The transfer portal has made it impossible for most teams to keep their rosters together in college football, but especially in the Group of Five.
While no team in college football is immune from the challenges of roster retention in the transfer portal era, it certainly seems to affect Group of Five programs at a greater level. Even when a team keeps their head coach, it still might not matter – see the Tulane Green Wave losing quarterback Darian Mensah and all but five starters last season despite retaining Jon Sumrall for 2025. But when a G5 team does lose their head coach, it feels like all bets are off with no illusions of loyalty to a replacement who didn’t recruit them.
For North Texas Mean Green fans, this season has been a highest of highs ride that doesn’t come without lows. After a 12-2 finish with a New Mexico Bowl win over San Diego State, North Texas fans didn’t get much time to enjoy that 49-47 victory. Shortly after the game ended Saturday, star running back Caleb Hawkins declared his intent to enter the transfer portal, in addition to wide receiver Wyatt Young, while quarterback Drew Mestemaker is expected to enter.
Hawkins leads the FBS with 29 touchdowns as a true freshman who broke out alongside redshirt freshman Mestemaker, who led the nation with 4,379 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. Per ESPN, Hawkins is expected to be one of the top premier backs who will be available once the portal officially opens Friday. His 1,804 yards from scrimmage are also good for third-most in the FBS. Young will also garner attention as the third-leading receiver in college football with 1,264 receiver yards as a sophomore with years of eligibility left.
This all comes as the program will change hands from Eric Morris, leaving for Oklahoma State, to new coach Neal Brown. The coaching staff also faces turnover as Morris will be taking defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity, several assistant coaches, and general manager Raj Murti to the Cowboys. That tends to lead to significant attrition.
But breakout seasons for young stars who can garner significant NIL purses also will lead to roster turnover, particularly for G5 stars looking to jump to the Power Four level. Hawkins had six games with over 200 total yards for the Mean Green, including his Offensive MVP performance in the bowl win over San Diego State.
So, for Mean Green fans, they enjoyed their best season in program history that ended on a high note. But it didn’t come without cost. The No. 1 scoring offense in college football loses its mastermind in Morris, and the three players who made it so prolific. If North Texas hopes to return to the American Conference Championship after their first-ever appearance, they’ll need some serious reloading under Brown in the transfer portal.