UGA sees three defenders, including former 5-star prospect, enter transfer portal
ATHENS — It’s been a busy Friday for Georgia when it comes to the transfer portal, as outside linebacker Samuel M’Pemba, inside linebacker Troy Bowles and safety Justyn Rhett all announced their plans to enter the transfer portal.
M’Pemba, Bowles and Rhett all signed as members of the 2023 recruiting cycle and will each have three years of eligibility remaining at their next stops. M’Pemba is from St. Louis, Bowles from Tampa, Fla., and Rhett from Las Vegas.
M’Pemba came to Athens as a 5-star prospect, while Bowles was a top-100 player and is the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles.
None have contributors for the Bulldogs this season.
At outside linebacker, Georgia is expected to see Damon Wilson and Quintavius Johnson take on a larger role in 2025. The Bulldogs also signed three blue-chip prospects at the position, including 5-star Isaiah Gibson.
In total, Georgia has seen six players enter the transfer portal, as the trio join cornerback Julian Humphrey, wide receiver Michael Jackson III and defensive lineman Jamaal Jarrett enter the transfer portal.
Jarrett also was a 2023 signee. Of the 26 players Georgia signed in the class, 10 have either left the program for another or have stopped playing football.
Humphrey was the first player to go into the transfer portal, doing so before Georgia played Texas in the SEC Championship game. He was not with the team for the game, indicating that players in the transfer portal will not finish the season.
“We’re always talking and dealing with our players. That’ll move to the forefront like right now in terms of what we do,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said on dealing with the portal. “But then we’ll start back practice, and we’ll continue to get better with the guys that want to be here. And there’s not going to be a team in the country that doesn’t have somebody leave, probably somebody they don’t expect. But I almost feel like that’s become the norm. And it is what it is. We’re going to coach the ones that want to be here.”
The portal officially opened Monday, and players will have until Dec. 28 to enter. Those playing in the College Football Playoff, like Georgia, will get an additional five days to enter the transfer portal following the conclusion of their season.
Georgia next plays in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. The Bulldogs will play the winner of the Indiana-Notre Dame first-round game.
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