Jaden Rashada has Georgia on his Mind and More News

By Tony Thomas

With five days left in the spring transfer portal , more and more players are committing to their new teams sooner rather than later. Missouri went out and found an all-conference offensive lineman. Syracuse landed a talented wide receiver to help Fran Brown’s offense.

A talented tight end is moving to the East coast from sunny Cali. Hugh Freeze secured a critical piece for his offense and a talented target for presumed QB1 starter Payton Thorne. And, Kirby Smart is building his quarterback room for the future.

QB Jaden Rashada

Georgia Bulldogs (from Arizona State)

6’4”, 185 lbs.

Jaden Rashada leaves the Valley of the Sun and heads to the East Coast mecca of alternative rock, Athens, Georgia, home of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Kirby Smart has incumbent starter Carson Beck entrenched behind center, and Rashada is the potential future face of the program at the quarterback position. As a freshman in 2023, Rashada passed for 485 yards, four TDs, and three INTs in only three games of action.

After spurning the Florida Gators in the wake of an eight figure NIL deal implosion prior to the start of last season, hopefully, the Bulldogs NIL deal was enough for Rashada to wait his turn behind Beck while he wears headphones and communicates  signals from the sidelines.

WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Auburn Tigers (from Penn State)

6’1”, 185 lbs.

As the leading receiver for the Nittany Lions in 2023, KeAndre Lambert-Smith hauled in 53 balls for 673 yards and four touchdowns.

Lambert-Smith posted four games of 80+ yards receiving, including 123 yards (on four catches) and two touchdowns in a week one win over the Mountaineers of West Virginia. This is a home run from a talent acquisition standpoint, a critical piece for the Hugh Freeze offense.

OL Marcus Bryant

Missouri Tigers (from SMU)

6’8”, 315 lbs.

Marcus Bryant is larger than life, both literally and figuratively. Bryant started 10 games and saw action in 13 contests on his way to earning 1 ^st Team All-AAC honors. Bryant excelled at pass blocking for QB Preston Stone, a 3,100-yard passer with 28 touchdowns and just six INTs.

And, he was a member of an offensive line unit that tied for 17 ^th in the FBS in sacks allowed with 14 in 14 games, helping lead the Mustangs to the AAC Championship and 11-3 record.

WR Justus Ross-Simmons

Syracuse Orange (from Colorado State)

6’3’, 205 lbs.

In 2023, Justus Ross-Simmons made 45 catches for 724 yards and three touchdowns, and he averaged 16 yards per catch. Ross-Simmons recorded two games over 100 yards receiving, including eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. New head coach Fran Brown picks up a talented target for presumed QB1 starter Kyle McCord .

TE Corey Dyches

California Bears (from Maryland)

6’2”, 215 lbs.

Last season, Corey Dyches was fourth on the Maryland team in receiving with 49 catches for 491 yards and two touchdowns. In a 38-6 victory over Towson, Dyches turned in a season-high 108 yards (on six catches) and a touchdown. Dyches will provide another talented option in the passing game for the Bears.