Top 5 Arkansas State players who entered transfer portal before Ventures Bowl ft. Dontay Joyner

As Arkansas State prepares to battle Bowling Green in the Ventures Bowl on Thursday, even the bowl-bound Red Wolves have to deal with the transfer portal. ASU hasn't had a massive portal influx yet, but at least nine players have already indicated their portal intentions.

The Red Wolves (7-5) were outscored by over seven points per game in 2024. Despite their struggles, ASU has played well in close games, which enabled them to earn the Ventures Bowl invitation.

Ahead of that battle, here are the top five Arkansas State players who have opted for the portal ahead of the bowl clash.

Top 5 Arkansas State players who entered portal before bowl

Well-traveled QB Timmy McClain will lead ASU looking for his fourth team via the transfer portal. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

#5, Reginald Harden Jr., WR

Harden is a 6-foot-5 athlete who played two seasons of Division II football at tiny Benedict College. He caught only three passes in 2024 at Arkansas State, but those catches went for 52 yards and included a pair of touchdowns. He's still a raw prospect, but will seek another school for his final season of college football.

#4, Miller McCrumby, TE

A 6-3 tight end, McCrumby has played for three seasons at Arkansas State. He saw limited action in 2022 as a freshman but then caught 14 passes in 2023 and 11 more in 2024. He gained just 79 yards on his 2024 catches and is still looking for his first collegiate touchdown. He's got a year of remaining eligibility.

#3, Timmy McClain, QB

McClain is seeking a fourth school in his college career. He saw extended action at South Florida in 2021, passing for 1,888 yards and five touchdowns. After a transfer, he saw important time at UCF in 2023. McClain passed for 1,065 yards and nine more touchdowns there. He transferred to Arkansas State and played in just four games in 2024.

McClain has extensive experience and will have two years of eligibility remaining, since he only played in four games this season.

#2, Jayden Jones, DE

Jones spent two seasons at SMU and then transferred to Arkansas State for 2024. He had just 16 tackles in his two seasons with the Mustangs but saw more action with ASU. Jones has 25 tackles this year, including seven tackles for loss with four QB sacks. Jones also had an interception and forced a fumble. He will have just one season of college eligibility ahead.

#1, Dontay Joyner, DB

Joyner has played extensive at Arkansas State over the past two seasons, assuming a significant role in 2024. Joyner had 50 tackles as a starting safety, breaking up seven passes, including a pair of interceptions. An experienced defender, Joyner has two remaining seasons of college eligibility. He'll spend 2025 with Maryland, his chosen portal destination.

What do you think of Arkansas State's portal losses? Share your thoughts below in the comments section!