Five players to watch with the transfer portal right around the corner

Memphis will play one more game before it’s officially the offseason. With a new head coach, there are many questions about what the team will look like and which players will enter the transfer portal. 

The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until January 2, but some players have already indicated their intentions of entering. Every team deals with change in the transfer portal, but it’s more volatile when there’s a coaching change.

When Huff took over at Southern Miss last season, his staff brought in 54 players from the portal, while 40 Golden Eagles chose to go elsewhere, according to 247Sports. Huff will likely have a similar offseason this year with a lot of overload, but Memphis has more players who should be able to fit the new head coach’s system.

In his introductory press conference, Huff said that he wouldn’t talk to any players until after the bowl game, and with the Tigers playing in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday, it’s likely more players will make decisions the following week.

There are plenty of players that Huff’s staff should try to retain, but here are five that most people will be paying attention to ahead of the portal opening.

RB Sutton Smith

Sutton Smith finished the regular season with 669 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries, while splitting time in the backfield. Smith has been a Tiger for the last four seasons, but he missed pretty much all of last year after suffering an ACL injury in the first game of the year.

The junior is an electric back that can hurt defenses with the ground game and catching passes out of the backfield. Smith only averaged 8.5 carries per game, which became a topic of conversation most of the year with fans wanting to see him get more opportunities.

As a guy who has been in college since 2022, Smith would receive a ton of interest if he entered the portal. The Tigers would feel really good about the ground game if the dynamic back returned, and he should be a top priority for the new staff.

Quarterbacks

This isn’t an individual player, but it will be the most important position of the offseason. With Brendon Lewis out of eligibility, Memphis has uncertainty at the position. 

Both Arrington Maiden and Antwann Hill Jr. have eligibility remaining, but Maiden already announced his intentions to enter the portal. While he will hit the portal on January 2, the quarterback said that he plans to have conversations with the new coaching staff.

It’s unclear if Hill will enter the portal.

Huff talked about wanting a mobile quarterback running his offense, and it will be interesting to see if he likes a quarterback on the roster or opts to bring someone in from the portal. Both quarterbacks made appearances this season, and both could make a strong case to be the starter next season.

WR Jamari Hawkins

Jamari Hawkins ended the regular season with 591 yards and a touchdown on 34 receptions and turning into the No. 2 option in the receivers’ room. The redshirt junior spent the last three years at Memphis but had a breakout season in 2025.

Hawkins showed off his speed all year and became Lewis’ big-play target when he wanted to take a shot downfield. The wide receiver recorded 55 or more yards in six games, and he had a season-high 110 yards against Tulsa. 

Huff talked about how important speed is in the offensive system he wants to run, and it feels like Hawkins would fit in seamlessly. After making a big jump in production this year, Hawkins has the potential to be a massive weapon if he returns in 2026.

DB Kamari Wilson

After spending last season at Arizona State, Kamari Wilson joined the Tigers and made a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball. The safety finished with 78 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and four pass deflections.

Wilson has played for three different programs in four seasons, but he had his most productive season in Memphis. 

Southern Miss led all of college football this year with 21 interceptions, and he plans to have similar success with the Tigers. It feels like any defensive back would enjoy playing in a defense that is so active, and Wilson is a player who would fit that style. 

DB Chris Bracy

Chris Bracy is another important player on the defense, and it will be interesting to see if he decides to enter the transfer portal after one year at Memphis.

Bracy finished the season with 74 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and eight pass deflections, and he recorded seven or more tackles in five of the last six games of the season. After transferring in from UAB, Bracy had a much bigger impact for the Tigers, but it will be interesting to see if he looks to go somewhere else with a new coaching staff coming in. 

The safety has two years of eligibility remaining and would be a massive player for the new staff to retain.