Razorback Football: Top transfers to know for 2023

The Arkansas Razorback Football program has recruited very well through the transfer portal since Sam Pittman became the head coach in 2019. Each season has shown improvement in recruiting and despite a rash of injuries last year Arkansas could’ve improved their onfield record.

Looking back, the 2022 transfer haul was one of the best in America and it included an all-American in Drew Sanders. Plus, had big time starters and contributors like Dwight McGlothern, Latavious Brini, Matt Landers, Jadon Haselwood and Landon Jackson.

This fall, Arkansas will likely continue having success through high level transfers. Right now, the Hogs have commitments or signees of 14 players out of the portal. At least 12 of them will be considered starters or contributors right away. That doesn’t mean Pittman and his staff haven’t recruited well enough. With the current state of college football the transfer portal is a much needed piece to compete at a higher level in the SEC and other Power Five conferences.

Here are a few transfers to watch in 2023:

Defensive tackle Anthony Booker

The Maryland transfer comes to Fayetteville with tremendous size at 6’4 325 pounds. The former Terrapin had a solid season in 2022 recording 27 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.

Booker committed to Arkansas over Texas A&M, South Carolina, Ohio State, and Purdue.

With a nickname like “Tank” you know he’s going to be a load to take care of. It may take more than one offensive lineman to block him at times. He may be that missing piece that the 2022 team didn’t have and that’s a run crusher in the middle of the defensive line.

Defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat

If you can’t beat them grab one of their best players on the defensive line, right?

That may not be the case but the last time Arkansas poached some Missouri players out of the portal the Razorbacks had a pretty salty defensive line. Jeffcoat is a former all-SEC defensive end for the Tigers and has one year of eligibility remaining. The 6’4 270 pound edge rusher has recorded 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss during his career.

Arkansas already has another capable edge rusher in Jackson who played at LSU as a freshman. The tandem could be one of the best bookends in the conference.

Defensive back Jaheim Singletary

A former five-star that signed with Georgia out of high school comes to Fayetteville with tremendous potential as a immediate impact transfer.

The 6’1 175 pound cornerback spent his first year with the Bulldogs. A native of Jacksonville, (Fla.) was a key addition by Georgia in the 2022 recruiting class. He saw action in only two games as a reserve defensive back and put up no stats with the Bulldogs.

Singletary was likely contend for a starting spot this fall as Georgia lost Kelee Ringo to the NFL Draft.

As a recruit, he was the 27th rated player in the country coming out of high school while also the fifth best cornerback in the 2022 recruiting cycle.

The Razorbacks were desperate to upgrade their secondary after being the absolute worst unit in college football last year.

Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa

Don’t let the school’s name fool you, Teslaa can ball.

The Hillsdale College transfer made highlight reel plays throughout his career in the division two ranks. He was praised throughout fall camp for not only making wild one-handed receptions but also a reliable possession receiver.

The 6’4 214-pound receiver has the physical attributes to be a successful SEC level pass catcher in 2023. After having an all-Ameican type of performance in 2022 with 68 catches for 1,325 yards and 13 touchdowns he decided to enter the transfer portal eventually landing at Arkansas over Iowa. TeSlaa had seven 100-yard receiving games, recorded at least one reception in all 11 games and averaged 120.5 yards per game. There’s a reason Power Five schools were drooling over the lightly recruited wing-T quarterback this offseason.

Tight end Var’Keyes Gumms

He committed, decommitted and now has re-committed as of Sunday. Following a visit to Cal-Berkeley this past weekend.

Gumms is a very talented addition after transferring from North Texas this offseason. Pro Football Focus graded him out to be the eighth best returning tight end in 2022. The 6’4 230-pound tight end recorded 34 passes for 458 yards and five touchdowns after starting the final six games for the Mean Green last fall.

He joins a tight end group that will be extremely young following the departure of Trey Knox to South Carolina. Sophomore Tyus Washington and a pair of true freshmen Luke Hasz and Shamar Easter are all very talented but lack in the experience department. Adding someone of Gumms’ caliber, a freshmen all-American in 2022, is huge moving forward.

Currently, Arkansas sits ninth overall according to 247sports transfer portal team rankings. The Razorbacks still have six scholarship spots to fill so there is definitely a chance they move way up the rankings with key additions this summer.