The Final Skirmish: Top Portal Targets Still on the Board Before Spring Ball
Before we dive into the chaos, a quick reminder: The path to these high-stakes recruiting battles starts with the development, exposure, and training found at Boardwalk Beasts camps and NUC Sports showcases. If you want your player to be the next name college coaches are scrambling for, start building that foundation now.
The confetti has settled. The big-name transfers: the Sam Leavitts, the Cam Colemans, the Isaiah Bonds: are already enrolled and grinding through winter conditioning at their new schools. But here's the thing: the transfer portal never really closes.
As spring practice looms and coaching staffs are conducting final roster audits, there's a handful of blue-chip prospects still on the board. These aren't your typical "leftover" guys. We're talking about elite talent delayed by academic processing, decommitments, or late-breaking decisions that have triggered one last recruiting scramble before the spring window opens in April.
Welcome to the Final Skirmish.
The Prize: Kamauryn Morgan (EDGE)
If there's one name that's causing sleepless nights in recruiting war rooms across the country right now, it's Kamauryn Morgan. The former Baylor edge rusher is the biggest fish left in the portal pond, and the bidding war is getting intense.
Here's the timeline: Morgan flashed as a true freshman at Baylor, logging significant snaps and showing the kind of explosive first step that gets NFL scouts salivating. He entered the portal, committed to Virginia Tech, and then… enrollment complications. The Hokies couldn't get him in, and suddenly Morgan was back on the market.
Now? It's an all-out brawl between Texas, Indiana, Michigan State, and Mississippi State.
Texas sees him as the final piece to an already elite defensive front: the kind of depth that wins SEC championships and College Football Playoff games. Indiana, fresh off their recent program momentum, is pitching immediate playing time and a chance to be the guy rather than just another rotation piece.
The stakes? Massive. Landing Morgan before spring ball means you've got a proven pass rusher ready to go Day 1. Miss him, and you're scrambling in the chaotic April window where NIL prices inflate and desperation sets in.
The High-Upside Protector: Broderick Shull (OT)
Sometimes the biggest impact transfers aren't the guys with the highlight reels: they're the massive human beings who can anchor your offensive line for the next three years.
Enter Broderick Shull, the 6'5", 325+ pound tackle who just left Auburn. Shull sat out his true freshman year, which means he's a development prospect with NFL upside and a full eligibility clock. In today's college football landscape, that's gold.
Nebraska is pushing hard. They need bodies on the offensive line, and Shull fits their power-run identity perfectly. Boston College, Cincinnati, and Duke are also in the mix, each selling a different vision: immediate playing time, scheme fit, or academic prestige.
Here's the truth: Shull isn't walking in and starting Week 1 at left tackle. But by Year 2? He could be protecting a future first-round quarterback. That's the bet these programs are making.
The Massive Anchor: Nick Brooks (OG/OT)
When you're pushing 350 pounds and you've been coached up in one of the best offensive line rooms in the country (Texas), people notice.
Nick Brooks entered the portal from Texas, likely because the Longhorns' O-line room is stacked deeper than a Thanksgiving dinner table. But that doesn't mean he can't start somewhere else.
Brooks is the perfect fit for an old-school, downhill running program. He's not going to win with athleticism or pulling down the line: he's going to pancake defensive tackles and open holes the size of the Lincoln Tunnel.
His recruitment has been quieter than Morgan's or Shull's, but don't sleep on this one. As spring practice starts and depth chart realities set in, some program is going to realize they need emergency size on the interior. Brooks will get his.
The Journeyman: David Ojiegbe (EDGE)
Here's the thing about David Ojiegbe: his path tells you everything about modern college football.
Originally a Clemson signee, Ojiegbe bounced to Pitt, then landed at Norfolk State, where he promptly racked up 7.5 sacks at the FCS level. Now he's looking for his fourth school, and Power Four programs are circling.
Virginia Tech: still licking their wounds from losing Morgan: has shown renewed interest. They need pass rush help, and Ojiegbe brings veteran experience and elite pedigree. He's not going to be your 10-sack guy, but as a rotational rusher on third downs? He's a steal.
This is the reality of the portal: not every addition is a splash hire. Sometimes you need a savvy veteran who knows how to win his one-on-one matchup when it matters most.
The Roster Impact: Winners and Losers
Let's talk about what these moves mean for the programs involved.
Texas Longhorns: They're in an interesting spot. They lost Brooks (depth issue) but could land Morgan (massive upgrade). It's a high-risk, high-reward gamble. Miss on Morgan, and suddenly their edge depth looks thinner than expected heading into a brutal SEC schedule.
Virginia Tech Hokies: Losing Morgan's commitment stings. The Hokies need to pivot fast: landing Ojiegbe would soften the blow, but it's not the same impact. This is a program desperate to prove they can compete in the NIL/portal era.
Auburn Tigers: Between losing Shull and Cam Coleman earlier in the cycle, Auburn's got a retention problem. Young talent is bailing, and that's a red flag for Hugh Freeze's program. They need to figure out what's not working: and fast.
Indiana Hoosiers: Landing Morgan would be a statement. It would prove that Indiana isn't just riding a feel-good wave: they can compete with SEC and Big Ten heavyweights for elite talent in the NIL era.
Nebraska Cornhuskers: Shull represents hope. Hope that they can rebuild that dominant offensive line culture. Hope that Matt Rhule's vision is working. Miss on him, and it's another missed opportunity in a long list of them.
The Clock is Ticking
Here's why these next 2-3 weeks matter so much: spring practice.
Once spring ball starts, rosters are essentially locked until the April window opens. If you don't land these guys now, you're gambling that better options will be available in April: and history says that's a bad bet. The April window is chaos: inflated NIL deals, more competition, less time to integrate players into your system.
Smart programs are closing deals now. They're getting these guys enrolled for Summer A sessions, getting them into strength and conditioning programs, and building chemistry before fall camp even starts.
The programs that wait? They're the ones scrambling in April, overpaying for Plan C options and hoping it all comes together by September.
The Development Pipeline
Look, we talk about these high-stakes portal battles because they're exciting. But here's what doesn't get talked about enough: none of these guys would be in this position without years of development.
Kamauryn Morgan didn't wake up one day as a Power Four edge rusher. Broderick Shull wasn't born 6'5" and portal-ready. These players put in countless hours at youth camps, showcases, and training sessions long before the big programs came calling.
That's where Boardwalk Beasts and NUC Sports come in. We're building the next generation of portal targets: the kids who'll be causing this same chaos in 2030, 2032, 2035. Proper coaching, competitive environments, exposure to college scouts, and the mental toughness needed to navigate this recruiting landscape.
The portal is just the final chapter. The real story starts with development.
Final Thoughts: Secure Now or Gamble Later
The Winter portal window is in its final act, and these four names: Morgan, Shull, Brooks, Ojiegbe: represent the last chance for programs to add impact talent before spring practice locks rosters.
This isn't about "leftovers." These are roster-savers. The difference between competing for a conference title and finishing 8-4. The difference between having reliable depth and praying nobody gets injured.
Smart programs are closing deals this week. The rest will be gambling in April when the chaos returns and the stakes are even higher.
Ready to start building your player's path to becoming a sought-after recruit? Check out Boardwalk Beasts camps and training programs to get the development, exposure, and competitive edge that turns potential into portal-worthy production. The journey starts now.
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