College football programs continue to embrace the transfer market as hundreds of players flooded the portal during the offseason. Here are 10 transfers to watch this upcoming season in the ACC:
Tatum Bethune, LB, Florida State
Bethune is coming off a career year at UCF, earning honorable-mention honors in the American Athletic Conference after leading the Knights with 108 tackles. It reunites the Miami native with former UCF defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, who recruited Bethune from Miami Central and coached him through his first two seasons with the Knights. He bolsters a linebackers unit that returns three starters.
Jadan Blue, WR, Virginia Tech
A two-star product out of Baltimore, Blue spent four seasons at Temple, where he totaled 1,672 career receiving yards on 169 catches with 10 touchdowns. He became the first Owls player to total 1,000 yards receiving in a season in 2019. The departures of Tre Turner and Tayvion Robinson leave Virginia Tech with a rebuilt core of receivers, including Blue and fellow transfer Stephen Gosnell (North Carolina).
Kameron Butler, DE, Virginia
Butler’s presence should boost a Cavaliers defense that finished next-to-last in the conference in total defense and dead-last in sacks (18) and tackles for loss (52). The Kentucky native earned Mid-American Conference honors three straight seasons at Miami, finishing with 120 tackles, including 31.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. He’s one of six transfer additions for new coach Tony Elliott.
Tiyon Evans, RB, Louisville
Evans was the fifth-highest rated tailback in the transfer portal when signed at Louisville in December following one season at Tennessee. The former junior-college transfer rushed for 525 yards while averaging 6.4 yards per carry in seven games for the Volunteers. He joins one of the deepest backfields in the conference, with the Cardinals already featuring Jalen Mitchell (722 yards), Trevion Cooley (431) and Jawhar Jordan (94) along with dual-threat quarterback Malik Cunningham (1,034).
Ahmari Harvey, DB, Georgia Tech
Harvey, a three-star product from Tallahassee, arrives after spending a season at Auburn. He’s the second addition to the Georgia Tech secondary, joining former Notre Dame safety Khari Gee. The Yellow Jackets featured one of the worst passing defenses in the conference last season, finishing with three interceptions. The unit could benefit from the natural abilities of Harvey, who was an outstanding playmaker in high school.
Tyler Hudson, WR, Louisville
Hudson is one of seven transfers to join the Louisville program this offseason. The talented playmaker left Central Arkansas after three productive seasons, including in 2021 when he led the team in receptions (62), receiving yards (1,242) and receiving touchdowns (8). He also returned punts on special teams for the Bears. Hudson’s presence is huge for a Cardinals’ receiving unit that lost Jordan Watkins (544 yards) and Justin Marshall (322) in the offseason.
Henry Parrish Jr., RB, Miami
Parrish was among the top tailback transfer targets when he entered the portal after two seasons at Ole Miss, where he finished with 1,048 all-purpose yards. He was fourth on the team in rushing (553 yards) and sixth in receptions (21). The four-star product returns home to South Florida, where he joins a Miami roster that returns three of its top rushers led by Jaylan Knighton (561 yards).
Juwaun Price, RB, Syracuse
Syracuse already features the top running back in the conference in Sean Tucker, who shattered the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,496 yards. Still, the addition of Price gives the Orange another option in the backfield. The former New Mexico State tailback led the Aggies in carries (135), rushing yards (693) and rushing touchdowns (10). He benefits from playing behind a veteran offensive line that helped SU become the top rushing offense in the ACC in 2021.
Kedon Slovis, QB, Pittsburgh
Slovis adds his name to the list of possible replacements for Kenny Pickett at Pittsburgh. After three seasons on the West Coast at USC, the veteran quarterback transferred, where he finished with 7,576 passing yards and 58 touchdowns in 27 games (26 starts). A strong arm with good touch, Slovis is the most experienced quarterback on a Panthers’ roster that also features Nick Patti and Joey Yellen.
Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
Verse was the top-rated edge rusher in the portal this offseason after finishing with 22 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and 4 sacks, earning him Colonial Athletic Association honors at Albany. His size (6-4) and speed make him the perfect option to help fill a void on the Seminoles’ defensive front left by the departures of Jermaine Johnson II and Keir Thomas.
Honorable mention: RB Trey Benson (Florida State); DB Khari Gee (Georgia Tech); OL Mac Hollensteiner (Virginia); LB Mohamed Sanogo (Virginia); OL Paul Tchio (Georgia Tech)
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Matt Murschel at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.
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