The talent drain on the defensive side continued this week with sophomore linebacker Kamal Bonner hitting the transfer portal. Bonner stepped into a starting role after Caden Fordham got hurt last season and ended up thriving. He finished the season fifth on the team in both tackles and TFL.
Between the secondary leaving and now this, I’m having to squint harder and harder at the two-deep to feel good about the defense this fall. I’m sure Bonner’s departure was not anticipated prior to the transfer window opening but this is just how it goes now.
Especially this spring, with all of the extra money due to be injected into player compensation thanks to the House settlement, I think there are a bunch of guys who can’t resist seeing what this market looks like. There’s more money available than ever before, and by the sound of it, some sweeter deals than will be there once things settle down around the new model.