Triangle spring NCAA transfer portal updates: Duke, UNC, NC State football players
The second, and shorter, transfer portal window opened for college football players on April 15, which means more possible comings and goings on rosters across the country.
The window allowed players to enter through April 30, coinciding with the end of spring practices, where players who are unhappy with their current status can change schools. Just as importantly, coaches who used spring to identify a weakness can use the portal to shore up that area.
The longer transfer portal window begins in December, on the Monday after playoff and bowl selections are made, and runs for 45 days.
Even though the window to enter the portal is done for undergraduate students, those already in the portal are still able to work through their processes to pick a new school if they haven’t done so already.
As with all schools, Duke, N.C. State and North Carolina have activity with players going in both directions.
Here’s the latest on who is leaving and who is joining the Triangle’s three ACC schools.
The following is up to date as of 1 pm. on Wednesday, May 3:
NC State: On the way out
Zyun Reeves, DL: Slowed by a 2021 ACL tear that led to him taking a redshirt year, Reeves played in just three games last season as a redshirt freshman.
Thornton Gentry, OT: Played in one game last season (Charleston Southern). Committed to play at Appalachian State.
Chase Hattley, S: Did not see any game action in two years with the Wolfpack after a prep career at Panther Creek in Cary.
Ben Finley, QB: Appeared in eight games during his NC State career. Finley threw for 741 yards and three touchdowns last season. Committed to play at Cal.
Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, RB: Expected to compete for a starting job this fall after showing flashes of production last season despite battling an ankle injury. Sumo-Karngbaye ran for 305 yards on 55 attempts (5.5 yards per rush) with three touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2022.
These players entered the portal during the earlier 45-day window in December and January, with their new schools in parentheses if they have announced: QB - Devin Leary (Kentucky), TE - Jasiah Provillon, NT - Josh Harris (Mississippi), QB - Zo Wallace, WR - Devin Carter (West Virginia), CB - Jalen Frazier (UNLV).
UNC: On the way out
Gabe Stephens, LB: A four-star recruit when he came to UNC from Mountain Island Charter School near Charlotte, the 6-2, 200-pound Stephens redshirted in 2021 and was a reserve last season.
Ladaeson DeAndre Hollins, CB: Played in all 14 UNC games last season as a reserve cornerback and on special teams. Started three games in 2020 before playing in only two games in 2021 due to injury. Committed to play at Charlotte.
Bryson Jennings, DL: Arrived on campus last summer as a freshman and took a redshirt seasons last fall without playing in any games. Has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
Ja’Qurious Conley, S: A starter prior to suffering a serious knee injury in November 2021, Conley played in just two games last season.
These players entered the portal during the earlier 45-day window in December and January, with their new schools in parentheses: CB - Tony Grimes (Texas A&M), QB - Jacolby Criswell (Arkansas), Edge - Chris Collins (Minnesota), WR -- Justin Olson (Middle Tennessee); LB - Raneiria “Ra Ra” Dillworth (East Carolina), PK - Jonathan Kim (Michigan State), DB - Dontavius Nash (East Carolina), Dontae Balfour (Charlotte); DL - Jahlil Taylor (Old Dominion); CB - Tymir Brown (East Carolina), TE - Kendall Karr (Coastal Carolina), CB - Cam’Ron Kelly (Virginia), Storm Duck (Penn State); DL - Keeshawn Silver (Kentucky).
Duke: On the way out
Eric Weatherly, RB/WR: On the field for five snaps, over two games, during his redshirt season in 2022. Scored a rushing touchdown against N.C. A&T.
Dan Volpe, OL: Announced plans to transfer to Duke last December but, in March, said would re-enter the portal to find a different school.
Michael Purcell, OL: Transferred to Duke from Elon to take part in spring practices before entering the transfer portal again.
Dustyn Hall, OL: Transferred to Duke from South Florida to take part in spring practices, where he worked at center and guard. Returned to portal where he committed to play at East Carolina.
These players entered the portal during the earlier 45-day window in December and January, with their new schools in parentheses if they have announced: CB - Tony Davis; LB - Sayyid Stevens (Old Dominion), Rocky Shelton; WR - Darrell Harding (Buffalo); OL -- Elijah Wroten (Illinois State), Addison Penn, DE -- Caleb Oppan (Eastern Washington), Trey Brown; DT -- Christian Rorie, Michael Larbie; OT -- Ron Carr (Illinois State); TE -- Matt Smith (Massachusetts)
Duke: Incoming transfers
Sean Kelly, DL: Played three seasons at Brown, sitting out the 2020 season when the Ivy League canceled football that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 6-2, 245-pound Kelly recorded 20 tackles (11 solo) with a sack last season. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
Hayes Sutton, WR: Former Brown player who caught 47 passes for 437 yards and three touchdowns last season. The 6-1, 200-pound Sutton is from Norcross, Georgia.
The following players transferred to Duke after entering the portal during the earlier 45-day window in December and January: CB - Al Blades, Jr. (Miami), Myles Jones (Texas A&M); OL - Michael Purcell (Elon), Jake Hornibrook (Stanford), Dan Volpe (Towson State).
N.C. State: Incoming transfers
No new players have indicated they are transferring to N.C. State this spring.
The following players transferred to N.C. State after entering the portal during the earlier 45-day window in December and January: WR -- Dacari Collins (Clemson), OT -- Dawson Jaramillo (Oregon), DE Noah Potter (Cincinnati), DB -- Robert Kennedy (ODU), K -- Brayden Narveson (Western Kentucky), QB -- Brennan Armstrong (Virginia).
UNC: Incoming transfers
No new players have indicated they are transferring to UNC this spring.
The following players transferred to UNC after entering the portal during the earlier 45-day window in December and January: OL - Willie Lampkin (Coastal Carolina), CB - Alijah Huzzie (East Tennessee State), S - Derrik Allen (Georgia Tech), PK - Ryan Coe (Cincinnati)
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 7:00 AM.