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Top transfer portal classes heading into signing day

ASSOCIATED PRESS
                                Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin walks along the sideline during a game on Nov. 20.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin walks along the sideline during a game on Nov. 20.

Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin has pronounced himself the portal king, but Southern California’s Lincoln Riley is aiming for that crown, too.

Riley landed the biggest prize in the transfer portal on Tuesday, when quarterback Caleb Williams announced he would be joining his former coach at USC.

Kiffin has nonetheless secured one of the deepest and most talented transfer classes this cycle, taking advantage of the turnover at Southern California to reload at team that won 10 games last season.

Here are six schools that have been busy and productive in the portal:

MISSISSIPPI

To replace quarterback Matt Corral, Kiffin landed Jaxson Dart, who started as a freshman last season for USC. Dart’s teammate, talented tight end Michael Trigg, is also heading to Oxford.

The Rebels’ class includes running back Zach Evans, who averaged 7.3 yards per carry in two seasons at TCU, promising edge rusher Jared Ivey from .Georgia Tech and two productive players from Group of Five schools in linebacker Troy Brown (Central Michigan) and offensive tackle Mason Brooks (Western Kentucky).

USC

Riley had already landed two of his former Oklahoma players in receiver Mario Williams and defensive back Latrell McCutchin before Williams made it official.

USC also grabbed Pac-12 rival Oregon’s leading rusher (Travis Dye) and receiver Brenden Rice, son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, from Colorado to give its new quarterback some weapons.

Two former Southeastern Conference linebackers were added to boost the defense in Shane Lee from Alabama and Romello Height from Auburn along with defensive lineman Tyrone Taleni from Kansas State.

NEBRASKA

Safe to say this is a make or break season for coach Scott Frost. How the Cornhuskers’ transfers do could determine whether he finally turns the corner at his alma mater.

Among a dozen committed transfers are two quarterbacks: Chubba Purdy from Florida State and Casey Thompson from Texas.

Defensive back Tommi Hill from Arizona State and receiver Trey Palmer could both step into starting roles, and the Huskers are hoping a slew of players from FCS and G5 schools provide much-needed depth.

OKLAHOMA

Riley’s departure has meant a lot of portal activity for the Sooners, both coming and going.

New coach Brent Venables has filled holes along the defensive line with Jeffery Johnson from Tulane and Jonah La’ulu from Hawaii. McKade Mettauer from California could slide into a starting spot in the interior of OU’s offensive line.

The Sooners also landed three defensive backs, including CJ Coldon from Wyoming.

To replace Williams at quarterback, the Sooners flipped Dillon Gabriel, a Mililani High graduate, away from UCLA. Gabriel was a two-year starter at UCF.

LSU

Another team with a coaching change that has had lots of transfer comings and goings.

Coach Brian Kelly has loaded up on defensive backs from the portal, picking up commitments from two former Arkansas starters (Greg Brooks Jr. and Joe Foucha), plus Mekhi Williams-Garner from Louisiana-Lafayette and Jarrick Bernard-Converse from Oklahoma State.

The Tigers are still minus-1 at quarterback after Max Johnson transferred to Texas A&M.

FLORIDA STATE

Coach Mike Norvell has been working the portal hard since he arrived in Tallahassee and that continues as he tries to get the Seminoles back on track in year three.

The headliner of this transfer class comes from an unlikely place. Jared Verse is a high-upside edge rusher who played at FCS Albany last season.

The Seminoles shopped in bulk at receiver, adding Johnny Wilson from Arizona State, Mycah Pittman from Oregon and Winston Wright from West Virginia.

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