With the current nature of college athletics, the days of an athlete staying at one college for all four years of their college career is becoming rarer and rarer, with many deciding to enter the transfer portal and go find other opportunities at different schools.
Here are some Bulldogs who took their talents to other schools and what they accomplished this past season.
Trinidad Chambliss
Following a season of being a Harlon Hill finalist and leading the Bulldogs to their third national championship in four years in 2024, Chambliss entered the portal and ended up in Division I with Ole Miss.
In 15 games for the Rebels following the injury to starter Austin Simmons, Chambliss threw for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He also rushed for 527 yards and eight touchdowns and even had one catch for eight yards against the Florida Gators.
On his run to the Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff Semi-Final game against the Miami Hurricanes. Chambliss won the 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year
Chambliss had his breakout game on September 13 against Arkansas when he threw 21-29 for 353 yards and a touchdown while adding 62 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in the 41-35 win over the Razorbacks.
Sefa Saipaia
Following the 2024 national championship win, Saipaia entered the transfer portal and ended up in Kalamazoo playing for Western Michigan.
Saipaia was a big part of the Broncos’ best season in 10 years, as the team went 10-4 and won the MAC title for the first time since 2016, en route to winning the Myrtle Beach Bowl 41-6 against Kennesaw State.
In 14 games for the Broncos, Saipaia recorded 27 solo tackles and assisted on 50 for 77 total tackles, and 5.5 tackles for 12 yards lost, as well as 1.5 sacks for five yards, while recording one interception.
Nathan Claerbaut
After his junior season in Big Rapids, where he averaged 9.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 34 games on the way to their NCAA Midwest Region Quarterfinal loss, the seven-footer followed Coach Andy Bronkema to Central Michigan.
In the 31 games he played for the Chippewas, Claerbaut averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds. His best game came on December 17 in their 85-65 win against Olivet when he had 31 points and 12 rebounds with two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Claerbaut had 23 games of scoring ten points or more and recorded a double-double three times.
Claerbaut was named to the MAC All-Defensive Team and received HoopsHD All-MAC center.
Jaxson Whitaker
Along with Claerbaut, Whitaker also followed Bronkema to Mount Pleasant for his sophomore season. Whitaker started six games at Central but got minutes every game.
In the 31 games he played, Whitaker averaged 5.4 points and 1.3 rebounds off the bench. His highest-scoring game came on Feb. 14 in their 88-46 win against NIU, when he scored 19 points on 6-9 from the field and 5-7 from three-point range, and went 2-2 from the free-throw line.
With most of the 2025-26 seasons finished for the Bulldogs, with the exception of some sports, and the rise of the transfer portal and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), keep an eye out to see if there are any transfers following this year.