recovery this season.

DT Devan Lowe: After transferring in from the junior college ranks, Lowe served mostly as a rotational piece along the defensive line. He has already received offers from Memphis and UMass.

WR Carmelo Mays: Another receiver who struggled to find playing time, Mays hauled in just one reception for five yards over his two seasons as an Eagle.

WR Dylan Gary: Despite racking up over 800 yards at West Georgia, Gary was unable to establish himself as an Eagle. He hauled in just six receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown this season.

WR Jordan Woolen: Another receiver who struggled to find the field, Woolen would be a welcome addition to any program at the FCS or Division II level.

DE Da’Shawn Davis: Over four years in Statesboro, Davis accumulated 57 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

RB J’Shawn Anderson: Despite appearing in seven games over three seasons, Anderson did not record a statistic during his time as an Eagle.

DL Branden Palmer: After spending most of his time in Statesboro as strictly a special teams player, Palmer entered his name into the transfer portal just days after it officially opened.

WR Brian Green Jr.: After transferring in from Florida, Green did not record a reception with the Eagles. Perhaps a move down to the FCS or Division II level is in the cards for the talented receiver.

Transfer Portal Additions

DB Aaron Sears - Stephen F. Austin: Sears was the only defender that followed defensive coordinator Mike Mutz from Nacogdohes to Statesboro. In 26 appearances for the Lumberjacks, he racked up 106 tackles, five tackles for loss, four pass deflections, one interception and one fumble recovery. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DB Aidan McCowan - Nicholls State: After struggling to find the field at Arkansas, McCowan became an instant contributor for the Colonels. He totaled 31 tackles, five tackles for loss, one interception, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry in 11 appearances in 2025. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

WR Alex Taylor - North Carolina: Taylor hauled in just four receptions for 42 yards during his two years as a Tar Heel, but brings previous chemistry with Max Johnson to his new team. The pair spent the last two seasons as teammates in Chapel Hill, alongside fellow wide receiver transfer Andre Greene. Taylor has three years of eligibility remaining.

WR Andre Greene Jr. - Virginia: While Greene has hauled in just 15 receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown, he also brings previous chemistry with quarterback Max Johnson to the table after the pair spent time together in Chapel Hill. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DL Anthony Bynum - Middle Tennessee State: Bynum is without a doubt the most productive defensive transfer the Eagles have added this offseason, totaling 123 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups and a forced fumble this season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

WR Ashton Hollins - Illinois: This commitment feels somewhat like the Camden Brown commitment from a year ago. After hauling in just 15 receptions for 267 yards and one touchdown, Hollins hopes to establish himself as a No. 1 in Statesboro. At 6-foot-5, he has the chance to become a legitimate downfield threat. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

K Blake Ford - Arkansas: Ford struggled to find the field at Arkansas, but served as North Texas’ kickoff specialist in 2024. He ranked within the top-35 in touchback percentage at the FBS level and should provide some much needed competition in the kicking game this season. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

WR Cam’Ron King - Auburn: King hopes to continue the Auburn to Georgia Southern pipeline, which provided the Eagles with Camden Brown last season. Despite hauling in just one catch for six yards, King earned a scholarship for his efforts this season. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

LS Chason Glenn - Georgia Military College: Coming out of high school, Glenn was ranked as the No. 13 long snapper in the class of 2025. After a single season in Milledgeville, he was the No. 1 long snapper at the JUCO level. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

OL Cole Norred - East Tennessee State: In his true freshman season with the Buccaneers, Norred earned FCS Freshman All-American honors from a number of different publications. He announced his commitment to the Eagles following a two-day visit to Statesboro. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

LB Diego Aviles - Wingate: Aviles totaled 75 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, one sack and a forced fumble over two seasons with the Bulldogs. He announced his commitment just a day after his official visit to Statesboro. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

LB Festus Davies -West Georgia: Davies made his way to Statesboro for a visit on Thursday and had announced his commitment to Georgia Southern by Saturday. He totaled 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and one pass deflection in his final season with the Wolves. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DB Gregory Delaine Jr. - Syracuse: Originally a four-star recruit in the class of 2022, Delaine appeared in 23 games over three years with the Orange. He totaled 18 tackles, three pass breakups, one tackle for loss and one interception in extremely limited playing time. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DB Jakyri Jones - Southeastern Louisiana: Similarly to Davies, Jones also announced his commitment to Georgia Southern just two days after his first visit to Statesboro. He accumulated 75 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry in 13 appearances this season. He has up to two years of eligibility remaining.

OL Josh Raymond - Florida State: After striking out on nearly every offensive lineman they came in contact with, Georgia Southern let out a sigh of relief upon Raymond’s signing. Raymond appeared in just two games for the Seminoles, but boasts great size and a high pedigree. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

WR Kam Mikell - Colorado: The former top-100 recruit and Statesboro native announced his commitment to Georgia Southern just days after entering the portal. He earned reps as both a running back and a wide receiver during his time in Boulder, making him an interesting addition to the Eagles’ offense. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

WR King Phillips - Texas A&M Kingsville: In 10 games with the Javelinas this season, Phillips hauled in 68 receptions for 880 yards and five touchdowns. He was also named the Receiver of the Year in the Lone Star Conference. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

QB Max Johnson - North Carolina: Johnson’s commitment was probably the second biggest surprise of the offseason so far, right behind JC French’s entry into the transfer portal. He has struggled with injuries throughout his six-year career, but he threw for 2,814 yards, 28 total touchdowns and just six interceptions during his 2021 campaign at LSU. He has just one year of eligibility remaining.

OL Mo Clipper - Charlotte: Clipper was originally a four-star prospect coming out of high school, but struggled to find the field at Tennessee. Now, after two successful seasons in Charlotte, Clipper is returning to the Peach State. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DB Noah Mangham - Abilene Christian: Mangham’s number may not be as eye-popping as others’ may be, but he has proven himself as a consistent starter at a pair of programs. He totaled 32 tackles, nine pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one sack in 2025. He has one year of eligibility left.

WR Noble Johnson - Arizona State: Johnson — a former four-star recruit— began his career at Clemson, catching three balls for 16 yards. However, a late-season injury ended his time with the Tigers and kept him sidelined during his one season with the Sun Devils. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

DT O’marion Brown - Wofford: Similarly to Aviles, Brown announced his commitment to Georgia Southern just a day after returning from his official visit to Statesboro. He racked up 40 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble this season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

LB Rashon Myles Jr. - Abilene Christian: Similarly to Bynum, Myles was extremely productive at the FCS level in 2025. He totaled 115 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five fumble recoveries, three pass breakups, 2.5 sacks and an interception in 14 appearances this season. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

RB Tyrese Woodgett - Georgia Military College: In 11 games in Milledgeville, Woodgett carried the ball 117 times and racked up 1,079 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also brought in 13 receptions for 290 yards and three scores. He was also recently honored as a second-team NJCAA All-American. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

Transfer Portal Targets

Using “target” as a very broad term here, as we are unfortunately not in the know on the discussions going on between the Georgia Southern coaching staff and every transfer. The players listed below have either posted an offer from the Eagles on social media or GATA Central can independently confirm that they have been in communication with the program.

WR Adonis McDaniel - Mercer: The Eagles extended an offer to McDaniel on Friday and he quickly set a visit for Saturday. He hauled in 52 receptionsfor 676 yards and six touchdowns this season. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

WR Akeem Wright - De Anza College: Wright dominated at the junior college level, bringing in 113 receptions for 2,137 yards and 22 touchdowns over two seasons with the Mountain Lions. He announced an offer from the Eagles in a social media post on Monday night. His eligibility status remains unclear and will be updated once it can be confirmed.

WR Alex Taylor - North Carolina: After hauling in just four receptions for 42 yards in Chapel Hill, the former-four star went portaling. He visited Statesboro Jan. 15 and announced his commitment to the program just three days later. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

WR Ashton Hollins - Illinois: In three seasons with the Fighting Illini, Hollins hauled in 15 receptions for z267 yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot-5 target quickly attracted eyes from a number of Sun Belt schools and confirmed an offer from the Eagles in a social media post on Saturday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DT BJ Carter - Iowa State: The former three-star did not see game action in his one season in Ames and previously held an offer from the Eagles as a high school recruit. He has four years of eligibility remaining.

OL Brayden Walker - Elon: The 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman started nine games for the Phoenix this year at every position along the offensive line besides center. He confirmed via social media that the Eagles extended him an offer on Saturday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

LB Carson Sloan - Samford: Sloan spent the last two seasons at Samford, where he broke out in 2025 with 81 tackles, eight quarterback hurries, five tackles for loss, five pass breakups and a foced fumble. He announced an offer from the in a social media post on Saturday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DL Cedric Roberts - Alcorn State: Roberts announced in social media post on Thursday morning that Georgia Southern had extended him an offer and confirmed to GATA Central that — as of the time of writing — he is attempting to finalize a visit. He totaled 72 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a sack for the Braves in 2025. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

OL Cole Norred - East Tennessee State: While he has not announced an official offer from Geogia Southern, Norred visited Statesboro from Jan. 7-8. After earning FCS Freshman All-American honors in 2025, he is undoubtedly a hot commodity on the open market. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

DT Elias Sherman - Maine: Sherman received an offer from the Eagles on Friday and will make the trip to Statesboro sometime between January 7-9. He recorded 48 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery this season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DB Elijah McCantos - Appalachian State: After establishing himself as a starter for the Mountaineers this season, McCantos totaled 56 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and 1.5 tackles fo loss this season. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DT Emmanuel Olagbaju - North Dakota: Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 300 pounds, Olagbaju is a freak athlete for his size. He accounted for just 11 tackles, four quarterback hurries, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, but boasts offers from Georgia Southern and Charlotte. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

TE Evan Chieca - New Haven: After hauling in 31 receptions for 255 yards and four touchdowns this season, Chieca announced an offer from the Eagles on Saturday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

LB Festus Davies - West Georgia: Davies steadily increased his production every year, peaking with 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a pass deflection this sesson. He announced in a social media post that he would make a trip to Statesboro on Jan. 8. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DB Jakyri Jones - Southeastern Louisiana: Jones has yet to officially announce an offer from the Eagles, but made his way to Statesboro for a two-day visit beginning on Monday. He accumulated 75 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry this season. He has up to two years of eligibility remaining.

DE Jalile Elliott - Barton College: As a true freshman this season, Elliott accounted for 20 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a quarterback hurry. He received an offer from the Eagles on Tuesday. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

K James London - Pittsburgh: Before his time at Pittsburgh, London spent two years at Murray State. During his time with the Racers, he made 16 of his 23 field goal attempts. He holds the Murray State record with eight made kicks of over 50 yards. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

WR Jay Rockwell - Prairie View A&M: Rockwell struggled to find the field in two years at Sam Houston State, but broke out with 72 receptions for 1,13 yards and seven touchdowns at the FCS level with the Panthers. He announced an offer from Georgia Southern on Saturday. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DE Jaylon Joseph - Lafayette: Joseph totaled 71 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups, four forced fumbled and an interception in three seasons with the Leopards. He announced an offer from the Eagles in a social media post on Monday afternoon.

DB Jayon Harvey - Findlay: In two seasons at Findlay, Harvey totaled 109 tackles, 25 pass breakups, seven interceptions, four tackles for loss and one sack. He announced an offer from the Eagles in mid-December. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DT Jehchys Brown - Southeast Missouri State: Brown recorded 24 tackles, 15 pressures, five tackles for loss and three sacks this season and is a former member of the SEMO track and field team in shotput. He announced an offer from the Eagles in a social media post on Friday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

LB Jeremiah Holmes - The Citadel: While Holmes has yet to receive offer from the Eagles, he made a trip to Statesboro on Jan. 7. He accumulated 36 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks for the Bulldogs. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

TE Joshua Burrell - Furman: Burrell — a former top-500 recruit — began his career as a wide receiver at Florida State before transitioning to the tight end position at Furman. In 15 games, he hauled in 38 receptions for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He confirmed via a social media post that the Eagles had extended an offer. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

LB JT Hooten - West Alabama: As a sophomore, Hooten totaled 73 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery. He announced an offer from Georgia Southern on Friday. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

DL Justin Terrell - NC State: After finding scarce playing time in 2025, the former three-star has drawn eyes from Power Four and Group of Six programs alike. The Georgia native has set up visits to Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Old Dominion and Sam Houston. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

DE Justin Wallace - Western Carolina: Wallace spent three seasons as a Catamount and finally broke out with 30 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 2025. He announced an offer from Georgia Southern in a social media post on Friday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DB Kaleb Hutchinson - Mercer: While Hutchinson does not yet hold an offer from the Eagles, he has been in contact with the staff since the portal officially opened. He accounted for 66 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, three interceptions and 2.5 sacks en route to earning First-Team All-SoCon honors this season. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

WR Kam Mikell - Colorado: While stuck behind some talented receivers, Mikell struggled to find any consistent playing time with the Buffaloes. The former top-100 recruit confirmed to 247Sports that the Eagles are one of the many teams that have contacted him since the transfer portal officially opened. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

DT Kevin Roberts - West Florida: In his sophomore season with the Argonauts, Roberts racked up 45 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and two pass deflections. He announced an offer from the Eagles on Monday, but has since received a number of Power Four offers. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

OL Keyon Cox - Oregon State: Although GATA Central is unabke to confirm that he actually made it to campus, it was originally announced that Cox had a visit planned to Statesboro. However, he has since committed to UAB. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

QB Marcos Davila - Nebraska: Despite arriving at Purdue as a highly touted four-star recruit and then transferring to Nebraska, Davila has yet to see any game action at the FBS level. He has been in contact with the Georgia Southern staff, but has yet to receive an offer. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

OL Mason Bowers - Charlotte: Before he became a 49er, Bowers spent time at Coastal Carolina and Kennesaw State. He has starter 24 games and split time between the guard and tackle position. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

LB Michael Torres - Presbyterian: Torres posted 74 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbled and two fumble recoveries for the Blue Hose in 2025 and entered his name in the portal due to a coaching change. Georgia Southern has not yet extended an offer, but the coaching has contacted talented defender. He has one or two years of eligibility remaining.

OL Mykel Reed - Georgia Military College: Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 315 pounds, Reed boasts great size for an interior offensive lineman. The Florida A&M commit does not yet hold an offer from Georgia Southern, but the program has been in contact with him.

DT Nasim Cairo - Southeast Missouri State: In four years as a Redhawk, Cairo accounted for 88 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two forced fumbles one fumble recovery and one pass deflection. He announced an offer from the Eagles on Friday and confirmed shortly thereafter in a social media post that he would take an official visit to Statesboro on January 6. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

TE Nate Levicki - Presbyterian: Levicki hauled in 34 receptions for 471 yards and nine touchdowns this season, earning him FCS All-American Honorable Mention honors. He confirmed in a social media post made on Friday that he had received an offer from Gerogia Southern. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DE Nathan Gonzales - Indiana State: In 11 games this season, Gonzales totaled 30 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks. He received an offer from Georgia Southern on Saturday. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DL O’marion Brown - Wofford: Brown made his way to Statesboro just a day after the transfer portal officially opened. He announced his commitment to the program on Monday, marking the second transfer addition for the Eagles in 2026. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DB Quinn Wills - Grand Valley State: Wills struggled to find the field in his first few years with the Lakers, but broke out with 55 tackles, six pass breakups and one tackles for loss this season. He announced an offer from Georgia Southern in a social media post on Wednesday night. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DT Sidiq Cabaniss-Ali - North Carolina A&T: After a breakout freshman, Cabaniss-Ali has attracted the eyes of programs across the Group of Six. While he has yet to officially announce an offer from the Eagles, his representatives claim he has been in contact with the program. He logged 30 tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks as a true freshman in 2025. He has four years of eligibility remaining.

DT Sterling Sanders - Boston College: While Sanders has also not officially announced an offer from the Eagles, he has been in contact with the program since the portal officially opened. He did not see game action at Boston College this year, but did boast an offer from Georgia Southern coming out of high school. He has four years of eligibility remaining.

DB Tre’Shawn Moore - West Georgia: In just seven games this season, Moore posted 39 tackles, teo pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception this season. In a late night social media post on Saturday, he confirmed that he had received an offer from Georgia Southern. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

WR Tony Diaz - UT Rio Grande Valley; After bringing in 68 receptions for 875 yards and 11 touchdowns, Doaz has become a hot commodity on the open market. Georgia Southern extended the talented pass catcher an offer on Friday, but a number of Power Four programs have already swooped in and secured visits. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

OL William Boone - North Carolina: Despite starting the Tar Heels’ first three games, Boone left the program in October and entered the transfer portal once the season concluded. He visited Statesboro just a day before the transfer portal window officially closed, but ultimately chose Texas State as his new home. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

DB Za’Quon Bryan - Minnesota: Bryan was used frequently by the Golden Gophers as a rotational piece, but the former top-1000 recruit is looking to revive his career somewhere. The Savannah native made the trek to Statesboro on Jan. 6 and all reports are indicating that the visit went well. He has two years of eligibility remaining.