SEC Transfer Portal Update: Jan. 21

The first year of the 16-team Southeastern Conference in football has concluded, and teams are looking to reload for next season while also bidding farewell to some old faces.

Here are some top players who transferred to SEC programs and left for other conferences.

In: QB John Mateer transfers to Oklahoma from Washington State

Mateer, the second-ranked player in the portal by 247Sports, joins Ben Arbuckle, his old offensive coordinator from his time with the Cougars, in Norman for the 2025 season.

Mateer recorded 44 total touchdowns last season and seeks to be a stabilizing presence for a Sooners program that had a QB carousel last season.

Michael Hawkins Jr., who played in seven games for Oklahoma last season as a freshman, will be Mateer’s primary competition for the starting job.

Oklahoma lost a top-15 player in the portal, wide receiver Nic Anderson, to LSU, but whoever will be under center will still have plenty of speed to work with on the perimeter.

Out: QB Carson Beck transfers to Miami (FL) from Georgia

247Sports’ top player in the portal, Beck had an up-and-down 2024 season, throwing for 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in SEC play, but underwent UCL surgery in December after suffering an injury in the SEC Championship against Texas.

Beck was persuaded to join the Hurricanes in part because of his girlfriend, Miami women’s basketball player Hanna Cavinder, and they look like a star-studded duo.

Beck will earn $4 million in NIL money next season, which is about $1.5 million more than what former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams will earn in 2025.

Beck’s arm may not be ready for the spring, but Mario Cristobal and company will be looking for something big out of him after Cam Ward looks to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.

In: EDGE Patrick Payton transfers to LSU from Florida State

Payton recorded 32 tackles for loss and 16 sacks over the last three seasons with the Seminoles, and he stands to help replace potential NFL draftees Bradyn Swinson and Saivion Jones.

Payton uses his hands well, sets up his variety of moves nicely as a pass rusher and recognizes blocking schemes well in the run game.

The top edge player in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings, Payton joins the top portal class in 2025 which features 247Sports’ No. 3 corner, Mansoor Delane, and Anderson, their No. 5 wide receiver.

Out: WR Dane Key transfers to Nebraska from Kentucky

The No. 4 wide receiver in 247Sports’ portal rankings, Key hauled in 47 passes for 715 yards and two touchdowns last season for the Wildcats despite playing with three different quarterbacks.

Key started three seasons in Lexington and joins Cal transfer Nzyiah Hunter, 247Sports’ No. 24 receiver in the portal, as weapons for Matt Rhule and his staff in Lincoln.

Former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola looked stellar at times as a freshman last year, and Key’s presence will help him develop as his career goes on.

In: WR Eric Singleton Jr. transfers to Auburn from Georgia Tech

Singleton, the top receiver in the portal, produced 1,126 all-purpose yards as a receiver, rusher and returner last season for the Yellow Jackets.

Oklahoma transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold will enjoy Singleton’s athletic ability as Auburn looks to improve their 1-5 record in games decided by 10 points or fewer in 2024.

Singleton and former five-star receiver Cam Coleman, who caught 37 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman last season, look to be one of the best receiver duos in the SEC.

Out: DL Jeheim Oatis transfers to Colorado from Alabama

Oatis, the top defensive lineman in the portal according to 247Sports, redshirted and entered the portal back in October after not getting much playing time in the Crimson Tide’s first five games of the 2024 season.

Oatis accumulated 57 total tackles, five pass deflections and 1.5 sacks in his three seasons in Tuscaloosa.

In what will be a changing of the guard from Deion Sanders’ son, Shedeur, to a QB battle between Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and five-star recruit Julian Lewis, Oatis looks to play a role in making plays on the other side of the ball.

All transfer portal data is as of Jan. 21, 2025.

Owen Klein is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ojk5092@psu.edu.