In the new age of college football, many players, especially from Group of Five schools such as BGSU, are electing to hit the transfer portal in hopes of playing for a bigger school and/or earn NIL incentives. 

Boy oh boy has the portal hit the Falcons right in the mouth. 

Here is a look at just some of the faces and new places that former BGSU Football players are currently at now as of Jan. 16.

JORDAN ANDERSON: Sr. Safety, Detroit, Mich.

NEW HOME: UCLA

The preseason Jim Thorpe Award watch list nominee, Anderson’s void in the secondary for the Falcon defense will definitely be felt. Anderson ended the season with 47 total tackles and one interception, but his veteran leadership and athletic prowess means that the safety position will be one to be filled by young, undiscovered potential. 

JB BROWN: Jr. Inside Linebacker, Hughes, Ark.

NEW HOME: Kansas

Brown was a surprise star for the Falcons this season. In his time with BG, Brown had never missed a start, and in particular this season, consistency was much needed. Brown finished the year with 53 total tackles and three forced fumbles, including two against Marshall in the homecoming game. With two years of eligibility remaining, the Jayhawks are adding a talented linebacker that will shine in the staples of exotic formations within the Big-12 Conference.

JALEN GRANT: Jr. Offensive Guard, Chicago, Ill.

NEW HOME: Purdue

One of three new starting positions on the offensive line up for grabs due to the offseason, Grant was a surprise exit from the program, but to no surprise, he was quickly picked up by the closer to home Boilermakers. Grant made 12 starts this season for the Falcons, with the vast majority of his snaps coming at left guard. However, when center Jakari Robinson was dealing with NCAA transfer policy holdups, Grant stepped in and played 154 snaps. Expect to see Grant up front against many Big Ten foes this upcoming season for Purdue. 

TYRONE BRODEN: Jr. Wide Receiver, Detroit, Mich.

NEW HOME: Arkansas

One of the tallest wide receivers in all of D-I college football, Broden finished the 2022 campaign with 32 catches for 506 yards and seven touchdowns for the Falcons out wide. His most notable game came against Central Michigan, where he hauled in three catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns, while also putting in an impressive performance against Kent State with eight catches for 84 yards and a score. 

Look, you cannot teach size, and at 6’7, Broden’s massive frame will be hard to replicate for BG, but the Razorbacks will definitely put his athletic prowess to good use. Expect Broden to be heavily targeted in the red zone next season in one on one opportunities. 

DAVON FERGUSON: Sr. Cornerback, Baltimore, MD.

NEW HOME: Georgia Southern

Ferguson had a disappointing end to his time with the Falcons, as injuries riddled an end to his time in week two against Eastern Kentucky. However, Ferguson’s athletic potential made him an appealing player on the market for Georgia Southern. In 2021, Ferguson was ranked one of the MAC’s top overall players, as he was the only player in the nation with 60+ tackles (68), 2+ sacks (2) and 4+ passes defended (4). He was No. 1 in the MAC and No. 14 in the nation with 5.6 solo tackles per game. His most notable performance in the orange and brown was in 2021 against Northern Illinois, when he had a career-high 17 total tackles, including 10 solo tackles. 

OTHER NAMES IN THE PORTAL: 

• Jeremiah Banks-Wall: Jr. Left Tackle, Chicago, Ill

• NEW HOME: Western Illinois 

• Javonte Kinsey: Soph. Tight End, Jacksonville, Fla

• NEW HOME: Campbell

• Marcus Sheppard: Jr. Cornerback, Novi, Mich.

• NEW HOME: In Portal

• Blaine Spires: Jr. Outside Linebacker, Youngstown, OH.

• NEW HOME: In Portal

The portal hit the Falcons hard, but also brought some rewards. For starters, senior linebacker Darren Anders, after putting his name in the portal, decided to revoke his transfer status and return for his final year of eligibility. In his tenure with BG so far, Anders has 276 career tackles and four forced fumbles, so that along with his veteran leadership will bring stability for the Falcons. 

The offense was also given a huge prize, as after many were speculating who would take over for Matt McDonald at quarterback, the portal led to the arrival of former Indiana Hoosiers’ starting quarterback Connor Bazelak. 

The junior from Dayton, Bazelak ended the 2022 season with 2,312 yards and 13 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. The numbers may not wow the average football fan, but the former four star recruit of Missouri will bring valid competition to Camden Orth for the starting job next season, as Bazelak has two years of eligibility remaining. 

In a day and age of NIL and the transfer portal, expect the list to grow in terms of departures and arrivals for BGSU. For more information about the team, visit the athletic department’s website.