Mississippi State football transfer tracker: Follow all of the Bulldogs' portal activity
STARKVILLE — The end of the college football regular season signals the start of transfer portal season. For Mississippi State football coach Zach Arnett, a crucial offseason continues following the death of coach Mike Leach.
The Bulldogs went 9-4 this season with a 4-4 mark in conference play. MSU improved its win total in each of Leach's three seasons, and this year's eighth win — surpassing the seven wins from last season — came in the Egg Bowl.
However, success comes with stardom and experience. Mississippi State lost defensive back Emmanuel Forbes to the 2023 NFL Draft while defensive lineman Cameron Young and center LaQuinston Sharp have exhausted their eligibility.
The Bulldogs could also lose pieces to the transfer portal. However, they'll look to utilize the portal to also add players at positions of need.
Keep tabs on all of Mississippi State's movement with our transfer tracker:
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Players leaving Mississippi State via the transfer portal
OL Reed Buys
With two years of eligibility remaining, Buys announced he is entering the transfer portal on Dec. 1. He joined Mississippi State as a sophomore in 2020 after spending his freshman season at Jones Junior College. Buys appeared in two games last season and didn't take the field this year. He is a native of Vicksburg and attended Warren Central High School.
Commitment: South Alabama
WR Rara Thomas
Thomas, a sophomore wide receiver, announced he is entering the transfer portal on Dec. 2. He is a native of Eufaula, Alabama, who was a surprise breakout player the last two seasons. After not playing football prior to his junior year in high school, Thomas collected five touchdown receptions last season as a true freshman. He caught 44 passes for 626 and seven touchdowns this season.
Commitment: Georgia
RB Ke'Travion Hargrove
Hargrove is back in the transfer portal for the second time this season. He entered the portal in September before removing his name and finishing out the season in Starkville. Hargrove was a four-star prospect out of Ruston High School in Louisiana, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He appeared in four games for MSU as a freshman last season before he redshirted. He didn't take the field this year.
Commitment: Memphis
QB Daniel Greek
Greek announced on Dec. 4 that he was entering the transfer portal as a redshirt-freshman. He joined MSU last season as a three-star prospect out of Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas. He earned offers from Duke, Purdue and Washington State among others coming out of high school.
Commitment: Tarleton State
RB Dillon Johnson
Johnson announced on Dec. 7 that he was entering the transfer portal as a junior. The former Greenville St. Joseph standout had 89 carries for 488 yards and three TDs in 11 games this season. Johnson also had 48 catches for 285 yards.
Commitment: Washington
WR Christian Ford
Ford entered the portal on Dec. 9. The former walk-on receiver earned a scholarship last season. He entered the portal after catching 27 passes in three seasons at MSU. He spent his freshman season in 2018 at Georgia Southern before a year at Iowa Central Community College.
Commitment: Appalachian State
OL Carson Williams
Williams enrolled at MSU in 2021 but didn't see the field for the Bulldogs before entering the portal. He attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College out of Scott Central High School before attending Arkansas State.
P Archer Trafford
Trafford entered the portal on Dec. 7 after two seasons at Mississippi State. After joining MSU from Air Force, he averaged 42.4 yards per punt with 19 punts landing inside the 20-yard line.
OL Gabe Cavazos
After two seasons at MSU without playing time, the Lake Cormorant, Mississippi, native entered the transfer portal. He was a three-star prospect out of high school.
Commitment: Southern Miss
S Dylan Lawrence
Lawrence entered the portal on Dec. 14 with two seasons of eligibility remaining. He joined MSU in 2019 and recorded nine tackles and forced a fumble in his tenure.
Commitment: Southern Miss
QB Braedyn Locke
A former four-star quarterback, Locke entered the portal on Jan. 3 after one season with MSU. He is a Texas native who was heavily recruited by Leach.
Commitment: Wisconsin
QB Sawyer Robertson
MSU's quarterback room got thinner on Jan. 4 when the former four-star prospect entered the portal, according to an On3 report. Robertson is another Texas native who was recruited by Leach. He backed up Will Rogers the last two seasons.
Commitment: Baylor
DL Jevon Banks
Banks announced he was entering the portal on Jan. 7. He recorded 17 tackles in 10 games as a redshirt-sophomore in 2022. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Commitment: Kansas State
WR Marquez Dortch
Dortch, a former four-star prospect, announced he was entering the portal on April 2. He spent the 2022 season at MSU and appeared in one game.
CB William Hardrick
Ahead of his redshirt sophomore season, Hardrick entered the portal, according to an On3 report. The Adamsville, Alabama, native never took the field for MSU.
OL Lucas Taylor
Taylor, a former three-star prospect, announced on April 17 he entered the portal. He spent one season at MSU (2022) and didn't take the field.
OL Jackson Cannon
Cannon announced on April 17 he has entered the portal. Cannon is a former three-star prospect who spent one season at MSU (2022) and didn't see any game action.
DB Audavion Collins
Collins confirmed via social media on April 27 that he has entered the portal. He did not see the field as a true freshman in 2022.
WR Justin Brown
Brown entered the portal just before the May 1 deadline, according to a 247Sports report. Brown was a three-star prospect in MSU's 2023 recruiting class who is leaving after being an early enrollee.
WR Jarnorris Hopson
Hopson announced via social media on May 1 that he has entered the portal. Hopson is a native of Tunica, Mississippi, who spent two seasons at MSU. He redshirted in 2021 as a true freshman and only appeared in one game last year.
Players joining Mississippi State via the transfer portal
DB Khamauri Rogers
MSU finally landed Rogers. After recruiting the former four-star prospect in the Class of 2022 heavily out of Holmes County Central High School, Rogers committed to the Bulldogs on Dec. 14. He appeared in one game and recorded one tackles in his lone season at Miami.
P Andrew Osteen
MSU added Osteen, a punter from Central Florida, on Dec. 16. With Trafford in the portal and George Georgopoulos out of eligibility, it was a position of need. Osteen attempted 12 punts for UCF last season with an average distance of 39.75 yards.
DB Ray'Darious Jones
Jones, a former LSU Tiger, committed to MSU on Dec. 12. He is a Horn Lake, Mississippi, native who was recruited by the Bulldogs out of high school.
DB Christopher Keys
Keys, an transfer from Indiana, announced he was returning to his home state on Jan. 8. He was a three-star prospect out of Collins High School in the 2020 recruiting class. Keys appeared in 14 games with two starts for IU.
DB Kobi Albert
Albert announced he was transferring from Kentucky to MSU on Jan. 14. He is a former four-star prospect who spent one season with the Wildcats − appearing in 10 games.
QB Mike Wright
Wright committed to MSU on Jan. 22. He started 11 games in three seasons at Vanderbilt where he threw for 2,067 yards and ran for 905 yards.
WR Freddie Roberson
Roberson committed to MSU on Jan. 22 after spending four seasons at Eastern Washington. He collected 2,266 receiving yards and caught 17 touchdowns with the Eagles.
K Ethan Chang
Chang, a kicker from William & Mary, announced on April 18 that he's transferring to MSU. In 27 games, he made 29-of-41 field goals with a long of 57.
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football transfer tracker: Bulldogs' portal activity