The transfer portal explodes for Arkansas football, landing four in 24 hours

While football fans may have been disappointed with Arkansas canceling its Red and White game on Saturday afternoon, there were at least four reasons to celebrate. Since Friday, Arkansas football has landed four defensive transfers at three different positions.

Arkansas football's big transfer portal weekend

LB, Trent Whalen

The first Kent State linebacker transfer was Trent Whalen. After spending four seasons with FCS squad Southern Utah, Whalen transferred to Kent State in December 2024. At the beginning of April, he re-entered the spending only four months with the Golden Flashes.

During his time with the Thunderbirds, Whalen made a career-high 51 tackles in 2022 before only playing two games in 2023 and redshirting. The following year, Whalen returned to his old form and completed 46 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss.

DB, Shakur Smalls

Whalen was the only transfer addition on Friday, while all three of the following players committed on Saturday. However, like Whalen, our next transfer, Shakur Smalls, is transferring from a much smaller school but comes with years of collegiate experience.

A defensive back from Maine, Smalls is transferring to Arkansas after spending four years at the FCS level, where he dominated. Last season, the 6-foot, 205-pounder racked up 43 tackles, 24 solo, an interception, and six pass deflections.

EDGE, Phillip Lee

Moving to the trenches, Arkansas' third transfer of the weekend was Troy Edge, Phillip Lee. At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Lee has great size and athleticism to boot. With Landon Jackson living his dream and declaring for the NFL draft, the defensive ends are young—but talented—and the depth is shallow.

Lee brings with him three years of college experience, plus 30 tackles, 15 solo, five sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection, with one year of eligibility. While he may not steal a starting role at Arkansas, he'll certainly be a great relief player.

CB, Julian Neal

Last, but certainly not least, is perhaps the best addition of the weekend, if not in the spring transfer cycle. Stanford Cornerback Julian Neal committed on Saturday. He's the No. 74 prospect and the fifth-highest transfer available at the time of his commitment per 247Sports. A .9200 4-star transfer, Neal was also ranked the No. 4 CB.

Like Whalen, Neal transferred to Stanford in the winter to enter the portal again a few months later. However, at Fresno State, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound DB recorded 35 tackles, 22 solo, two interceptions, a sack, and five pass deflections.

Unfortunately, with so many incoming transfers, fans may see a outgoing players soon. Arkansas is now over its 85 player scholarship limit, so the room has to be made, and with defense needing better depth, most of the outgoing transfers may be from the offensive side of the ball.