Transfers are the latest big wave in college football, especially with the legislation this offseason that allows players to move from school-to-school a single time and retain immediate eligibility.

Major programs have poached potential all-conference performers from rivals, while many schools have restocked their depth charts with guys simply looking for an opportunity or a fresh start.

With the season rapidly approaching, we look at each SEC East school’s biggest loss to the transfer portal.

Florida

Since coming to Gainesville, Dan Mullen has tried to seize his role as the portal master, loading up on transfers in each of his first 3+ years. The Gators added several strong players this offseason without losing a single true impact performer. UF’s most notable “loss” was when electric playmaker Arik Gilbert backed out of his commitment and ended up at Georgia.

In terms of true transfers though, intriguing cornerback Jahari Rogers is my pick for most notable departure. Again, this shows the strong hand Mullen is playing here via the portal. Rodgers is now at SMU after barely playing much in 2020, but the redshirt freshman was competing for snaps this spring in a Gators secondary that’s pretty green. With the recent news of Jaydon Hill’s torn ACL, Rodgers’ transfer does at least count as a potential depth piece now gone.

Georgia

The Bulldogs landed 3 of the most marquee transfers on the market this offseason — Gilbert, hybrid safety Tykee Smith and cornerback Derion Kendrick — but Kirby Smart also saw a number of players leave the program in hopes for bigger roles elsewhere.

For the purposes of this piece, my initial reaction was the choose defensive back Tyrique Stevenson, who transferred to Miami to play for his hometown Hurricanes. Stevenson was a rotational fixture in UGA’s secondary for 2 seasons, playing several spots, including Star, safety and corner.

But with some real buzz elsewhere by another former Dawg, the pick here is outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson. The former JUCO transfer was solid in a situational pass rushing role (6.5 sacks in 2 seasons), but Johnson was looking for a place to play every down. He found that at Florida State, and the word out of Tallahassee from multiple FSU insiders is that the 6-5, 250-pound outside linebacker might be the best player on the Seminoles in 2021 — not just the defense but the whole team.

Kentucky

Honestly, there are no good options here, as Mark Stoops & Co., mostly added via the portal this offseason without seeing their own roster poached. The most prominent name most fans would know who left Lexington this summer was quarterback Terry Wilson.

Wilson had an up-and-down career for the Wildcats, starting 25 games and leading UK to a 10-3 season in 2018. He tore his patellar tendon early in the 2019 season and then really struggled as the starter last fall, averaging just 5.9 yards per attempt for one of the most anemic passing attacks in the country. Wilson is now at New Mexico. Will Levis, a transfer from Penn State, reportedly will become Kentucky’s starting QB.

Missouri

Depending on how you tally departures, Eli Drinkwitz’s roster was sapped of some real depth this offseason, with more than 17 players leaving the program. Notably, none were “stars” though, and the Tigers did do well adding a few potential starters (Tulsa cornerbacks Akayleb Evans and Allie Green and Ohio State receiver Mookie Cooper).

Still, Mizzou saw several potential contributors end up on SEC rosters, including freshman cornerback signee Jadarrius Perkins, who was a Tiger for less than 3 months before transferring to Florida. A pair of defensive linemen also transferred to Arkansas, as end Tre Williams and tackle Markell Utsey have already found themselves on the defensive 2-deep for Barry Odom — their former head coach at Missouri. Williams is a super senior this fall, and while he hasn’t racked up steady sack totals (8 total in 4 seasons), he would’ve been a rotational piece for the Tigers’ defense in 2021.

South Carolina

The Gamecocks saw their No. 1 defensive back transfer this past December, as former blue-chip recruit Jammie Robinson left the program following Will Muschamp’s firing. Robinson landed at Florida State, where he’s expected to play nickel and safety.

In 2020, the versatile defensive back finished 2nd on USC in tackles with 74, adding a pick and 4 pass breakups, too.

Tennessee

Thanks to an abrupt coaching change and looming NCAA sanctions, Josh Heupel’s roster was steel-clubbed by the transfer portal in 2021. A trio of starters (running back Eric Gray, offensive tackle Wanya Morris and safety Keshawn Lawrence) are now at Oklahoma, linebacker Henry To’o To’o is set to play a big role at Alabama and countless other contributors (OL Jahmir Johnson, LB Quavaris Crouch, RB Ty Chandler, DL Darel Middleton and Greg Emerson, PK Brent Cimaglia) are spread across D-1 programs throughout the country.

Gray, who led the Vols in rushing in 2020 with 772 yards and 4 touchdowns, is very likely to have a monster junior season with the Sooners, but the Vols’ new staff likes what it has at tailback in Jabari Small and newcomers Tiyon Evans and Jaylen Wright.

The same can’t be said at linebacker, where Tennessee is certain to miss To’o To’o’s production (team-leading 76 tackles) despite a semi-sophomore slump. He struggled mightily in pass coverage in 2020, but he still led the SEC in run-stuffs and is already making waves in Alabama’s loaded LB room. He will be sorely missed in Knoxville in 2021.

Vanderbilt

The Commodores lost a key starter in the secondary this offseason when promising defensive back Donovan Kaufman followed former head coach Derek Mason to Auburn.

As a true freshman in 2020, the safety started Vandy’s first 2 games and recorded 15 tackles, a couple of pass breakups and a big punt return (58-yarder vs. LSU). But Kaufman tested positive for COVID-19 just before Week 3 and ultimately missed the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with myocarditis, per NOLA.com. Now healthy and ready to go, the defensive back is already battling for a starting spot in Auburn’s revamped secondary.