TRANSFER PORTAL MADNESS: Leavitt in Miami, Lagway Still Shopping, Coleman Following DeBoer – The Latest Intel

By D. Allen | TheRecruitRumor.com
January 10, 2026

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GAME PLAN: Why the Next 6 Days Will Define the 2026 Season

Listen up—we’re 8 days into the transfer portal window and 6 days away from it slamming shut on January 16th. That means programs have exactly 144 hours to close deals before losing out until next year’s cycle.

As a former college coach, I’m telling you right now: the next 72 hours will determine who wins and who loses this portal war. We’ve got the #1 QB (Sam Leavitt) visiting Miami THIS WEEKEND after Lane Kiffin literally flew to Tennessee to try to keep him. We’ve got a “committed” QB (DJ Lagway) who’s STILL taking visits to Ole Miss. And we’ve got the #1 WR (Cam Coleman) who just followed Alabama’s head coach on Instagram after visiting Tuscaloosa yesterday.

This isn’t speculation. This is breaking news, confirmed visits, and insider intel on where the elite talent is landing—or about to land—in the next 6 days.

Let’s break down the war room.

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BREAKING: SAM LEAVITT – THE $5 MILLION QB BATTLE

Profile: Arizona State QB | #1 Portal Player Overall | 6’2″ 205 lbs
2025 Stats: 1,628 passing yards, 10 TDs, 306 rushing yards (injury-shortened season)
2024 Stats: 2,885 passing yards, 24 TDs (led ASU to CFP)

THE CURRENT SITUATION:

Sam Leavitt is in Miami RIGHT NOW (January 10-11) for an official visit with Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes. This comes after visits to:

• Kentucky (eliminated—signed Kenny Minchey instead)
• LSU (Monday-Wednesday, sat courtside with Lane Kiffin at basketball game)
• Tennessee (Wednesday-Friday, EXTENDED his visit an extra day)

THE LANE KIFFIN DRAMA:

Here’s where it gets wild: Lane Kiffin was so worried about Leavitt going to Miami that he literally flew to Knoxville on Friday to meet with him at the airport before he left Tennessee. Kiffin posted pics from the Knoxville airport trying to make one last pitch.

Why the desperation? Because Miami just beat Ole Miss in the CFP semifinals and is playing for a national championship at their HOME STADIUM on January 19th. Kiffin knows that Miami’s momentum + their track record with portal QBs (Cam Ward → #1 overall pick, Carson Beck → national title game) makes them nearly impossible to beat.

THE THREE-WAY BATTLE:

1. MIAMI (FAVORITE)
Why they’ll win: National championship game buzz, proven track record developing portal QBs, $4-5 million NIL package, Carson Beck leaving creates immediate opening
The pitch: “Be the next Cam Ward. We just turned a portal QB into the #1 overall pick. Now we need YOU to win us a title in 2026.”
Momentum: Currently hosting him during championship week—that’s recruiting gold

2. LSU (FADING)
Why they’re alive: Lane Kiffin flew to Tennessee to make last-ditch effort, sat courtside with Leavitt at basketball game
The problem: Already lost Demond Williams (Washington) and Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech), getting desperate
Momentum: Kiffin’s airport stunt shows they’re worried

3. TENNESSEE (LONG SHOT)
Why they tried: Extended visit shows interest
The problem: Leavitt left without committing, immediately scheduled Miami visit
Momentum: Probably out of it

THE COACHING ANALYSIS:

Leavitt’s injury in 2025 is the elephant in the room. Multiple sources confirm teams are asking about his medical evaluations and whether he’ll be ready for spring practice. But here’s the thing—when healthy, he led Arizona State to the College Football Playoff. That’s worth $5 million to a program desperate for a QB.

My Prediction: Leavitt to Miami. Announces Monday, January 13th after spending the weekend soaking in championship game atmosphere. Miami’s momentum is too strong.

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DJ LAGWAY – THE BAYLOR “COMMITMENT” THAT ISN’T DONE

Profile: Florida QB | Five-Star | Sophomore | 2 years eligibility
2025 Stats: 14 interceptions (most in SEC) – regression year
Status: “Committed” to Baylor but STILL TAKING VISITS

THE MESSY SITUATION:

DJ Lagway verbally committed to Baylor on Thursday, January 8th after visiting with Dave Aranda and sitting courtside at a Baylor basketball game. Fans celebrated. Baylor recruiting staff posted graphics. Everyone thought it was done.

Then Friday happened.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel dropped a bomb: Lagway is STILL talking to other schools and planning more visits. He hasn’t signed paperwork. He hasn’t shut down his recruitment. Ole Miss is making a hard push for him THIS WEEKEND (January 10-11).

WHY OLE MISS?

Here’s the timeline that matters:

• Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss QB) had his waiver request DENIED by NCAA on Friday
• Ole Miss suddenly has zero experienced QBs returning
• Lane Kiffin (who just lost in CFP semis) desperately needs a QB
• Lagway takes visit to Oxford THIS WEEKEND

THE COACHING TRUTH:

This is peak transfer portal chaos. Lagway verbally committed, started recruiting other players to Baylor on social media, then immediately scheduled another visit. One of three things is happening:

1. Baylor’s NIL package wasn’t as big as promised and he’s leveraging Ole Miss to get more money
2. Ole Miss came in with a MASSIVE offer after Chambliss was denied
3. Lagway is genuinely torn between Baylor’s offensive system and Ole Miss’s SEC platform

THE BAYLOR PITCH:

Why Baylor made sense: Jake Spavital (OC) has elite QB development reputation, wide-open offense matches Lagway’s HS system (58 TDs in 2023), fresh start away from SEC spotlight after 14-INT disaster at Florida

The problem: Dave Aranda is on the hottest seat in the Big 12 after 5-7 season. If Baylor goes 4-8 in 2026, Aranda’s gone and Lagway transfers again.

THE OLE MISS PITCH:

Why Ole Miss makes sense: SEC platform, Lane Kiffin’s offensive creativity, immediate starting job, higher NIL ceiling

The problem: Lagway is damaged goods with 14 INTs in 2025. Does Kiffin want to bet his job on rehab project?

My Prediction: This drags out until January 15th (one day before portal closes). Lagway stays with Baylor 60%, flips to Ole Miss 40%. The Baylor visit happened first, they’ve been recruiting him hard, and the family connection (his dad went to Baylor) probably wins out. But it’s NOT done yet.

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CAM COLEMAN – AUBURN → ALABAMA? THE IRON BOWL TRANSFER

Profile: Auburn WR | #1 WR in Portal | 6’3″ 201 lbs | Five-Star
Career Stats: 93 receptions, 1,306 yards, 13 TDs (2 seasons at Auburn)
Social Media Bomb: Just followed Kalen DeBoer on Instagram after Alabama visit

THE VISIT TOUR:

Coleman has visited FOUR schools so far:

1. Texas – First stop
2. Texas A&M – Second stop (had him committed in 2024 before he flipped to Auburn)
3. Texas Tech – Third stop (Lubbock visit confirmed)
4. Alabama – YESTERDAY (January 9th) in Tuscaloosa

He cancelled his USC visit, which tells you his list is narrowing.

THE ALABAMA BUZZ:

Coleman arrived in Tuscaloosa yesterday and the college football world lost its mind. Why? Because Auburn-to-Alabama transfers are RARE and absolutely devastating to the rivalry. Auburn fans are melting down on social media.

Then THIS happened: Coleman followed Kalen DeBoer on Instagram after leaving his visit. In the recruiting world, that’s a MASSIVE signal. Players don’t follow coaches unless they’re seriously considering the school.

THE ALABAMA ADVANTAGES:

1. Hometown: Phenix City, Alabama—30 minutes from Auburn, 90 minutes from Tuscaloosa
2. Former teammates: Two guys from his high school team are at Alabama
3. WR coach: Alabama just hired Derrick Nix (former Auburn OC) who knows Coleman
4. Ryan Williams: Pairing Coleman with Williams creates best WR duo in country
5. NIL: Alabama can match or beat anyone’s offer

THE TEXAS PITCH:

• Arch Manning entering Year 2 as starter
• High-powered passing offense
• Massive NIL resources
• Need for big-bodied outside receiver

THE TEXAS A&M ANGLE:

Coleman was committed to A&M for FOUR MONTHS in the 2024 cycle before flipping to Auburn on Early Signing Day. The Aggies want him back. This is personal for Mike Elko.

THE TEXAS TECH WILDCARD:

Air-raid offense, high-volume passing, immediate featured role. They’ll make a HUGE NIL offer to try to steal him from the SEC giants.

THE COACHING ANALYSIS:

Coleman’s production was limited at Auburn because of poor QB play. He had Payton Thorne and Hank Brown throwing to him—not exactly elite passers. Now he’s choosing between:

• Arch Manning (Texas)
• Unknown QB situation (Alabama – Ty Simpson’s future unclear)
• Unknown QB situation (Texas A&M)
• Behren Morton (Texas Tech)

My gut says he wants elite QB play + immediate national championship contention + massive NIL. That narrows it to Alabama or Texas.

My Prediction: Coleman to Alabama. Announces this weekend (January 11-12). The Instagram follow, the hometown connection, pairing with Ryan Williams, and the “screw you” to Auburn all point to Tuscaloosa. This would be the biggest Iron Bowl recruiting dagger in years.

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✅ CONFIRMED COMMITMENTS – WHO’S ALREADY SIGNED

QUARTERBACKS:

Drew Mestemaker → Oklahoma State ✅

• Led NATION in passing (4,129 yards)
• Following coach Eric Morris from North Texas
• My take: Best value play in portal. Walk-on to 4,000-yard passer to Power 4 starter

Rocco Becht → Penn State ✅

• 24-game starter at Iowa State
• Following Matt Campbell to State College
• My take: Plug-and-play veteran who knows Campbell’s system

Josh Hoover → Indiana ✅

• TCU starter joins Hoosiers
• Originally committed to Indiana out of HS
• Replaces Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza
• My take: Indiana staying competitive in Big Ten

Brendan Sorsby → Texas Tech ✅

• Cincinnati QB, 5,613 career yards, 63 total TDs
• Chose Tech over LSU and others
• My take: Texas native returns home, elite production

Kenny Minchey → Kentucky ✅

• Notre Dame → Nebraska commitment → FLIPPED to Kentucky
• Will Stein’s first big get
• My take: Drama-filled recruitment but Kentucky wins

Byrum Brown → Auburn ✅

• South Florida QB follows Alex Golesh to SEC
• Set 15 USF records
• My take: Auburn needed veteran presence

Austin Simmons → Missouri ✅

• Ole Miss backup after injury
• Gets fresh start in SEC East
• My take: Talented player who needs reps

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⚡ OTHER MAJOR PORTAL MOVES TO WATCH

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Jordan Ross (Tennessee) → Louisville ✅

• Five-star from 2024 class
• 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks in 2025
• My take: Talented but needs development

RUNNING BACKS:

Lloyd Avant (Colorado State) → Oklahoma ✅
Jovantae Barnes (Oklahoma) → Kentucky ✅

• Bedlam players switching Big 12 destinations

DEFENSIVE LINE:

Cole Sullivan (Michigan) → Oklahoma ✅

• LB follows talent to Sooners
• My take: Oklahoma loading up on defense

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🎯 SCHOOLS WINNING THE PORTAL (SO FAR)

1. PENN STATE (21 Commits)

• Matt Campbell bringing Iowa State players with him
• Rocco Becht headline addition
• Grade: A+

2. OKLAHOMA STATE (19 Commits)

• Eric Morris bringing North Texas stars
• Drew Mestemaker + Jalen Hale RB tandem
• Grade: A+

3. OKLAHOMA (Multiple Elite Adds)

• Cole Sullivan, Lloyd Avant, Dakoda Fields
• Rebuilding after CFP run
• Grade: A

4. TEXAS TECH (Brendan Sorsby)

• Landing proven QB after playoff run
• Grade: A

5. ALABAMA (IF Coleman signs)

• Would go from B to A+ instantly
• Ryan Williams + Coleman = nuclear WR duo
• Grade: B+ (A+ if Coleman commits)

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📉 SCHOOLS LOSING THE PORTAL

1. LSU

• Struck out on Demond Williams (stayed at Washington)
• Struck out on Brendan Sorsby (Texas Tech)
• Lane Kiffin flying to Tennessee shows desperation
• Sam Leavitt visiting Miami = probably losing him too
• Grade: D

2. AUBURN

• Losing Cam Coleman (#1 WR)
• Possibly to Alabama = DEVASTATING
• Grade: F

3. FLORIDA

• Lost DJ Lagway (even if to Baylor not Ole Miss)
• Billy Napier firing triggering exodus
• Grade: D-

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⏰ CRITICAL DATES – NEXT 6 DAYS

TODAY (Saturday, January 10):

• Sam Leavitt visiting Miami
• DJ Lagway visiting Ole Miss
• Cam Coleman decision expected soon?

Sunday, January 11:

• Leavitt’s Miami visit continues
• Coleman announcement possible?

Monday, January 12:

• Leavitt decision expected?
• Portal chaos continues

Tuesday-Thursday, January 13-15:

• Final 72 hours before portal closes
• Expect flurry of commitments

Thursday, January 16 – PORTAL CLOSES at 11:59 PM

• Last chance to enter portal or commit
• Programs scrambling to close deals

National Championship (Sunday, January 19):

• Indiana vs Miami for title
• Extra 5-day window (Jan 20-24) ONLY for teams in title game

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COACHING POINTS: What I’m Watching

1. Sam Leavitt’s Miami visit THIS WEEKEND – If he leaves Miami without committing, Tennessee/LSU still alive. If he commits before leaving? Game over.
2. DJ Lagway’s Ole Miss visit – Does he shut down recruitment and honor Baylor commitment? Or does Lane Kiffin’s checkbook flip him?
3. Cam Coleman’s social media – Following DeBoer is the biggest signal yet. Announcement coming soon.
4. LSU’s desperation – Kiffin flying to Tennessee shows they’re panicking. Need QB badly.
5. Final 6 days – January 16th deadline means decisions MUST happen soon. No more visits after portal closes.

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THE BOTTOM LINE

The next 6 days will determine who wins the 2026 portal. My bold predictions:

✅ Sam Leavitt → Miami (announces Monday, January 13)
✅ Cam Coleman → Alabama (announces this weekend, January 11-12)
✅ DJ Lagway stays with Baylor (60%) or flips to Ole Miss (40%)
✅ LSU strikes out on Leavitt, scrambles for backup options
✅ Alabama lands Coleman = biggest Iron Bowl recruiting win in years

The portal closes January 16th at 11:59 PM. Buckle up—the chaos is just beginning.

What’s YOUR prediction? Leavitt to Miami or LSU? Coleman to Alabama or Texas? Drop your takes in the comments.

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D. Allen is a former college coach and recruiting analyst. Follow him on TheRecruitRumor.com for breaking portal coverage and insider recruiting intel.

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