Even with the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming FCS season, we felt we should still do a preseason All-American team at the beginning of the summer. Games or not, these players deserved some recognition and people wanted to know who the top returners were.
Still no regrets there. But we’ll now (hopefully) have to do another preseason All-American team in a few months. Nine of the 13 conferences have postponed their fall season with hopes of playing in the spring. We won’t be able to copy and paste either since a number of high-profile FCS players have decided to transfer to (hopefully) get some games played this fall at the Power 5 level.
Eight HERO Sports Preseason All-Americans have either transferred or are in the transfer portal while a ninth has decided to begin training for the NFL.
Preseason All-Americans that have transferred or are in the transfer portal are:
Parentheses indicate if they have announced their new school.
- Sac State QB Kevin Thomson (Washington)
- San Diego TE Dalton Kincaid
- Towson AP Shane Simpson (Virginia)
- UNI DL Elerson Smith
- JMU ST standout and DB De’Angelo Amos (Virginia)
- Villanova OL Paul Grattan (UCLA)
- Villanova WR Changa Hodge (Virginia Tech)
- South Carolina State DL Roderick Perry (Illinois)
Plus, UNI offensive tackle Spencer Brown has decided to begin his pursuit of the NFL.
We’ve been tracking FCS-to-FBS transfers all offseason. The number surpassed 50 awhile ago. But since it became apparent the FCS playoffs weren’t going to happen this fall and teams were going to play in the spring, several standout players entered the transfer portal.
Since July 1, other standout FCS players to enter the transfer portal have been:
Parentheses indicate if they have announced their new school.
- UNI DB Xavior Williams – Multi-time All-Conference
- JMU DL Adeeb Atariwa – 2-year starter (Virginia)
- Harvard OL Eric Wilson – 2nd Team All-Conference
- Villanova TE Todd Summers – caught 6 TDs in 2019
- NC A&T OL Dontae Keys – 2nd Team All-Conference
- Dartmouth OL Zach Sammartino – All-Conference First Team
- Harvard DB Isaiah Wingfield – All-Conference First Team
- Drake DL Gavin Dineen – 2-time First Team All-Conference
Plus, Florida A&M OL Calvin Ashley, a former 5-star recruit that transferred to FAMU from Auburn last offseason, announced he will forego his senior year and declare for the NFL Draft.
These guys have NFL aspirations. With the “small school” label on them during the NFL Draft process, the January-March months are key in training for the NFL Combine or their Pro Days. Testing numbers are critical for FCS prospects. Playing a spring season could be disruptive in them achieving their goals.
Then again, there’s no guarantee the Power 5 are playing games this fall either. But this at least gives them a shot at getting more games on film before training for the NFL.
