The transfer portal is becoming an essential part of college football. There were major changes in the nation’s biggest programs this offseason. All of these moves significantly impact college football futures odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.
OHIO STATE: QB Will Howard (Kansas State), RB Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), S Caleb Downs (Alabama)
Ohio State only brought in seven total transfers, but most of the players they brought in are expected to play a massive role on this team. I am not totally sold on Will Howard, but the Buckeyes expect him to be an upgrade over 2023 QB Kyle McCord. Quinshon Judkins was the top running back in the portal, and he will create a dynamic duo alongside TreVeyon Henderson.
Then there is Caleb Downs, the #1 player in the transfer portal. The safety won the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year award last season at Alabama. After Nick Saban’s retirement, Downs moved to Ohio State, where he should be a cornerstone of arguably the nation’s best defense.
OREGON: QB Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma), WR Evan Stewart (Texas A&M), QB Dante Moore (UCLA), CB Jabbar Muhammad (Washington)
Dillon Gabriel is the preseason Heisman favorite after moving from Oklahoma to Oregon. He hopes to reach the same heights that Bo Nix did at Oregon, making him a first-round NFL draft pick. Gabriel has shown flashes of greatness throughout his long college career, but he is hoping everything will click here at Oregon so he can contend for the Heisman and a National Championship.
Evan Stewart could play a big role in helping Gabriel achieve those dreams. Stewart was the #2 WR and #5 overall player in the transfer portal coming from Texas A&M. After two solid seasons with the Aggies, Stewart hopes to break out this year as the replacement for Troy Franklin at Oregon. The Ducks also secured their quarterback for the future in Dante Moore from UCLA. They expect him to be the starter after Gabriel leaves at the end of this upcoming season. He is also great depth in case Gabriel gets injured.
On defense, the Ducks also picked up Jabbar Muhammad from Washington. Muhammad improved as the season continued in 2023 and played a pivotal role in getting Washington to the National Championship game.
MIAMI (FL): QB Cam Ward (Washington State), RB Damien Martinez (Oregon State)
Cam Ward was the #4 QB in the transfer portal after being a top-10 passer in the country last year at Washington State. Ward decided to take on the challenge of being the guy to bring Miami back to the top of college football. Damien Martinez decided to join Ward after running for over 1,000 yards at Oregon State last year. The two former Pac-12 stars will look to create the balanced offense Miami needs to win the ACC and make the College Football Playoff.
OLE MISS: DT Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), EDGE Princely Umanmielen (Florida), WR Juice Wells (South Carolina), DB Trey Amos (Alabama)
Ole Miss finished #1 in the team transfer portal rankings, and they did so while also filling essential holes in their team. This team lacked an elite defense during the Lane Kiffin era, which has held them back. They did their best to rectify that this offseason by acquiring the #1 defensive lineman in the portal with Walter Nolen from Texas A&M. The Rebels also acquired the top EDGE in the portal with Princely Umanmielen from Florida.
In year two under DC Pete Goulding, signing the top two defensive linemen in the portal is a massive move for an Ole Miss team that already has an elite offense. On top of the linemen, they also signed DB Trey Amos from Alabama, the #8 CB in the portal.
Last year’s top wide receiver, Tre Harris, returned for the Rebels, but they added some much-needed depth to that position. Juice Wells had a breakout 2022 season at South Carolina before missing most of the 2023 season with an injury. However, Wells can be one of the more dynamic WRs in the country when healthy.
NOTRE DAME: QB Riley Leonard (Duke)
The QB from Duke wants to bring Notre Dame back to the College Football Playoff. Riley Leonard was the #8 QB in the transfer portal this offseason after helping turn Duke football into a winning program the last couple of years. Leonard dealt with injury issues last season, but he has massive potential and can win games in many ways. He uses his legs effectively and can make every throw on the field. He also has all of the intangibles you could want in a QB.
UCF: QB KJ Jefferson (Arkansas), RB Peny Boone (Toledo)
UCF is not a real National Championship contender like the teams discussed so far, but I think this was one of the most well-executed transfer classes in the nation. KJ Jefferson is one of the top running QBs in college football but also has a great arm. After multiple years at Arkansas, Jefferson was ready for something new. Peny Boone from Toledo will join him in the backfield. Last season, Boone ran for over 1,400 yards and 15 TDs on 7.2 yards per rush.
Gus Malzahn did a great job transitioning this team from the AAC to the Big 12 last year. This season, they look to make another jump to contend for the conference. Jefferson and Boone will allow them to run incredibly creative run concepts in an offense that finished fourth in the nation in rushing yards last season with less skilled personnel than these two.
INDIANA: QB Kurtis Rourke (Ohio), WR Elijah Surratt (JMU), and many others
Indiana received a massive influx of transfers when Curt Cignetti took the job. Cignetti brought 12 coaches/staff members and 13 players from JMU to Indiana. Among those players were star WR Elijah Surratt, DL James Carpenter, CB D’Angelo Ponds, LB Aiden Fisher and several others who are expected to start.
Cignetti also brought in Kurtis Rourke from Ohio. Along with his brother Nathan, the Rourkes had a dynasty in Ohio, but Kurtis was ready to step up to the Big Ten. After a stellar career at Ohio, Rourke was the #3 QB transfer out of the Group of Five conferences. He is an upgrade over JMU’s QB last year, Jordan McCloud, in what will be a very similar-looking offense.
MICHIGAN STATE: QB Aidan Chiles (Oregon State)
Chiles was the #2 QB in the transfer portal and decided to follow his head coach, Jonathan Smith, from Oregon State to Michigan State. Michigan State’s overall roster isn’t quite up to scratch to compete in the Big Ten but if Chiles has a breakout year, it could attract some major talent to East Lansing for coming seasons.
PENN STATE: WR Julian Fleming (Ohio State), CB AJ Harris (Georgia)
Penn State made two huge moves on the outside, one on each side of the ball. Penn State has not had a true star #1 WR in several years now and they are hoping Fleming can be that guy. He was overshadowed by the WR star power at Ohio State, but now he hopes to be the #1 guy. Andy Kotelnicki came in as the new OC at Penn State and will look to unlock Drew Allar’s talent with guys like Fleming.
On the other side of the ball, AJ Harris comes in from Georgia. Harris was the #2 CB in the transfer portal and will look to be the lockdown guy for Penn State this fall.
TEXAS: WR Isaiah Bond (Alabama)
Isaiah Bond was the #1 wide receiver in the transfer portal after a breakout season at Alabama in 2023. Texas needed to replace the likes of Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell, who were both top NFL draft picks this offseason. Bond will immediately step into that WR1 role for Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns. Especially with the injuries sustained in their RB room, the passing game will be even more important to the Texas offense.
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