With the Division I football season set to begin on Saturday, less than half of the former University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff players who entered the transfer portal since last season are currently listed on Division I rosters.
The NCAA offers athletes two opportunities during the offseason to enter the portal, an online database that allows other teams to find and contact potential transfer players. The first transfer window is in December following the end of the regular season, and the other is during the spring as teams are wrapping up spring practices.
The portal isn’t public, making it difficult to track who is or isn’t in the portal, but at least 32 UAPB players entered this past offseason. Of those 32, 15 are listed on Division I rosters, with another six set to play Division II football.
The most notable transfer from UAPB this past offseason was wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson, who transferred to Oklahoma after tying the record for second-most receptions in a season as a Golden Lion.
Gibson was the only transfer to a Power Four conference, though seven others signed with Group of Five schools.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Conference USA took the most UAPB transfers of any G5 conference. Texas-El Paso signed wide receiver Aramoni Rhone and longsnapper Rio Hay. FIU signed wide receiver Donovan Giles, while Kennesaw State signed linebacker Jaden Kelly. Lastly, New Mexico State claimed defensive lineman Jason Gwan.
The other two G5 signees were defensive end Anas Luqman with Ohio and offensive lineman Courtney Van Buren II with Temple.
Seven former Golden Lions are remaining in FCS. Central Arkansas, which UAPB will play in week two, signed former UAPB linebacker Kyle Vocque. Long Island claimed running back OJ Ross, while Duquesne signed running back Johness Davis. Defensive back Liam Lindo signed with Bryant. Defensive lineman Abdulbasit Osholake went to the University of Albany, while defensive end Benjie Guar is now at Robert Morris.
Linebacker Jonathan Goins will be the only 2025 UAPB transfer to remain in the SWAC after signing with Alabama A&M. Of note, former starting quarterback Mekhi Hagens also signed with AAMU but was removed from the roster. The school has not released many details on the circumstances.
Three other schools, two FCS and one Division II, at one point had UAPB transfers listed on their 2025 rosters who have since been removed.
From the Division II ranks, Henderson State lists two former Golden Lions, running back Chris Gannaway and offensive lineman Elijah Hardin, on its roster. Another offensive lineman, Jamarkius Garrett, followed former UAPB offensive line coach Steve Wallace to Kentucky State.
Wide receiver Cam Taylor signed with Edward Waters University, while linebacker Mike Riley is at Bluefield State. Lastly, defensive lineman Jaden Ledbetter announced a commitment to Elizabeth City State, though that school hasn’t yet released a 2025 roster.
Although those 21 athletes have found new homes, there are at least 11 who, at least publicly, remain unsigned. That isn’t counting a handful more who never publicly declared an intention to transfer and were listed on UAPB’s spring roster but aren’t currently listed on the fall roster.
That means of the outgoing transfers this past offseason, more remain unsigned than moved up to FBS.
The timing of transferring seemingly mattered. Of the 15 who entered the portal in December immediately after the season, nine are at Division I schools, 11 if counting players who have since been removed from rosters. Out of the spring transfers, six are on Division I rosters with another six on Division II teams. Six of the eight FBS move-ups were December transfers.
Three transfers moved back to their home states, with another four moving to states closer to home.
A handful of Division I games will be played Saturday at part of week 0 to kick off the season. UAPB opens its 2025 campaign on Aug. 30 at Texas Tech.