The transfer portal has been hitting Georgia hard. And it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Carson Beck delivered a gut punch to the Bulldogs by committing to Miami on January 9. But three days before him, Jaden Rashada made the headlines for the same reason. The former Georgia QB left Athens and entered the transfer portal yet again, looking for his next stop in an already wild college football journey. And let’s just say, Kirby Smart isn’t too thrilled about how things are playing out. 

If you’ve been following Jaden Rashada’s rollercoaster ride, you know this isn’t his first rodeo in the transfer portal. Pete Thamel dropped the latest update on X on April 4 — “Sources: Former Georgia QB Jaden Rashada is set to go on an official visit to Western Kentucky this weekend. He left Georgia in January and entered the NCAA transfer portal. He began his career at Arizona State in 2023 and started two games.” That’s right, he’s on the move again. 

This is now Jaden Rashada’s third time in the transfer portal since December in just two seasons. First, he flipped from Florida to Arizona State, then transferred to Georgia, and now he’s shopping around once more. With him and Carson Beck both gone, Georgia fans have to be wondering what’s next for the Bulldogs at quarterback. Well, Gunner Stockton is already looking like the QB that the Dawgs need to become a playoff contender in 2025. Analysts even feel he might have a better season than his predecessor, who had 12 interceptions in 2024. 

But the bigger picture here? It’s the NIL-fueled chaos of the transfer portal. It’s turned into a full-on marketplace, and Coach Smart isn’t hiding his frustration. He called out the shady backdoor dealings that have become the norm of college football. “What I do know is we’re gonna continue to recruit people who love football, who are passionate about football, that don’t put money as the number one answer,” he stated. “Like, I’ve never met a really good player that that’s all they care about… I mean there’s people reaching out to do a Zoom call that are on team’s including our teams.” And that’s not all he had to say. 

Kirby Smart went on to question whether this current NIL-driven system is even sustainable. “I don’t know if the kids in the model that we currently have, if they win long-term,” he added. “Long term, when we have to cut sports and other things, are the kids going to be the winners in this? I don’t know.” His words sent shockwaves throughout the CFB world, sparking debates about whether the NCAA will finally step in and do something about all the behind-the-scenes dealings. 

Kirby Smart to face more transfer portal setbacks?

Let’s be real. This isn’t just about kids deciding to transfer. Agents and boosters are pulling strings, and everyone in the industry knows it. A to Z Sports Joe DeLeone backed up Kirby Smart’s concerns in a new episode on The Ruffino & Joe Show. “I think a lot of people don’t realize that a lot of these movements that happen when kids do decide to enter the transfer portal. It’s because their agents have reached out to schools, and they’ve already started the communication,” he said. 

While Georgia isn’t in full panic mode yet, Dawgs insider Rusty Mansell has hinted that the movement isn’t just over yet. “I anticipate Georgia having some movement. There will be some guys that’d probably just say, ‘Hey I didn’t get through it in spring practice’… There might be one of two guys that might leave, but I don’t anticipate it crazy spring portal.” So what’s next? Well, with the portal still open and NIL money flying left and right, this is far from over. 

Georgia fans are going to be watching closely to see how Kirby Smart and his staff handle this mess. But one thing’s for sure — college football free agency is here, and it’s not going away anytime soon.