During the winter, many big names entered the transfer portal and changed schools. After coach Lincoln Riley went from Oklahoma to USC, quarterbacks Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) and Kedon Slovis (Pitt) transferred out, while Caleb Williams joined Riley out West.
Bo Nix left Auburn to go to Oregon, while Quinn Ewers transferred from Ohio State to Texas. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs left Georgia Tech to go to Alabama, while wide receiver Jadon Haselwood transferred to Arkansas from Oklahoma. On the defensive side, linebacker Mohamoud Diabate transferred from Florida to Utah, and Notre Dame added safety Brandon Joseph from Northwestern.
In total, more than 2,500 FBS players entered the transfer portal over the past year, creating a combination of roster chaos and free agency in college football.
Following both the early and late signing periods, as well as spring ball, there has been a second wave of transfers. May 1 is the final day players can enter the portal.
We rank the best available players either still in the portal or who made their decisions during the spring period and go position by position to break down the most impactful transfers.
1. DE Ochaun Mathis
2021 team: TCU
Mathis redshirted his first season, then played in 12 games in 2019. He had 46 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 2020 and followed that up with 45 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks last season. He has said he will announce a decision at the end of April, with Texas and Nebraska seemingly fighting for his commitment.
2. LB Eric Gentry
2021 team: Arizona State
Gentry was a three-star prospect out of Pennsylvania who signed with Arizona State in the 2021 class. As a true freshman, he ranked sixth on the team in total tackles (45) and also had five tackles for loss, one sack and a pass breakup in an excellent first season. USC needs defensive help, and Gentry very well could end up staying within the Pac-12 to join the Trojans. He will likely have quite a few options given how well he performed his first season, including Penn State, Miami, Texas and Florida.
3. WR Jaylon Robinson
2021 team: UCF
Robinson had 322 yards receiving and two touchdowns last season for the Knights. He has already taken a visit to Ole Miss, where he rode around in Lane Kiffin’s Rolls Royce. The Rebels seem as though they could be the landing spot among a handful of other suitors.
4 WR Ricky Pearsall
2021 team: Arizona State
As a junior, he led the team in receiving yards (580) and touchdowns (four) this past season. Pearsall has had Florida show interest and will likely have more suitors emerge in the next few weeks.
5. RB Corey Kiner
2021 team: LSU
2022 team: Cincinnati
The Bearcats lost last season’s leading rusher in Jerome Ford, who had 1,319 yards and 19 touchdowns. Quarterback Desmond Ridder was second on the team with 547 rush yards and six touchdowns on the ground, and Ridder is off to the NFL. Adding in Kiner gives Cincinnati some talent at the position and someone who can fill in right away.
6. WR Deion Smith
2021 team: LSU
Smith, the No. 119-ranked prospect in the 2021 class, was a top-20 receiver out of Mississippi. As a true freshman, he contributed for LSU with 11 receptions, 186 yards and two touchdowns. He is still young and has a lot of talent and promise.
7. WR Agiye Hall
2021 team: Alabama
2022 team: Texas
Hall, a top-35 recruit out of high school, had only 72 yards receiving for Alabama last season as a true freshman, but he was behind Jameson Williams, John Metchie III and a handful of other receivers on the depth chart. Now, he’s joining a Texas offense that added quarterback Quinn Ewers and already had receiver Xavier Worthy, who hauled in 981 yards and 12 touchdowns last season as a true freshman for the Longhorns. Hall should give Texas another receiving threat, but doesn’t need to be the main piece as he gets acclimated.
8. LB Josh White
2021 team: LSU
2022 team: Baylor
White was recruited to LSU by now Baylor head coach Dave Aranda, so there is a level of comfort already with the defense and the coach. Baylor is returning quite a bit from last season’s team, but has a few open spots at linebacker that could be filled. White doesn’t need to play early for Baylor, but if he can chip in this season, it’s a bonus for Aranda and the staff.
9. WR Tyler Harrell
2021 team: Louisville
2022 team: Alabama
The Crimson Tide are losing Jameson Williams, John Metchie III and Agiye Hall, so they could use an addition at receiver such as Harrell. He had six receiving touchdowns last season for Louisville and will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact for Alabama.
10. RB Mar’Keise Irving
2021 team: Minnesota
Irving was a three-star prospect in the 2021 class who signed with Minnesota out of Country Club Hills, Illinois. He had 699 rush yards and four touchdowns last season as a true freshman for Minnesota. USC is continuing to reshape its roster via the portal and Irving could help on offense for the Trojans. Irving hasn’t yet named a list of suitors, though.
11. QB Emory Jones
2021 team: Florida
Jones waited three seasons for his chance to start at Florida, but this season did not go quite as anyone planned. Though Jones earned the starting job, former coach Dan Mullen also played Anthony Richardson — and his highlight plays left fans clamoring for more of Richardson and less of Jones. Mullen could never seem to decide the best way to use them both, and Jones never got going in a consistent way. On the season, he threw for 2,563 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, in addition to 697 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
12. S Zion Childress
2021 team: Texas State
Childress played in 12 games (eight starts) this past season and finished with 74 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups. He was third on the team in total tackles, but first in solo tackles. He was a sophomore last season and still has quite a bit of eligibility remaining. Kansas and Missouri have offered him so far in the process.
13. DB Kaine Williams
2021 team: Alabama
Williams was the No. 169 prospect in the 2021 class and signed with Alabama out of Marrero, Louisiana. He redshirted last season and despite a lack of experience, will likely have quite a few options for his next destination.
14. LB Josh Chandler-Semedo
2021 team: West Virginia
Chandler-Semedo started 13 games last season for West Virginia and led the team in total tackles with 110. He had 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and three pass breakups, along with six quarterback hurries.
15. DT Darrell Jackson
2021 team: Maryland
Jackson played in nine games last season for the Terps with 13 total tackles, but seemed to progress as the season went on. He was part of the 2021 class and has already seen interest from Florida, Florida State and Miami.
16. QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson
2021 team: Florida
Del Rio-Wilson was the No. 58 recruit in the 2021 class and signed with Florida out of Cartersville High School in Loganville, Georgia. He redshirted his first season and is now looking elsewhere to play out the rest of his eligibility.
17. WR Cody Jackson
2021 team: Oklahoma
Jackson was ranked No. 122 overall in the 2021 recruiting class and signed with the Sooners out of Richmond, Texas. He was a redshirt last season and should have options going forward now that he is leaving Oklahoma.
18. DE DJ Coleman
2021 team: Jacksonville State
Coleman was third on the team this past season in total tackles with 55. He also had 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two quarterback hurries. He has already had quite a few schools show interest, including Missouri, Kansas, Duke, Baylor, Miami, USF, Marshall and South Alabama.
19. LB Branden Jennings
2021 team: Maryland
Jennings was a prized commit in Maryland’s 2021 class, ranking No. 69 overall. From Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, Florida, he was the No. 8 outside linebacker. Jennings played right away at Maryland and looked as though he would be one of the better freshman defenders. A leg injury caused him to miss much of the second half of the season. He finished with 23 total tackles and one forced fumble. He transferred to Kansas State this offseason, but has already re-entered the portal before playing a game for Kansas State.
20. DB Darius Joiner
2021 team: Western Illinois
Joiner led Western Illinois in total tackles with 142 last season. He had seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, five pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He has seen interest from Virginia Tech and Duke, among other schools, and has one season of eligibility remaining.
21. OL Clay Webb
2021 team: Georgia
Webb was the No. 14 prospect overall and a five-star center in the 2019 class. Despite coming in as a highly touted recruit, he hasn’t seen much game action for the Bulldogs and still has three years of eligibility remaining.
22. DL Jacolbe Cowan
2021 team: Ohio State
2022 team: North Carolina
Cowan was the No. 125 prospect in the 2020 class and the No. 11 defensive tackle out of North Carolina. He didn’t play his freshman season in 2020 and played sparingly in 2021. He announced on Tuesday he would play for Mack Brown and the Tar Heels and still has three years of eligibility remaining.
23. LB Lorenzo McCaskill
2021 team: Louisiana
McCaskill led Louisiana in total tackles last season with 84 and also had three tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. He has reported offers from Tennessee, Miami (Ohio), USC and Missouri.
24. S Jordan Morant
2021 team: Michigan
Morant signed with Michigan in the 2020 class out of Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey. He was the No. 190-ranked recruit in the class and the No. 9 safety. He played in eight games this past season, but mostly on special teams. He’s from New Jersey, so there’s a chance Rutgers could show interest. Morant had interest from quite a few schools out of high school, but it’s not yet known which schools have been interested this time around.
25. DB Andre Turrentine
2021 team: Ohio State
Turrentine was ranked No. 132 overall in the 2021 class and signed with Ohio State out of The Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee. He didn’t play his first season on campus, but played quite a bit in the Buckeyes’ spring game in April.
Position by position
Go to: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
Quarterbacks:
Emory Jones: Florida
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson: Florida
Justin Rogers: UNLV
Ethan Long: Arizona State
Taisun Phommachanh: Clemson
Notable spring quarterback commitments:
JT Daniels: Georgia to West Virginia
Dematrius Davis: Auburn to Alabama State
Running backs:
Mar’Keise Irving: Minnesota
Marco Lee: Va Tech
Kyle Dobbins: Temple
Cody Brown: Miami
Notable spring running back commitments:
Corey Kiner: LSU to Cincinnati
Dylan McDuffie: Buffalo to Georgia Tech
Wide receivers:
Jaylon Robinson: UCF
Ricky Pearsall: Arizona State
Cody Jackson: Oklahoma
Deion Smith: LSU
Bru McCoy: USC
Notable spring wide receiver commitments:
Jeremy Singleton: Houston to Georgia Southern
Tyler Harrell: Louisville to Alabama
Agiye Hall: Alabama to Texas
Tight ends:
Austin Jarrard: Oklahoma State
Notable spring tight end commitments:
Baylor Cupp: Texas A&M to Texas Tech
Offensive line:
Clay Webb: Georgia
Malone VanGorder: Bowling Green
Derick Hunter Jr.: Texas A&M
Notable spring offensive line commitments:
Anthony Whigan: Penn State to Akron
Cedrice Paillant: Rutgers to Marshall
Tyler Johnson: Texas to Houston
Tyler Steen: Vanderbilt to Alabama
Defensive linemen:
Ochaun Mathis: TCU
Darrell Jackson: Maryland
Casey Rogers: Nebraska
Cole Brevard: Penn State
Quashon Fuller: Florida State
Notable spring defensive line commitments:
Akheem Mesidor: West Virginia to Miami
Jacolbe Cowan: Ohio State to North Carolina
Demeioun Robinson: Maryland to Penn State
Linebackers:
Eric Gentry: Arizona State
Josh Chandler-Semedo: West Virginia
Branden Jennings: Kansas State
Alston Orji: Vanderbilt
Lorenzo McCaskill: Louisiana
Notable linebacker commitments:
Josh White: LSU to Baylor
Defensive backs:
Keidron Smith: Ole Miss
Zion Childress: Texas State
Kaine Williams: Alabama
Andre Turrentine: Ohio State
Jordan Morant: Michigan
Darius Joiner: Western Illinois
Notable spring defensive back commitments:
Lejond Cavazos: Ohio State to North Carolina