College football transfer portal best available rankings: Latest on Alabama, Washington departures

The 2023-24 transfer portal cycle is in full swing with more than 1,800 scholarship college football players already in the portal at the FBS level as we reach the end of the 30-day winter transfer window. So far, more than 900 have announced commitments. The postseason coaching changes at Alabama, Washington and Arizona have sparked another wild run of late portal entries, with more to come.

The portal can be dizzying to follow. In an effort to help you keep track of who’s going where and which top transfers are still on the market, The Athletic ranks the best available players in the portal.

Transfers are ranked based on their experience, production, potential, interest they’re generating and feedback from coaches throughout the country. This is a fluid list that we’ll constantly update as players make decisions, so be sure to keep this one bookmarked.

1. Safety Caleb Downs, Alabama: You rarely see players as talented as Downs become available in the portal. With all due respect to Walter Nolen and Quinshon Judkins, you can make a strong case that Downs is this year’s No. 1 overall transfer.

The five-star recruit from Georgia earned the starting strong safety spot as a true freshman at Alabama, an extremely rare feat for a player under Nick Saban, and put together a remarkable debut season for the Crimson Tide. Downs ranked No. 4 in the SEC in tackles (107) and produced 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two interceptions, a forced fumble and an 85-yard punt return touchdown. He racked up some serious awards at the end of the year: multiple second-team All-America honors, consensus Freshman All-American status, SEC Freshman of the Year and even the Shaun Alexander Freshman Football Player of the Year Award.

“Caleb is one of the best safeties I’ve seen coming out of high school in years,” one SEC assistant told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. “He’ll probably be a top-10 pick.”

Now he’s planning to enter the portal following Saban’s retirement. Georgia will understandably be the automatic frontrunner when Downs officially hits the portal, though Ohio State and many others are expected to make a push for one of the best young defenders in college football.

2. OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama: Proctor, a five-star recruit from Des Moines, Iowa, flipped from Iowa to Alabama before signing day and emerged as a Day 1 starter for the Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-7, 360-pound left tackle started all 14 games for the Crimson Tide and endured some freshman struggles (36 pressures and 11 sacks allowed) but improved and played well late in the season. Proctor has announced he’s entering the portal and could be coming home to finish his career, but the Hawkeyes will likely have to fight off several contenders to get him back in the fold.

3. QB Julian Sayin, Alabama: Sayin, the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the class of 2024, enrolled early at Alabama but is now planning to put his name in the portal and explore his options. New head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb are bringing second-year QB Austin Mack from Washington into a room that already had Sayin, Ty Simpson and Dylan Lonergan competing to succeed Jalen Milroe. Going into the portal gives the 6-foot-1, 195-pound passer from Carlsbad, Calif., a chance to consider whether there’s a better fit elsewhere.

4. CB Jabbar Muhammad, Washington: Muhammad, a grad transfer from Oklahoma State, was one of the most impactful transfers of the 2023 season and earned a spot on our All-Portal Team. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound cornerback was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection who ranked No. 3 in the FBS in pass breakups with 16, grabbed three interceptions and started all 15 games for a Huskies squad that played for a national championship. Now he’s back in the portal ahead of his final season of eligibility, with Alabama, Texas and Oregon among the many schools battling for his services.

5. OL Parker Brailsford, Washington: The redshirt freshman from Arizona moved into the starting lineup for Washington this season and impressed as the anchor of a unit that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top offensive line. The 6-foot-2, 275-pound center started all 15 games, earned Freshman All-America honors and finished as a top-10 starting center in PFF grading while also proving his versatility with 137 snaps played at right guard. Brailsford has entered the portal and has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

6. OL Lance Heard, LSU: One of the top recruits in the class of 2023 is already looking to move on. The five-star from Monroe, La., was the No. 3 offensive tackle in his class and opted to stay home and play for the Tigers. Heard appeared in 12 games during his debut season and earned one start at right tackle against Army. But LSU has starters at both tackle spots expected to return in 2024, so the 6-foot-6, 340-pound freshman is looking for a program where he can play a more significant role. Tennessee and Oklahoma are battling for his pledge.

7. QB Will Rogers, Washington: Rogers, a 40-game starter for the Bulldogs, had a very productive run leading Mike Leach’s Air Raid attack and has put up more than 12,000 passing yards in his career, with 96 total touchdowns and 37 turnovers. The No. 1 passer in SEC history in career attempts and completions enrolled at Washington to become the successor to Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr. but opted to put his name back in the portal when head coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama. It’ll be interesting to see whether new coach Jedd Fisch makes keeping Rogers a priority or he’s better off finding somewhere else to play in 2024.

8. RB Jonah Coleman, Arizona: Jedd Fisch’s decision to leave for Washington is going to lead to some portal attrition for an Arizona squad with big expectations going into 2024. Coleman has announced he’s entering the portal after a breakout sophomore season with the Wildcats. The 5-foot-9, 225-pound back ranked No. 5 in the Pac-12 in rushing and produced 1,154 total yards and six touchdowns, which earned him honorable mention all-conference recognition. Coleman has two more seasons of eligibility and could end up following Fisch to Seattle. If so, he’d be an instant difference-maker for a Washington team that must replace NFL-bound back Dillon Johnson.

9. TE Benjamin Yurosek, Stanford: Yurosek proved to be one of the top tight ends in the Pac-12, continuing the Cardinal tradition of excellence at that position. The 6-foot-4, 242-pound senior has caught 108 passes for 1,342 yards and five TDs over the last three years. That puts him in elite company with only three FBS tight ends who have more receiving yards in that span: Georgia’s Brock Bowers, Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer and Utah’s Dalton Kincaid. The All-Pac-12 performer is reportedly focusing on Georgia.

10. QB Demond Williams Jr., Arizona: Williams is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, but he’s an electric playmaker who finished as the No. 16 QB recruit in the class of 2024. He threw for over 10,000 yards at Basha High School in Arizona with 135 total TDs and back-to-back state titles. Williams flipped from Ole Miss during his recruitment to stay home and play at Arizona. Now he’s back on the market after enrolling early at Arizona and is planning to visit Washington.

Previously ranked

1. DL Walter Nolen, Texas A&M to Ole Miss: There was little debate among Power 5 recruiting and personnel staffers surveyed by The Athletic that Nolen is the best player in the portal.

The former No. 2 overall recruit from Tennessee was the highest-rated signee in Texas A&M’s historic 2022 recruiting class and has played up to expectations in his two seasons in College Station, starting 14 games and producing 66 tackles, 33 pressures, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive lineman has first-round pick potential and two more seasons of eligibility. Rarely do you see players of his caliber become available in the portal, but the Aggies’ coaching change and the departure of defensive line coach Elijah Robinson to Syracuse prompted Nolen to explore his options.

1. RB Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss to Ohio State: Judkins, a three-star signee out of Alabama, was an incredible success story for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels as a true freshman in 2022 who emerged as a first-team All-SEC back and the SEC’s Freshman of the Year after leading the conference with 1,565 rushing yards (seventh-most in the FBS) and scoring 17 touchdowns. He followed that up with more than 1,300 yards and 17 more scores as a sophomore in another All-SEC season. No Power 5 back has more rushing yards over the past two seasons.

2. WR Evan Stewart, Texas A&M to Oregon: The sophomore playmaker was one of the most anticipated portal entries of this cycle. Stewart, a five-star recruit and the No. 2 receiver in the class of 2022, was one of the SEC’s most exciting young wideouts and caught 91 passes for 1,163 yards and six touchdowns in his two seasons in College Station. He earned Freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2022 and was leading the Aggies in receptions this season before he missed three of their last four games. Stewart will have an opportunity to be one of the most impactful transfers of this offseason in Eugene.

2. QB Cameron Ward, Washington State (entered NFL Draft): Ward was one of the best available players in the portal when he left FCS Incarnate Word at the end of the 2021 season. He threw for 7,165 yards with 61 total touchdowns and 16 interceptions during his two seasons at Washington State and is No. 4 in the FBS in passing yards per game this season (311.3).

3. OLB Nic Scourton, Purdue to Texas A&M: The 6-foot-4, 280-pound edge defender has big-time size and production and instantly became one of the most coveted players on the transfer market. The Boilermakers signed Scouton out of Bryan, Texas, and developed him into a second-team All-Big Ten performer who led the conference with 10 sacks this season and recorded 50 tackles, 42 pressures, 15 TFLs and three pass breakups as a sophomore. Scourton has two more seasons of eligibility back home at Texas A&M,as Mike Elko takes over the Aggies.

3. QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty (withdrew): Salter has emerged as one of the most exciting playmakers in college football and led Liberty to a 13-1 record and the Fiesta Bowl in his first season as a full-time starter. The Conference USA MVP put up 2,876 passing yards plus 1,089 rushing yards and scored 44 total touchdowns with only six interceptions in first-year coach Jamey Chadwell’s offense. Salter, a Texas native, was dismissed from Tennessee during his freshman year in 2021 and turned his career around in Lynchburg by waiting his turn and shining when he got his chance.

4. QB Will Howard, Kansas State to Ohio State: Howard led K-State to a Big 12 championship in 2022 and made 34 career starts over his four seasons in Manhattan. The 6-foot-5, 242-pound senior finished No. 3 in the Big 12 in total offense this season and has accounted for 6,702 total yards and 67 touchdowns with 31 turnovers during his career. Howard’s combination of experience and dual-threat ability made him one of the more popular QBs in the portal.

4. RB Trevor Etienne, Florida to Georgia: Etienne lived up to the hype as an instant difference-maker for the Gators, with 1,710 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns in his first two seasons. The younger brother of Jaguars star Travis Etienne Jr. has forced 70 missed tackles as a rusher and gained 987 yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus.

5. OLB Trey Moore, UTSA to Texas: Moore was a Freshman All-American for the Roadrunners in 2022 and took the next big step this fall in becoming the AAC’s Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound edge rusher ranked No. 3 in the FBS this season in sacks (14) and eighth in tackles for loss (17.5) and has been credited with 77 total pressures over the past two seasons according to PFF. Moore has two more seasons of eligibility and chose Texas over Alabama and Ohio State, among others.

5. LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia to Kentucky: The junior inside linebacker was one of the best players on Georgia’s national championship defense in 2022 in his first season as a starter, recording 70 tackles, 26 pressures, nine TFLs and four sacks to earn All-America honors and become a finalist for the Butkus Award. Dumas-Johnson made 24 consecutive starts before a forearm injury forced him to miss the Bulldogs’ last four games this season. True freshman C.J. Allen replaced him in the starting lineup, and now Dumas-Johnson has made a move for his final season of eligibility.

5. OL Cayden Green, Oklahoma to Missouri: This was one of the more surprising transfer portal decisions of the month. Green, a top-100 recruit, moved into the starting lineup for five of the Sooners’ last six games as a true freshman and looked poised to be a major talent to build around up front.

5. QB Malachi Nelson, USC to Boise State: Nelson, a five-star from Los Alamitos, Calif., committed to play for Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma and flipped to join him at USC. The No. 5 QB in the class of 2023 only got on the field for four snaps during his freshman season while backing up Caleb Williams and Miller Moss. Nelson was hyped as the quarterback of the future for the Trojans, but now Riley is pursuing other options. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound freshman still has four more seasons to live up to the hype.

5. WR LaJohntay Wester, FAU to Colorado: Wester was one of the more dynamic wideouts in college football this season. The 5-foot-11, 167-pound senior ranked No. 2 in the FBS in catches this season with 108 and led the AAC with 1,168 receiving yards and eight TDs. Wester also earned AAC Special Teams Player of the Year for averaging 19.9 yards per punt return, including a 67-yard touchdown return.

6. CB Decamerion Richardson, Mississippi State to Ole Miss: The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior was one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC this season and is looking to boost his NFL Draft stock by staying in school. Richardson graded out as the third-best starting corner in the SEC according to PFF with seven pass breakups and just two touchdowns allowed and also led all corners in the conference with 79 tackles.

6. DL Jamaree Caldwell, Houston to Oregon: The 6-foot-1, 330-pound defensive tackle came to Houston as a junior college transfer and flashed exciting potential in two seasons with the Cougars. Caldwell started 10 games this season and was disruptive with 27 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble. His former position coach Brian Early calls him the best three-technique in the country and a complete player with the potential to become an early draft pick.

6. TE Amari Niblack, Alabama to Texas: The 6-foot-4, 233-pound athlete came in as a four-star signee and developed into one of the SEC’s top young tight ends at Alabama. Niblack caught 20 passes for 327 yards, fifth-most among SEC tight ends, and scored four touchdowns during his sophomore season. The Florida native is a matchup problem as a pass catcher who should continue to improve as a blocker.

7. WR CJ Daniels, Liberty to LSU: The 6-foot-2, 200-pound wideout was the second-leading receiver in Conference USA this year with 55 catches for 1,067 yards and 10 TDs as Kaidon Salter’s go-to guy. Daniels earned second-team All-CUSA honors for a season that included five 100-yard games and eight catches against Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. The redshirt junior has two more seasons of eligibility.

7. QB Dante Moore, UCLA to Oregon: The five-star signee was a massive recruiting win for UCLA and looked poised to be the Bruins’ QB1 for years to come. Moore moved into the starting lineup in Week 2 and earned five starts during his debut season but went through struggles like many true freshman starters do. He threw for 1,610 yards with 11 touchdowns but also had nine interceptions (including three pick sixes), three fumbles and 27 sacks. At Oregon, he may get a chance to redshirt behind Dillon Gabriel and prepare to shine in 2025.

7. OL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M (withdrew): It’s never easy to be a starting right tackle in the SEC as a true freshman, and Bisontis went through his fair share of struggles against that fierce competition in his lone season with the Aggies. But the 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman, a top-50 recruit from New Jersey, has the size and skill to be great as a tackle or guard and did pick up Freshman All-America recognition for his efforts. He elected to withdraw his name from the transfer portal on Dec. 19.

7. QB Maalik Murphy, Texas to Duke: Murphy is a big dude at 6 foot 5 and 238 pounds with a big arm and a ton of upside. The redshirt freshman from California has only played 177 snaps in college but has put enough on tape to inspire excitement that he can be an impact player. Murphy went 2-0 as the Longhorns’ starter this year to keep them in the Big 12 title and College Football Playoff hunt while Quinn Ewers was sidelined with an injury. He made some big-time throws against BYU and Kansas State in passing for 418 yards and three scores but also tossed three interceptions. Murphy’s raw potential and three years of remaining eligibility make him extremely intriguing.

7. DL Caiden Woullard, Miami (Ohio) to Oklahoma: The first-team All-MAC defender tied for the conference lead with 9.5 sacks this season and recorded 41 tackles, 58 pressures, 12 TFLs and two blocked kicks. He’s a 6-foot-5, 252-pound defensive end with two years of starting experience and one more season of eligibility.

7. RB Peny Boone, Toledo to Louisville: The 6-foot-1, 235-pound redshirt junior spent two seasons as a reserve at Maryland before joining Toledo in 2022. This season, Boone took his game to another level and earned MAC Offensive Player of the Year after producing a league-high 1,400 rushing yards on 7.2 yards per carry plus 219 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns for a Rockets squad that won 11 games.

8. QB DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State to Florida State: Uiagalelei wasn’t the most coveted QB in the portal when he left Clemson a year ago, but his move to Oregon State really paid off. The 6-foot-4, 252-pound junior had the best season of his career with 2,857 total yards, 27 total touchdowns and seven interceptions and led the Beavers to eight wins and another Top 25 finish in the College Football Playoff rankings. Going pro was on the table for Uiagalelei, but the chance to go be the QB1 for a contender like Florida State was tough to pass up.

8. WR Antwane Wells Jr., South Carolina to Ole Miss: “Juice” Wells transferred up from James Madison to South Carolina going into 2022 and had an impressive debut season, finishing second in the SEC in catches (68) and fifth in receiving yards (928) with six touchdowns and four 100-yard performances. Three games into this season, he suffered a foot injury against Georgia and missed the rest of the year. The 6-foot-1, 208-pound grad transfer can play two more seasons but should be heading to the NFL after one more big year.

8. DL Princely Umanmielen, Florida to Ole Miss: The 6-foot-4 1/2, 255-pound edge defender developed into a two-year starter for the Gators and was one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the SEC this season with 46 pressures, 11.5 TFLs and seven sacks according to PFF. Umanmielen has one more season of eligibility.

8. DL LT Overton, Texas A&M to Alabama: Overton, another five-star signee from Texas A&M’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2022, is in the portal after playing 543 snaps over his first two seasons in College Station. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive lineman was a rotational player on the Aggies’ loaded D-line and is transferring to find the right role and program following the Aggies’ coaching change.

8. CB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky (withdrew): Stout is undersized at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but coaches love how he plays and what he put on tape at Western Kentucky. After spending two seasons at North Texas, he joined the Hilltoppers and developed into a two-year starter who recorded 73 tackles, five interceptions (including two pick sixes) and 10 pass breakups and only allowed two touchdowns over 520 snaps in coverage, according to PFF.

8. CB Rod Heard II, Northwestern to Notre Dame: The 5-foot-11, 190-pound slot corner was a multiyear starter for the Wildcats and is coming off his best season yet with 85 tackles, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception while grading out as one of the Big Ten’s top corners. Heard will be a sixth-year senior in 2024 and bring more than 2,000 snaps of playing experience to his next squad.

9. WR Colbie Young, Miami to Georgia: After transferring in from the junior college ranks, Young played two seasons at Miami and caught 79 passes for 939 yards and 10 touchdowns.

9. RB Jo’Quavious Marks, Mississippi State to USC: “Woody” Marks has been one of the more productive backs in the SEC in his four seasons as a starter, accounting for 3,108 yards from scrimmage and 27 total touchdowns on 5 yards per touch. He led all SEC backs in receiving yards during his three seasons playing in Mike Leach’s offense and has a chance to boost his draft stock as part of Lincoln Riley’s attack.

9. CB Aydan White, NC State (withdrew): White has been an All-ACC selection in each of his two seasons as a starter for the Wolfpack. The 6-foot, 189-pound cornerback was a first-team pick in 2022 after a team-high four interceptions and has picked off six passes (including a pick six) with 19 pass breakups and only two touchdowns allowed over the last two seasons.

9. QB Austin Mack, Washington to Alabama: Mack is a 6-foot-6, 226-pound passer who reclassified and joined the Huskies as a four-star recruit in 2023. He did not appear in a game during his freshman season in the program and has now followed DeBoer and company to Tuscaloosa. DeBoer and his coaching staff were very high on Mack and his long-term potential.

10. WR Julian Fleming, Ohio State to Penn State: Fleming joined the Buckeyes’ star-studded wide receiver room as a five-star recruit out of Pennsylvania who was the No. 1 wideout in the class of 2020. He caught 79 passes for 936 yards and seven touchdowns in his four years at Ohio State but ranked fourth on the team in targets in 2023. Fleming has one more season of eligibility and a chance to be a No. 1 receiver back home at Penn State.

10. LB Jaheim Thomas, Arkansas to Wisconsin: Thomas, who started his college career with Luke Fickell at Cincinnati, was one of the most productive transfer linebackers in the FBS this season. He started 10 games in his lone season with the Razorbacks and led the team with 90 tackles while also recording 17 pressures, 6.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound linebacker has one more season of eligibility.

10. DL Anton Juncaj, Albany to Arkansas: Two years ago, Albany defensive end Jared Verse became one of the most coveted players in the portal. Now Juncaj is hoping for similar success. The 6-foot-3, 273-pound senior earned FCS All-America honors this season and is a Buck Buchanan Award finalist after racking up 55 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 15 sacks and five forced fumbles in 15 games. The FCS sack leader has one more season of eligibility and picked up more than a dozen Power 5 offers.

10. DL Elijah Alston, Marshall to Miami: The 6-foot-2, 256-pound edge defender earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors this season after recording 45 tackles, 36 pressures, 11.5 TFLs, six sacks and two forced fumbles for the Herd. He also got to show off his wheels with an 85-yard pick six against Old Dominion. Alston finished as the third-best edge player in the FBS in PFF grading.

11. WR Jeremiah Hunter, Cal to Washington: The 6-foot-2, 200-pound wideout has been the Bears’ leading receiver in each of the last two seasons and has produced 2,103 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 144 catches during his career. Hunter was also one of the Pac-12’s top punt returners in 2022 and brings valuable all-purpose ability to the table. He has two more seasons of eligibility.

11. S Andrew Mukuba, Clemson to Texas: Mukuba moved into the starting lineup right away for the Tigers and was the ACC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Freshman All-American in 2021. The 6-foot, 195-pound defensive back turned into a three-year starter who logged 149 tackles and 20 pass breakups. Now the Austin, Texas, native is coming home to join the Longhorns.

11. WR Matthew Golden, Houston to Texas: The four-star recruit stayed home to play for Houston and flashed the talent to be a real difference-maker for the Cougars. Golden caught 76 passes for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns over his first two seasons and was also one of the most dangerous kick returners in the country this season, taking two back for touchdowns. The 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore opted to transfer after Houston’s coaching change.

11. S Kamari Ramsey, UCLA to USC: The 6-foot-1, 205-pound defensive back moved into UCLA’s starting lineup as a redshirt freshman and had a good year with 40 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, four pass breakups and an interception in 11 games while grading out as the third-best safety in the Pac-12 according to PFF.

12. WR London Humphreys, Vanderbilt to Georgia: Humphreys, a three-star signee from Nashville, showed off serious speed and potential as a true freshman. The 6-foot-3, 186-pound wideout caught 22 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns in his debut season with two 100-yard performances.

12. WR Elijah Sarratt, James Madison to Indiana: Sarratt transferred up from FCS Saint Francis to James Madison and was an immediate difference-maker who earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors and a spot on The Athletic’s All-Portal Team. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound wideout finished No. 2 in the Sun Belt in receiving with 82 catches for 1,191 yards and eight touchdowns and had six 100-yard performances over his last eight games. He is following former Dukes coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana offer several other Power 5 offers.

13. WR Silas Bolden, Oregon State to Texas: Bolden led the Beavers with 746 receiving yards on 54 catches this season and scored eight total touchdowns as a receiver, rusher and returner. The 5-foot-8, 157-pound junior is one of the more dangerous kick returners in college football and has earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors in back-to-back seasons after producing a total of 2,328 all-purpose yards.

14. DE Sione Lolohea, Oregon State to Florida State: The 6-foot-6, 266-pound junior was a two-year starter for the Beavers’ D-line and a second-team All-Pac-12 honoree in 2023. Lolohea recorded 47 tackles, 32 pressures, 8.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles this season.

14. CB Jermod McCoy, Oregon State to Tennessee: McCoy, a three-star true freshman from Texas, has emerged as one of the most coveted defensive backs in the portal. The 6-foot, 180-pound corner logged four starts and 410 snaps in his debut season with the Beavers and finished with 31 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions. Coaches are excited about his long-term potential, and McCoy picked up a ton of Power 5 offers after entering the portal.

15. QB KJ Jefferson, Arkansas to UCF: The 6-foot-3, 247-pound veteran will be a sixth-year senior in 2024. Jefferson started 38 games for the Razorbacks and produced 7,911 passing yards and 1,876 rushing yards with 88 total touchdowns and 29 turnovers.

15. DL Tyler Baron, Tennessee to Ole Miss: The 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior from Knoxville has been a productive edge rusher for the Vols for three years and is coming off his best season yet with 28 tackles, 41 pressures, 10.5 TFLs and six sacks. Baron has one more season of eligibility.

15. OL Tanner Miller, Oregon State to Michigan State: Miller joined Oregon State as a walk-on in 2019 and put in the work to develop into not just a scholarship player but a second-team All-Pac-12 selection this season. The 6-foot-1, 287-pound junior started all 13 games this year (nine at right guard, four at center) and earned All-America recognition in his first year as a full-time starter.

16. CB A.J. Harris, Georgia to Penn State: Harris, a top-50 recruit from Alabama in the Class of 2023, appeared in five games during his freshman season and played a total of 89 snaps as a reserve.

17. WR Chris Brazzell II, Tulane to Tennessee: The 6-foot-5, 195-pound wideout from Texas led the Green Wave with 44 catches for 711 yards and five touchdowns during his redshirt freshman season and drew a ton of Power 5 interest after entering the portal during Tulane’s coaching change.

17. OL Febechi Nwaiwu, North Texas to Oklahoma: The 6-foot-4, 316-pound lineman began his career as a walk-on and quickly proved himself as a Freshman All-American. After becoming a two-year starter at right guard and grading out as one of the top guards in the AAC according to PFF, Nwaiwu earned several Power 5 offers.

18. DL Joey Slackman, Penn to Florida: Few FCS players have been more popular in the portal than Slackman. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound former wrestler was a first-team All-Ivy selection this season after logging 50 tackles, 12 TFLs and four sacks in nine games. Now the senior is ready to see whether he can make the move up.

18. DE T.J. Jackson, Troy to West Virginia: The 6-foot-1, 275-pound junior was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2022 after leading the conference with 15.5 tackles for loss and recording 55 tackles, 40 pressures, eight sacks and two forced fumbles. Jackson wasn’t as productive this season (6.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks) but still earned All-Sun Belt honors and was among the conference’s best defensive linemen in PFF grading.

18. QB Jayden Maiava, UNLV to USC: The Mountain West’s Freshman of the Year threw for 3,085 yards on 63 percent passing with 20 total touchdowns and 10 interceptions and helped lead a stunning turnaround and nine-win season for the Rebels. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound passer was a three-star in-state recruit who redshirted and then stepped up and shined under first-year coach Barry Odom.

19. LB Cashius Howell, Bowling Green to Texas A&M: The 6-foot-4, 235-pound edge defender enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 with 28 tackles, 41 pressures, 10.5 TFLs and 9.5 sacks — tied for most in the MAC — to earn third-team all-conference recognition. Howell has two more seasons of eligibility to keep developing.

20. OLB Marvin Jones Jr., Georgia to Florida State: Jones, a five-star recruit in the 2022 class from Florida, played 237 snaps as a rotational player for the Bulldogs during his sophomore season and earned his first career start in the SEC title game. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound edge defender recorded 12 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, a sack and a forced fumble in his limited action and is ready for a more significant role.

20. QB Will Rogers, Mississippi State to Washington: Rogers, a 40-game starter for the Bulldogs, had a very productive run leading Mike Leach’s Air Raid attack and has put up more than 12,000 passing yards in his career, with 96 total touchdowns and 37 turnovers. The SEC’s passing leader in 2021 and 2022 had a tougher time this season while dealing with a coaching change and a left shoulder injury that forced him to sit out four games. Rogers could be an ideal fit for Kalen DeBoer’s passing attack as a veteran successor to Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr.

20. CB Kobe Singleton, Liberty to Oregon State: The 5-foot-11, 185-pound corner joined Liberty after playing well at the FCS level at Southern Utah and developed into a first-team All-CUSA performer for the Flames’ defense. Singleton is coming off a big season with 40 tackles, 12 pass breakups, four interceptions and a pick six during their run to a league title and the Fiesta Bowl. He can play one more season and has several Power 5 offers to choose from if he opts to leave.

21. RB Logan Diggs, LSU to Ole Miss: After two seasons at Notre Dame, Diggs transferred home to LSU and emerged as the Tigers’ No. 1 back. He was the SEC’s third-leading rusher at midseason with 585 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 5.9 yards per carry but was limited by injuries in the second half.

22. DB Akili Arnold, Oregon State to USC: The 5-foot-11, 200-pound safety will be a sixth-year senior in 2024 and has accrued 48 games of playing experience. Arnold is coming off his best season yet with 60 tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions and graded out as the third-best starting safety in the Pac-12 according to PFF. He and his brother, All-Pac-12 linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, are both valuable veteran pickups.

22. OL Diego Pounds, North Carolina to Ole Miss: Pounds came to North Carolina as a three-star in-state signee and developed into a 6-foot-5 1/2, 330-pound left tackle who became a starter this season and allowed just two sacks over 780 snaps. The redshirt sophomore has two more seasons of eligibility.

23. DL Fadil Diggs, Texas A&M to Syracuse: The 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge defender from New Jersey was a two-year starter for the Aggies and recorded 36 tackles, 24 pressures, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks this season. Diggs has two more seasons of eligibility, and a reunion with his position coach Elijah Robinson at Syracuse, where Robinson is the new defensive coordinator, makes sense after his younger brother, Fatim, committed to play for the Orange.

23. WR Noah Rogers, Ohio State to NC State: Rogers was a top-100 recruit and the No. 8 wideout in the Class of 2023 and left North Carolina to try to be the next big star in the Buckeyes’ receiver room. He played just 14 snaps in four games and did not record a catch during his redshirt season. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound receiver will now be coming home to NC State as a target for new quarterback Grayson McCall.

24. S Kobe Savage, Kansas State to Oregon: The Wildcats found a gem in Savage, a former junior college transfer who came in and made an immediate impact as a two-year starter at safety. The 5-foot-11, 207-pound senior was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2023 after recording 57 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and three interceptions. Oregon has emerged as the clear frontrunner in this recruitment.

24. CB BJ Mayes, UAB to Texas A&M: The 6-foot-1, 185-pound corner transferred up from FCS Incarnate Word to UAB for the 2023 season and started 11 games for the Blazers. Mayes recorded 41 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions with only two TDs allowed.

25. WR Mikey Matthews, Utah to Cal: The four-star signee from California played quite a bit during his true freshman season as the Utes’ No. 3 receiver, catching 29 passes for 261 yards on 45 targets and also contributing 384 yards on special teams as their top return man.

25. LB Jaishawn Barham, Maryland to Michigan: The 6-foot-4, 233-pound linebacker was a two-year starter for the Terps who moved into the starting lineup right away as a true freshman and earned second-team Freshman All-America honors from The Athletic last season. Barham has recorded 95 career tackles, 41 pressures, 9.5 TFLs and seven sacks and should be a difference-maker for his next team. Michigan is reportedly one school to keep an eye on here.

(Photo of Caleb Downs: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)