The Transfer Portal is ready to open and here is what should be on USF's list

The Transfer Portal will be open for two weeks starting on January 2, and USF's new head football coach will have a shopping list aimed at filling multiple holes on the roster.

Bulls247 has identified 14 USF players who are expected to formally enter the portal, the latest being tight end Jonathan Echols and cornerbacks James Chenault and Gavin Jenkins. It won't be surprising if more Bulls join the portal crowd by the time the starting bell rings.

Those potential departures -- remember, they can come back if the new staff wants them -- coupled with heavy graduation losses leaves Hartline with a lot of work to do in a short amount of time to rebuild the roster.

Here are top areas of need:

Offensive Line

This is a complete rebuild, at least from a depth standpoint. Seven members of the O-line, including four starters, graduated and guard Cole Skinner appears headed for the portal. Skinner earned a place in USF history when he kept his cool near the end of the Bulls' upset win over Florida after a Gator defender spat in his face.

There is a lot of talent left, but most of it is relatively unproven. Caleb Harris and Khalil Collins are nice pieces, but this is an area where the portal can help. Former coach Alex Golesh concentrated last off-season in building a veteran line and he used the portal to help do that. The line was fine this season, but that was then. The reality now is that finding reinforcements is a priority.

Quarterback

A huge area of need. Holdover freshmen Locklan Hewlett and Sam Fenton are the only ones left the room after Byrum Brown's announced intention to enter the portal and Gaston Moore's graduation.

Lincoln Kienholz, Ohio State's backup quarterback, said he will enter the portal. He was highly sought coming out of high school but was unable to crack the Buckeyes' starting lineup. He barely lost a competion last spring to Justin Sayin, who became a Heisman contender. There will be a lot of competion for Kienholz, but this could be an area where Hartline makes a difference.

Hartline is going to like Hewlett, but he also needs to add at least three players to the quarterback room either through the portal or on National Signing Day .

Receivers

Here's another area where Hartline needs to be aggressive. Three of the Bulls' top four receivers are entering the portal,. Christian Neptune and Jeremiah Koger are solid receivers -- if they stay.

Fortunately for USF, Hartline is elite when it comes to recruiting and developing receivers. He has had five receivers taken in the first round of the NFL draft and at least two players on the current Ohio State roster will join them.

Of course, recruiting to USF is different than recruiting to Ohio State, but the Bulls have gained a lot of respect in the last three seasons. Hartline should be able to convince enough ball-catchers to join him in Tampa.

Tight end is another area of need. On3 reported Jonathan Echols will enter the portal and Weston Wolff graduated. Wyatt Sullivan remains, but this is also an area that needs reinforcements.

Running Back

This is sounding like a broken record at this point, but this unit needs depth.

Nykahi Davenport was productive last season, rushing for 611 yards and seven touchdowns and Chase Garnett could be ready to step up after seeing little action as a true freshman. But Sam Franklin graduated and Alvon Isaac is portal-bound.

There is a lot of opportunity here for someone from another team looking for playing time

Defensive Line

Despite losing seven players to graduation and Dre Butler and Traevon Mitchell to the portal, there appears to be a decent amount of depth here. There are six returnees who played in at least eight games last season,

Of course, you never have too many solid D-linemen, so the welcome mat will out there, too.

Linebacker

Losing Mac Harris and Jhalyn Shuler to graduation will leave a mark, but this is another unit wherre this is something to work with.

Zavier Hamilton and Rodney Hill both saw considerable action as sophomores, and Gavin Leach could be in the mix. Bringing in three or four new faces couldn't hurt, though.

Defensive Backs

Upgrading this group has to be a priority.

Fred Gaskin, Jarvis Lee, James Chenault, and Gavin Jenkins are taking the portal out of town, and De`Shawn Rucker, Ben Knox, and Jaelen Stokes graduated. That's a net departure of 82 games played in 2025.

New defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge has no doubt been pouring over the portal to bring in replacements.