Ole Miss offensive lineman Eli Johnson enters transfer portal

Lane Kiffin now has a big hole to fill along his offensive line in just his first year at Ole Miss. The Rebels could be losing one of their best guys up front.

Ole Miss center Eli Johnson entered the transfer portal, sources told 247Sports. Johnson started all 12 games for the Rebels in 2019, allowing just one sack throughout the entire year.

Johnson was not a starter until 2019, but made his 12 starts count as one of the most efficient centers in the SEC.

Prior to his intentions of entering the transfer portal, Johnson previously opted out of the upcoming season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Johnson's redshirt junior season was the best of his career but he made game appearances the previous two seasons. In 2018, Johnson played in three games along the offensive line: against Southern Illinois, Alabama and ULM. in 2017, Johnson appeared in one game as the backup center, making his collegiate debut in a September win over UT Martin.

In high school, Johnson played in the Offense-Defense All-American Senior Bowl, helping Mississippi to a victory in the game. 

As a member of the Class of 2016, Johnson was a three-star prospect according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He was the No. 14 overall prospect in the state of Mississippi, the No. 4 offensive guard recruit in the class and the No. 485 overall prospect in the class.

The NCAA introduced the portal on Oct. 15, 2018, providing athletes a path to explore their options. Players do not need to ask permission from their coaching staff in order to transfer. They merely need to request that compliance enter their name. Usually, it takes 24-48 hours for a player to appear following their request. Schools are free to contact a player without restriction once their name appears in the portal.

While a player entering their name in the transfer portal means they intend to explore their options, it does not necessarily mean they will leave. A player is free to withdraw his name at any time. However, schools are under no obligation to keep a player on scholarship once they enter the portal.

The first portal cycle saw 1,942 FBS players enter in the initial calendar year of its existence, per a source.

Ole Miss is scheduled to open the season on September 26th when they host the Florida Gators at a to be determined time. The SEC went to a conference only schedule for the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Among Power Five conferences, the SEC, Big 12 and ACC are the only three planning to play football. The Big Ten and Pac-12 canceled their fall football seasons with the hope of playing sometime in the spring.


SOURCE: Kosko, Nick. "​Ole Miss offensive lineman Eli Johnson enters transfer portal." 247Sports.com, 26 August 2020, https://247sports.com/Article/Eli-Johnson-Ole-Miss-enters-transfer-portal-offensive-lineman-Lane-Kiffin-SEC-football-150708432/
 

Last edited by catfishboy (8/26/2020 6:13 pm)