The NCAA transfer portal will officially open on Dec. 9 once conference championships are decided and the field for the College Football Playoff is set. It will stay open for 20 days, until Dec. 28 — 10 days shorter than last season. Players won’t be permitted to transfer until then, but that hasn’t stopped players from announcing via social media that they’ll be entering the portal come Dec. 9.
Vanderbilt Football will be active in the transfer portal this year. While it’s unlikely that the Commodores will lose 24 players, as they did in 2023, there’s no doubt that several players will depart the program next week. In the current NIL landscape of college athletics, there’s no telling which of Vanderbilt’s players will stick around and which will leave for smoother — and more lucrative — seas.
The Hustler Sports’ staff also expects Vanderbilt to bring a number of transfers into the program, as head coach Clark Lea alluded to during a Dec. 4 press conference.
“[This season], we’re going to be a little more portal-heavy than we were high school recruiting-heavy, coming off a successful season,” Lea said. “A lot of that has to do with what the needs are on our roster and [asking ourselves] ‘where is the best place from which we can address those [needs]?”
To help keep track of players’ comings and goings in the portal, The Hustler has created an off-season transfer tracker: your all-access pass to the 2024 transfer portal window.
This story will be updated throughout the offseason.
Story updates
(Dec. 11, 2:09 p.m. CST): BREAKING: Vanderbilt lands former Alabama EDGE Keanu Koht
Koht was a former top-100 recruit in the Class of 2021, according to 247Sports, and will provide immediate relief to a group of Commodore pass rushers that struggled to stay healthy and produce at the end of the 2024 regular season.
He represents Vanderbilt’s first transfer commitment of the offseason.
(Dec. 6, 1:43 p.m. CST): BREAKING: Gunnar Hansen to enter NCAA transfer portal
Hansen has started 35 games for Vanderbilt since 2022 and has one year of eligibility remaining. He was named the Week 6 SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and the Outland Trophy Player of the Week thanks to his efforts during Vanderbilt’s upset win over Alabama earlier this season.
Vanderbilt will also lose offensive line starters Steven Hubbard, Steven Losoya and Xavier Castillo this offseason, as all three will run out of eligibility.
Incoming transfers (11)
Keanu Koht, Nick Haberer, Gunnar Givens, Aaron Bryant, Jordan White, Isaia Glass, Jordan Matthews, Chance Fitzgerald, CJ Heard, Trent Hudson, Durham Harris and Sterling Porcher.
Anchor Down ⚓️⚓️🔒 pic.twitter.com/YAz6L3O5Hv
— Keanu Koht (@KeanuKoht) December 11, 2024
Excited for the next chapter! ⚓️#vanderbilt #Nashville pic.twitter.com/TF2Za3Penj
— Nick Haberer (@haberer_nick) December 15, 2024
Vandy What’s Good? @Coach_LBJ_ #AnchorDown ⚓️💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/VHw6UzaBgZ
— Aaron Bryant (@Aaron_Bryant55) December 18, 2024
100% Committed⬇️👀 @VandyFootball
Lets Work! pic.twitter.com/v8IbGkBp8Y— Gunner Givens (@givens_gunner) December 17, 2024
— Jordan White (@lil_jojo19) December 18, 2024
God has opened a new chapter in my life and I’m blessed to be given the opportunity! Anchor down ⚓️👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/DCi602NWtF
— Isaia Glass 🇦🇸💭 (@IsaiaGlass) December 18, 2024
BREAKING: Tennessee transfer CB Jordan Matthews has Committed to Vanderbilt, he tells @on3sports
The 6’2 190 CB will have 3 years of eligibility remaining
Top 15 CB in the ‘23 Class (per On3)https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/0c8Q3v2F3h
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 19, 2024
I’M HOME‼️ pic.twitter.com/SMM5tmKuZP
— Chance Fitzgerald (@itschancefitz) December 19, 2024
BREAKING: FAU star True Freshman Safety CJ Heard has Committed to Vanderbilt, he tells @on3sports
The 5’11 198 S totaled 82 Tackles, 1 FF, 2 FR, & 2 PD this season
3 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/4KBjtyQkdw
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 19, 2024
VANDY WE TURNT ! pic.twitter.com/vKjJaM91JE
— trent (@kingtrent_03) December 23, 2024
Signed 🖋️
Welcome to Commodore Nation, @Velocisnapper pic.twitter.com/71D4dWCECu
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) December 31, 2024
<
OT Sterling Porcher has committed to Vanderbilt from Texas Tech.
Another good pickup on the offensive line for the Commodores. pic.twitter.com/Hn7rG6zcfy
— Aiden Rutman (@RutmanAiden) January 7, 2025
h4>Outgoing transfers (16)
Gunnar Hansen, Steven Sannieniola, Nate Johnson, Jeffrey Ugochukwu, Boubacar Diakite, Micah Bell, Devin Lee, Taco Wright, Darren Agu, Will Faris, Ezra McCallister, Alvin Williamson Jr., Callahan Blair, Evan Herrman and Tyler Fortenberry.
BREAKING: Vanderbilt star OL Gunnar Hansen plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
The 6’5 325 OL started 37 Games in 3 years for the Commodores
Was named SEC OL of the week & Outland National POTW this season
1 year of eligibilityhttps://t.co/uPFJ0Hr8R3 pic.twitter.com/hphiQwYsHA
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 6, 2024
Excited to see what the future holds 🙏🏾🤞🏾 pic.twitter.com/hIFdUoUzS0
— Nate (@Shaboinate3) December 5, 2024
— B.J Diakite (@BJ_diakite3) December 4, 2024
— Jeffrey”el jefe”Ugo (@JeffreyUgo1) December 3, 2024
Thank you God and Vanderbilt. I will be entering as an athlete. I can play corner, safety, nickel, running back, returner, and special teams. Can easily hit 21.5mph or higher and looking for a final home. pic.twitter.com/olM99Zx8sp
— Micah Bell (@Bell11M) December 5, 2024
BREAKING: Vanderbilt DL Devin Lee plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
The 6’2 290 DL made 14 Starts, totaling 34 Tackles, 7 TFL, & 4 Sacks in his time with the Commodores
Will have 1 year of eligibility remaining https://t.co/blz3QNjsu3 pic.twitter.com/Dn30VAMuRV
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 6, 2024
Thank You Vanderbilt University⚓️🖤 pic.twitter.com/NfMix3HUPG
— Alan (Taco) Wright (@TheTacoWright) December 8, 2024
Gods Plan🙏 pic.twitter.com/3AUQNQwOBM
— Darren Agu (@agu_darren) December 8, 2024
Officially in Transfer Portal! pic.twitter.com/ziLt0jRdVN
Film Link (in game film at 4:05 mark): https://t.co/vkgzYAfsaj
Below is also my 2024 Fall Camp Field Goal Chart pic.twitter.com/z21aaprZKf— Will Faris (@WillFaris2) December 9, 2024
— Ezra McAllister (@ezra_mcallister) December 10, 2024
Gods Plan🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/2uro8CT2t9
— Alvin Williamson Jr. ✞ (@alvinjr2x) December 9, 2024
I have entered the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility left. Thank you to Vanderbilt for everything.
Height: 6’4.5
Weight: 230
Position: Defensive end, Outside linebacker, Middle linebacker
(This is a short cut up of highlights, reach out if you would like to see more.) pic.twitter.com/OVW6HuJofa— Callahan Blair (@cblair1010) December 10, 2024
Transfer film from Vanderbilt and Juco, excited about the next chapter @coachfleming17 @CoachDavisCLCC @CoachSwaggy_T @CoachMDavis12 @JUCOFFrenzy https://t.co/YvVVEjktH8
— Tyler Fortenberry (@ty23fortenberry) December 2, 2024
