SMU Transfer Portal Tracker: All players heading to SMU
Despite a tough College Football Playoff loss to Penn State, SMU had a banner season. The Mustangs came a last-second miracle from winning the ACC and nabbed an at-large CFP bid. SMU's transfer portal experience has been pretty slow, given preparations for the playoff game. But here's the players the Mustangs will be adding to the roster from the portal in 2025.
SMU Transfer Portal Tracker: all players heading to SMU
Addison Nichols, OL
A center at Arkansas, Nichols played for two SEC schools. He began his career at Tennessee, where he played as a reserve, briefly in 2022 and then in a larger role in 2023. He started for Arkansas in 2024 but will still have two seasons of remaining eligibility for the Mustangs.
Nichols was a four-star recruit per 247sports out of high school in Georgia in 2022. Nichols picked Tennessee over USC, Ohio State, Florida and Georgia, all of which he saw on official visits. He figures to see plenty of action for SMU.
Joshua Bates, OL
Bates played two seasons at Oklahoma. He saw the field only briefly in 2023 and reshirted for the season. Bates started two games at center in 2024, playing extensively on Oklahoma's struggling offensive line. He'll have three seasons of eligibility remaining with SMU.
Bates was a four-star recruit out of high school in Colorado in 2023. He chose Oklahoma over Colorado, Colorado State, Miami and Michigan State, each of which he was on official visits. With two centers signed and each available for multiple seasons, SMU might swap positions for one or both to help them see immediate time.
Zakye Barker, LB
A linebacker from East Carolina, Barker had an explosive 2024 season as a sophomore. After playing sparingly as a freshman, he had 86 tackles and 12 tackles for loss with the Pirates in 2024. Barker has two remaining seasons of eligibility that he can utilize.
Barker was just a two-star recruit out of high school in Georgia in 2023. He did not take any official visits other than East Carolina. Barker didn't have scholarship offers from any power conference teams, although he had many Group of Five offers.
Chasen Johnson, CB
Johnson had a wild visit to the transfer portal. He visited USC and committed, but ultimately pulled back on that commitment to attend SMU. Johnson was a freshman in 2024 at UCF. He played in seven games, making 18 tackles and breaking up a pair of passes.
Johnson was a three-star recruit out of high school in Florida. He picked UCF over Pittsburgh and South Carolina, which he also visited. Johnson will have three seasons of eligibility remaining as he enters SMU.
What do you think of SMU's new additions? Share your thoughts below in our comments section!