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By Chris Marler
We are one week away from the transfer portal opening up, but there have been plenty of storylines around the league. Here’s the latest from SEC teams.
Texas’ Running Back Room is Empty
Texas had what was widely regarded as one of the deepest running back rooms in the SEC coming into the season. It’s safe to say that that will not be the case going into the 2026 season.
The Longhorns leading rusher for this season Quintrevion Wisner announced Friday that he’d be entering the transfer portal which makes the fourth Texas RB to announce their intention to enter the portal this offseason. He joins CJ Baxter, Jerrick Gibson, and Rickey Stewart Jr. Baxter and Gibson are both ranked as top ten transfer players at the RB position.
Baxter is a former five star, and while it’s unknown who they’ll target in the portal or how many players will even be available, the run game will be a huge part of the offensive plans in 2026. Over the previous four seasons, Steve Sarkisian’s offenses at Texas averaged more than 2,500 rushing yards and 4.94 yards per carry. In 2025, those numbers dropped sharply to 3.95 yards per carry and just 1,556 rushing yards, nearly 1,000 fewer.
That’s the 4th Texas RB to announce his intentions to enter the Portal:
• Cedric Baxter (On300 2023 RB1)
• Tre Wisner (Texas’s leading rusher this season)
• Jerrick Gibson
• Rickey Stewart Jr.https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q https://t.co/boFTFm5zEK— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 26, 2025
Auburn is Losing Everyone
On Friday, Auburn TE Camden Etheredge announced his intent to leave Auburn and enter the transfer portal.
He is the 25th player from Auburn to announce their intention to enter the portal this offseason, and there’s still a week to go. That number isn’t necessarily record setting at Auburn, who has had between 23 and 26 players enter the portal in the three of the previous four cycles.
The surprise stems from how much talent is departing, particularly on offense, despite the arrival of an offensive-minded head coach and the continuity of the defensive coordinator for the returning defenders.
It will be interesting to see what Auburn does in the portal with new head coach Alex Golesh. Quarterback will be a priority for sure. And, he most likely won’t be lacking any resources, as Auburn has brought in a top ten portal class in two of the past three seasons.
Updated Auburn transfer portal tracker following the announcement that TE Camden Etheredge intends to enter: pic.twitter.com/ATIDbBPZjx
— Taylor Korn (@TaylorKorn_) December 26, 2025
South Carolina is Retaining Everyone
As bad as things have been for Auburn and the exit door, the opposite has been the case for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks have seen double-digit departures, including four offensive line starters, but no program in the country has done a better job than Shane Beamer and South Carolina at keeping the players who mattered most.
The Gamecocks were able to retain three of the biggest names, not just from their roster, but potentially three of the biggest names in the portal. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, WR Nyck Harbor and EDGE Dylan Stewart all announced they’ll be back for the 2026 season. That may not seem like a huge deal considering they were a 4-8 team, but two of those three players were former five stars, and all three generated first round buzz for the NFL Draft.
HE’S BACK. 👀🚨
NYCK HARBOR HAS A GREAT PRESENT FOR GAMECOCK NATION AS HE ANNOUNCES THAT HE IS COMING BACK NEXT YEAR. 🐔🤙 pic.twitter.com/ki9gDoZYr6
— 1801 Media (@1801MediaCo) December 25, 2025
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