Mizzou football tops Yahoo’s list of transfer portal winners

CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Kelly Bryant #2 of the Clemson Tigers warms up prior to the Tigers' game against the Auburn Tigers at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Kelly Bryant #2 of the Clemson Tigers warms up prior to the Tigers' game against the Auburn Tigers at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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They don’t call it the Kelly Bryant Rule for no reason. But that’s not the only reason Mizzou football leads Yahoo’s rankings.

On the first day of SEC Media Days last week, Kelly Bryant took the podium and said he was thankful of the timing of the new transfer portal.

The rule allowed college football players to transfer without permission from their school. And Bryant chose to leave Clemson after his fourth game, granting him an additional year of eligibility at his new school.

He said last Monday he’s heard it called the “Kelly Bryant Rule.” This week, Yahoo listed the winners and losers for the first year of the transfer portal.

Mizzou was the first team mentioned under winners. But not just because of Bryant.

The article: Winners and losers of the college football transfer portal — mentions two other players the Tigers nabbed, but also the players Mizzou did not lose.

"Missouri shored up its quarterback room for years to come via the transfer portal by bringing in ex-Clemson signal caller Kelly Bryant and Shawn Robinson, formerly of TCU. … One of Bryant’s main weapons could be Jonathan Nance, a graduate transfer receiver from Arkansas who caught 37 balls for 539 yards and five scores in 2017.But above all, Missouri deserves praise because it did not lose a single player after being delivered a postseason ban for the 2019 season."

Mizzou has a full year of what could be a one-two punch of newcomers in seniors Bryant and Nance. Also, the Tigers could benefit for the next three years as Bryant leaves and Robinson comes in for two seasons as a starter.

As for not losing any senior, the players could have left without the portal anyway since the NCAA allowed seniors to transfer immediately amid a postseason ban. Nobody wanted to leave.

There’s no question Mizzou should be the top winners.

Following Missouri is Oklahoma, Miami, USC, Maryland and SEC member Mississippi State. Good company for the Tigers.

As for the losers, Mizzou’s Week 2 opponent West Virginia tops the list after losing three starters.

The Tigers will open at home against the Mountaineers.