The NCAA College Football Transfer Portal provides a wild ride for players, teams, coaches and fans as athletes seek greener pastures and better opportunities. The latest portal period ended on Dec. 28, with the next chance for players to announce plans to make a move coming in April. The December deadline doesn’t stop players who are already in the portal from making commitments.
There were a number of Savannah area players who have made recent moves. A pair of former Benedictine quarterbacks were among them.
Luke Kromenhoek, the four-star signal caller who graduated from BC in 2024, left Florida State after starting the final two games of the season for the Seminoles and quickly made his decision to sign with Mississippi State on Dec. 17.
Holden Geriner, from the Cadet class of 2022, made the decision to leave Auburn, where he earned his degree, to get a chance to show off his strong arm. The former four-star signed with Texas State on Jan. 14, as first reported by Hayes Fawcett of On3.com. He has two years of eligibility left and will be competing with Gevani McCoy, a former Oregon State quarterback, for the starting job.
A host of other players from the Coastal Empire changed schools in moves that may have flied under the radar compared to athletes from more prominent programs. Here’s a look at those local players.
Jaylen Hampton, New Hampstead
The former Phoenix standout receiver left Western Kentucky and signed with Charlotte. He has four years of eligibility.
Pauly Seeley, New Hampstead
As a quarterback for the Phoenix, Seeley won the Finocchiaro Award as the top player in Savannah. After two seasons at Wofford, he is headed north to play at Northwood University, a Division II program in Michigan.
Rocko Griffin, South Effingham
Griffin played at Savannah Christian, Calvary Day and South Effingham as a standout running back during his prep days in the Coastal Empire. He started his college career at Vanderbilt, and then played at the University of Texas San Antonio. He has signed to play at the University of Massachusetts as a graduate transfer.
Alijah Alexander, Benedictine
The defensive end graduated from Benedictine in 2023. He entered the Portal out of Stetson University and has signed to play at Florida A&M.
Michael Grandy, Savannah Country Day
The standout defensive back out of Oklahoma Baptist University announced his commitment to Howard University on Dec. 26. He was a true freshman this year at Oklahoma Baptist.
Ryan Merklinger, Calvary Day
The standout offensive lineman is the older brother of Tennessee quarterback Jake Merklinger. He left Western Illinois and signed with Chattanooga as a graduated transfer with a year of eligibility left.
Other players who haven’t committed
Ronald Cooper, Jenkins
The former Warrior defensive back won the Finocchiaro Award as the top player in Savannah in 2019. He entered the Portal out of Georgia State with a year of eligibility left.
Joseph Maxwell III, Windsor Forest
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive lineman entered the Portal out of Delaware State as a graduate transfer.
James Shellman IV, Islands
The defensive back entered the Portal out of Middle Tennessee State as a graduate transfer.
Trevor Strowbridge, Calvary Day
A standout defensive back and running back in his prep days with the Cavs, Strowbridge entered the Portal out of Lenoir-Rhyne with four years of eligibility remaining.
Justin McKithen, New Hampstead
The former defensive back with the Phoenix entered the Portal as a graduate transfer out of Old Dominion.
Ashley Thompson, Effingham County
The all-conference defensive back out of Peru State is in the Portal with two years of eligibility left.
Jeremiah “Tank” Thomas, Benedictine
The defensive tackle out of Benedict College is headed to Western Georgia College as a preferred walk on.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter:Â @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Football players from Savannah area find new teams through Transfer Portal
