Michigan, Alabama among college football teams with transfer portal needs entering spring practices

Spring is right around the corner, and with the calendar change comes the first practice periods for most college football teams ahead of the 2024 season. Over the next few weeks, coaches will be able to better gauge how their teams stack up ahead of this coming season. 

With the spring transfer window looming in April, staffs will also evaluate any remaining needs now that the first transfer phase and both high school signing periods have passed. Most rosters are all but set at this point, and if a team is still seeking a complete overhaul … well, they’re probably in trouble. But there are some prominent teams that have specific areas of need. 

The spring transfer window is especially important for new coaches — such as Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and Washington’s Jedd Fisch — that were hired in January. By the time they accepted their new positions, the winter window was close to closing or had already ended. That left little time for evaluation and recruiting, unless they brought players they were familiar with from their previous stops. 

Other teams simply missed on top targets or had needs emerge due to transfer defections they’ve not yet been able to replenish. Whatever the case, here are some prominent teams with glaring roster needs as spring practice kicks off around the country.

Need: Quarterback

The reigning national champions have a glaring need at the most important position on the field. Longtime starter J.J. McCarthy is off to the NFL after leading the Wolverines to the top of the mountain, and there is no apparent successor to his throne. Veteran Jack Tuttle will be back for a seventh season and isn’t the worst option as a pure game manager if all else fails. His upside is severely limited, and despite his years of…

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