Winners and Losers of the College Football Transfer Portal After 2023-24 Season's End
The transfer portal has become college football's great equalizer. With the shockwaves sent through the sport by Alabama legend Nick Saban retiring and being replaced by Kalen DeBoer, the story for this portal window hasn't been completely written.
Players from the Crimson Tide and Washington Huskies can still enter, and there are other big names who have yet to make their decision. Another window for transfers opens up in the spring, too.
The revolving door is never closing.
However, as the initial 2024 portal picture crystalizes a bit, we can identify some of the teams that appear to have transformed for the better and others who have lost some key pieces.
Of course, remixing chemistry is going to become a major storyline moving forward when coaches outfit their roster with many new players, balancing egos and paychecks. But that's part of today's college football world now, isn't it?
At this point, you can kind of begin to see how your favorite team's roster is shaping up for 2024. So, let's take a look at some winners and losers from the cycle so far.
Winner: Quarterbacks with a Second Chance
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There's no question that the transfer portal allows teams and players to reinvent themselves every season, and because of that, you see quarterbacks find new homes (and make major impacts) every year.
The only proof you need is the top three in this year's Heisman Trophy voting: LSU's Jayden Daniels, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix, who all began their careers at other programs.
Who is going to be this year's version who revitalizes his college career elsewhere? We aren't talking about players who were starters in some places and bolted for other spots; this is about the backups who exited for a clearer path to quicker playing time.
Perhaps the highest-ceiling player on this list is Aidan Chiles, who backed up DJ Uiagalelei at Oregon State last year. When Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State, Chiles followed his coach to the Spartans, where he has all the trappings of being a future star.
Maalik Murphy saw his path at Texas blocked by Quinn Ewers and possibly Arch Manning in the future, so he left for Duke, where he will help Manny Diaz as he tries to keep the Blue Devils from dipping following the loss of coach Mike Elko.
Former 5-star prospect from last year Malachi Nelson didn't have the first season at USC he wanted, tumbling to third on the depth chart. Now, he's going to Boise State, where he should get a chance to shine right away.
Same goes for former 5-star Brock Vandagriff whose first three years at Georgia saw him watch Stetson Bennett win a pair of titles and Carson Beck play great this year. He will try to win the job at Kentucky.
All these guys are terrific talents who need a chance, and now they have it. Watch them as potential examples to break out.
Loser: Post-Saban Alabama (For Now)
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This is a tough "loser" to put up here because Alabama recruits itself, and you have to believe new head coach Kalen DeBoer is going to convince several stud players to head to Tuscaloosa for the post-Nick Saban era.
Some of his former Washington Huskies could join the fray soon.
Few teams in the nation had the Tide's talent, though, and it has been a bit of a mass exodus since the Saban news broke last week. The bleeding will stop soon, and DeBoer will fill some gaps, but will the players be as dynamic as the ones leaving?
That remains to be seen.
The biggest blow came when leading receiver Isaiah Bond left for Texas, WR Ja'Corey Brooks headed to Louisville and running back Roydell Williams went to Florida State. Matchup nightmare tight end Amari Niblack is heading elsewhere, too.
Alabama also has lost offensive linemen Terrence Ferguson (Florida State) and Seth McLaughlin (Ohio State).
Once co-defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson went to Georgia, the purge of Tide defensive backs bolted such as Dezz Ricks, Antonio Kite, Jake Pope (transferred to Georgia). Earl Little II and Kristian Story are out, too. However, DeBoer is still trying to get Robinson to stay, and if that happens, it will positively impact recruiting.
There are several more names who are gone, and while the Tide have uber-talented players like defensive back Domani Jackson (formerly of USC) and LT Overton (formerly of Texas A&M) coming in, it's a net loss so far. But the Tide aren't done—with arrivals or defections.
Winner: Ole Miss
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With the Auburn (last year) and Alabama (of course, just last week) jobs filled, the Lane Kiffin-going-elsewhere rumors have died down for now. Of course, he could be mentioned if Michigan comes open this year or Florida next, but he seems entrenched in Oxford.
That's exceptional news for Ole Miss.
The Rebels are a force on the field, having gone to a pair of New Year's Six bowls in Kiffin's short tenure, and in the transfer portal. The self-proclaimed "Portal King" is back at it again this cycle in a major way.
Yes, losing star running back Quinshon Judkins (more on him later) is a big deal, but the Rebels responded, bringing in 14 impact players so far and looking like an expanded playoff contender in 2024.
Former LSU running back Logan Diggs probably gets Judkins' carries, and the Rebels reoutfitted their offensive line with Diego Pounds (North Carolina) and Gerquan Scott (Southern Miss). Big-time SEC playmaker Antwane "Juice" Wells is moving from South Carolina to Oxford, and former Florida Atlantic receiver Devin Price and Virginia Tech Daequan Wright will be further weapons for Jaxson Dart.
The big splash is on defense, though, where the portal's top player—former Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen—is going to anchor a unit that also will include ex-Florida edge Princely Umanmielen.
Impact defensive backs like Key Lawrence (Oklahoma) and Yam Banks (South Alabama) outfit the secondary, too. This group is one that, if the chemistry meshes, can have the Rebels battling for a championship in 2024.
Even with losing former portal commits like Tyler Baron (to Louisville) and Decamerion Richardson (to the NFL draft), the Rebels are cooking.
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Loser: Dabo Swinney
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There is something to be said for building your program the "right way" with the culture you expect and the players you believe will mesh will with the players currently on your roster.
As a matter of fact, coaches all around the country are taking that into consideration in the transfer portal era.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn't get it.
That part of the evolution of the sport in this era has passed him by. The Tigers again aren't a factor in the transfer portal and don't want to be. Every top-25 program has transfers coming in except them.
Since the advent of the portal, Swinney has brought in just two players, backup quarterbacks with one year of eligibility Paul Tyson (last year) and Hunter Johnson (in 2022, who was a former Tiger who had transferred to Northwestern earlier in his career).
Swinney told On3's Alex Weber in December: "So, you know, again, it's not a lot of guys. I mean, you still have to be good enough, you still have to be the right fit. There's, you know, you still have to be an academic fit. Nobody talks about that. You got to be able to be eligible, so it waters it down."
Coming off a 9-4 season in which the Tigers failed to make the ACC championship game, they had the opportunity to enhance the roster. They still carry clout for now after winning a pair of national championships in the past decade. But for how long?
The transfer portal is a necessary evil in college football these days, and it's impacting the Tigers whether they want it to or not. Ten players left Swinney's program. If you replace them constantly with freshmen, you're consistently behind.
Winner: Ohio State's Offense
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For all of Ole Miss' recruiting prowess in the transfer portal, the Rebels' biggest star bolted for Ohio State. That would be running back Quinshon Judkins, who has rushed for 3,883 yards and scored 34 touchdowns overall in the past two seasons.
He will join a backfield that could be the best in the nation alongside explosive, do-it-all runner TreVeyon Henderson.
Henderson hasn't been able to stay healthy the past two years, but his upside is immense. Now, coach Ryan Day will be able to utilize him in a variety of ways and hopefully preserve his health with Judkins being the every-down back.
The Buckeyes have fallen to Michigan the past three seasons, though, keeping them from the College Football Playoffs two of those years and from a Big Ten title in all. That has to change, or Day will begin to feel the heat.
In such a pivotal season to see if the Buckeyes are going to begin competing for titles again, they'll turn to former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard to lead the way. Kyle McCord is off to Syracuse, and Howard will bring his big arm and athleticism to Day's offense.
While he's just a one-year rental, he and Judkins have the ability to do championship-caliber things with all the weapons surrounding them on that side of the ball. This was a splash duo for Ohio State.
Tight end Will Kacmarek (Ohio) and center Seth McLaughlin (Alabama) will also be big pieces on this revamped offense.
Loser: Michigan's Offense (Through No Fault of Its Own)
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If you asked Michigan fans if they would trade a national championship for offensive uncertainty for the next year, every single one of them would say "absolutely."
The Wolverines' program stability is an uncertainty right now, with coach Jim Harbaugh being a hot name in NFL circles. Add some roster gaps in there now, and it won't be easy at all for Big Blue to maintain a championship level next season.
But it was worth it to hoist the trophy, and if there is a dip, don't expect it to be for long.
Following their national title win, quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum declared for the 2024 NFL draft. But much of the portal comings and goings transpired while the Wolverines were preparing to win a title.
Now, for instance, they maybe didn't go all-in on a guy like Michigan native Dante Moore due to the up-in-the-air possibility of McCarthy returning.
This still could be a premature assessment, though, if the Wolverines go get things done in the portal. There are still potential impact signal-callers out there such as Will Rogers (Mississippi State/Washington), Jordan McCloud (James Madison) and Jayden de Laura (Arizona).
The addition of Rogers or McCloud could help the Wolverines to transition to the Jadyn Davis era in Ann Arbor. But there aren't a ton of options out there in the portal currently. The timing isn't the best as there's now a crunch for them to fill in gaps around all the Harbaugh-NFL rumors.
Winner: Dan Lanning and Will Stein
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Oregon is a rising force.
With Kalen DeBoer off to Alabama and Lincoln Riley muddling around trying to find his way at USC, there's no question the Ducks are the biggest former Pac-12 force arriving in the Big Ten.
Heisman Trophy finalist Bo Nix is gone to the NFL, but that isn't going to stop coach Dan Lanning and Co. from continuing what is looking like a budding powerhouse. Defensively, the Ducks are bringing in some terrific transfers, too, but the biggest "Wow" factor guys are on offense.
In this transfer era, it's difficult to convince elite quarterbacks to transfer in and sit, but that's exactly what Lanning has done. After getting Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel to take Nix's spot for the '24 season, he also lured Dante Moore, who has three seasons of eligibility, from UCLA.
Moore could be special, though he needs more seasoning. The Ducks are now set up for the foreseeable future at quarterback, with guys who should be impact players over the next two or three seasons.
Then, just last week, Lanning and offensive coordinator Will Stein were able to get former Texas A&M wide receiver Evan Stewart to come to Eugene, too. He will join 1,000-yard receiver Tez Johnson in a room that looks to continue at an elite status following Troy Franklin's departure to the NFL.
Northwest Missouri State running back Jay Harris will bring his 1,400-plus yards to Oregon to run behind former Indiana offensive tackle Matthew Bedford and Co. to round out a terrific offensive portal class.
Winner: Nico Iamaleava
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Rocky Top is buzzing with anticipation for the next few years of Tennessee's offense after Nico Iamaleava's starting debut resulted in a lopsided domination of Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.
There are a lot of things to like about the former 5-star top prospect's dual-threat abilities under center, but the Vols needed to surround him with more talent. It appears the transfer portal has allowed them to do that.
After Bru McCoy's season-ending injury left the team with just Squirrel White as a receiving threat this past year, Tennessee went out and got former Tulane playmaker Chris Brazzell, who is coming to Knoxville with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
With McCoy and White returning and elite freshmen Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley coming in to join Brazzell, Iamaleava has abundant weapons for next year.
Following the departure of senior tight ends Jacob Warren and McCallan Castles, the Vols plucked the top player in the portal at the position in Notre Dame's Holden Staes. Then, just last week, they added former Alabama tight end Miles Kitselman.
Perhaps the biggest need for the Vols and Iamaleava is protection for the quarterback, though. He was sacked six times in the bowl win over the Hawkeyes.
That's why Tennessee is a heavy favorite, according to On3, for LSU former 5-star offensive tackle Zalance Heard, who has three years of eligibility remaining. He would step right in and fortify an offensive line that will return injured starters Javontez Spraggins and John Campbell, along with star center Cooper Mays.
If Heard makes it official soon, this will be an A-plus offensive portal class for Tennessee when it comes to giving Iamaleava the chance to be successful right away.
Loser: Will Rogers (Again, for Now)
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One of the biggest arguments for players having the opportunity to move around for the best chance to see playing time or better their pro status is the fact that coaches can move around so freely.
Players leave one situation to play for a coach at another. When that coach leaves, though, it presents problems that can't be helped. It's the chance you take when entering the portal.
In Will Rogers' instance, for example, the long-time Mississippi State starter left Starkville for supposed greener pastures when Zach Arnett was let go, and he thought he'd found them in Washington, where he was set to succeed Michael Penix Jr. in Kalen DeBoer's explosive, timing-based Huskies offense.
Then, DeBoer headed to Alabama.
The dominos are far from done falling in the fallout, but DeBoer inherits senior quarterback Jalen Milroe in Tuscaloosa, and there haven't been any indications he's interested in leaving.
So, what's on the table for Rogers? On3 recruiting analyst Pete Nakos believes the potential to remain in Seattle where Jedd Fisch is the new head coach is "definitely on the table." He also mentioned the Michigan Wolverines and Auburn Tigers as possibilities.
But the reason why Rogers is represented as a "loser" in this situation is he's victimized by the ever-changing winds of college football's coaching carousel. He expected that he was going to play his final year with DeBoer, and now he likely isn't.
So, he's got to reassess.
Winner: Coach Prime's O-Line
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Say what you want about all the hype and hubbub surrounding Colorado last season, but one thing you cannot question is the toughness of Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
He was running for his life all last season, getting sacked 56 times. Only Old Dominion (61) allowed more sacks than Colorado. Something had to change, and coach Deion Sanders is making sure that he is doing what he can to address the issues.
Along with 5-star high school offensive lineman Jordan Seaton coming in, the Buffaloes have 21 transfers slated to come in and provide reinforcements, and several of those are on the offensive front.
Former Florida International offensive tackle Philip Houston, who started all 12 games for the Panthers in 2023, is heading to Boulder, and so is Kahlil Benson, who started this past season at Indiana and has played in 24 games over the past two seasons for the Hoosiers.
Former UTEP all-conference guard Justin Mayers will help fortify the interior of Colorado's line, along with former Houston (and Texas) guard Tyler Johnson and former UConn center Yakiri Walker.
"All these kids have been starters. They're not backups. They weren't lower-level players. They were starters in Power Five," Coach Sanders told Pat Graham of the Associated Press. "And they know darn well they've got a first-round pick—maybe the first kid in the whole draft—that they're protecting. That means something to them."
Getting them to mesh now is the challenge. But it's not out of the realm of possibility the Buffs could have a whole new starting five in 2024.
Loser: A Couple of SEC Coaches on the Cusp of the Hot Seat
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Things are going to have to change at Florida and Arkansas or both SEC programs are going to be looking for a new head coach following the 2024 season.
Billy Napier hasn't experienced a winning year in either of his two seasons in Gainesville. For a proud program looking for a path back to championships, that's not acceptable. Now, the Gators have been gutted by departures into the transfer portal.
You can't discount the addition to UF of guys such as defensive lineman Joey Slackman and linebacker Grayson Howard, but Florida had tons of holes to fill and hasn't yet.
Running back Trevor Etienne (Georgia), edge Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss), cornerback Jaydon Hill (Texas A&M), linebacker Scooby Williams (Texas A&M), offensive lineman Richie Leonard IV (Florida State), safety Miguel Mitchell (Arkansas), offensive lineman Jalen Farmer (Kentucky) and defensive lineman Chris McClellan (Missouri) all wound up at an SEC program or a rival.
For Arkansas' Sam Pittman, the seat is even hotter, and the Hogs are having to replace 21 players of their own.
Though they've done a better job than the Gators at bringing in impact players such as quarterback Taylen Green (Boise State), running back Ja'Quinden Jackson (Utah), linebacker Xavian Sorey (Arkansas) and safety Doneiko Slaughter (Tennessee), revamping the entire offensive skill-position group isn't exactly what a coach on the hot seat wants.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson is off to UCF, and star running back Rocket Sanders will be playing for South Carolina. If the Razorbacks can replace that production and rebuild a respectable offense with Green and Jackson running the show, they can save Pittman's job.
But both coaches must be sweating the uncertainty.
Winner: Florida State's Continued Portal Prowess
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The only head coach who can consistently compete with Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin with year-to-year transfer portal flexing is Florida State's Mike Norvell.
The Seminoles coach also has proved to be a master at cultivating a winning philosophy and getting new guys to buy in and blend in with the culture.
Say what you want about the Seminoles' opt-outs during this year's bowl season; but that wouldn't have been the case had they been in the College Football Playoff.
Back in the 2022 cycle, they added stars like edge-rusher Jared Verse, receivers Johnny Wilson and Mycah Pittman and running back Trey Benson. Last year, elite pass-catcher Keon Coleman, tight end Jaheim Bell, defensive lineman Braden Fiske, among others settled on Tallahassee.
This season is no different.
With Jordan Travis out of eligibility, the 'Noles have picked up former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to return to the ACC for his final season.
Do-it-all running back Jaylen Lucas (Indiana), the former Alabama foursome of running back Roydell Williams, receiver Malik Benson, cornerback Earl Little II and offensive lineman Terrence Ferguson are fortifying FSU, along with ex-Gators offensive lineman Richie Leonard IV.
Elite former Georgia edge-rusher Marvin Jones Jr. is coming in, too, as well as defensive linemen Sione Lolohea (Oregon State), Grady Kelly (Colorado State) and Tomiwa Durojaiye (West Virginia). Cornerback Davonte Brown (Miami) and receiver Jalen Brown (LSU) are nice pieces, too.
This is the new Florida State way; they build through the portal. It worked in 2023, and expect it to continue to do so in the future.
Loser: 'Little Brother' Again.
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The transfer portal benefits the players, and there are myriad ways it also benefits coaches and programs.
In some cases, you see guys transfer down and turn low-level, Group of Five programs into powerhouses. For the most part, though, the portal is always going to gut the low-tier teams of some of their best players.
It's awesome to see elite players from smaller schools get the chance to shine for the "big boys," but it also stinks to see some of the Group of Five teams lose their terrific stars.
In the MAC alone, we're going to see the two most talented quarterbacks (Ohio's Kurtis Rourke to Indiana and Toledo's DeQuan Finn to Baylor) leave the conference. Other notable signal-callers moving up are UNLV's Jayden Maiava to USC, North Texas' Chandler Rogers to Cal, Boise State's Taylen Green to Arkansas, New Hampshire's Max Brosmer to Minnesota, among others.
Elite UTSA edge-rusher Trey Moore is staying instate but playing for the Texas Longhorns next year, hoping to cause a Jared Verse-like impact in Austin. Liberty receiver CJ Daniels is going to join LSU's explosive offense.
Princeton defensive lineman Joey Slackman is going to Florida, UConn tight end Justin Joly is going to North Carolina State, Idaho cornerback Marcus Harris is off to Cal, Tulane's Chris Brazzell is going to Tennessee, Toledo running back Peny Boone is moving on to Louisville. The list goes on and on.
It's getting more and more difficult for Group of Five programs to keep their stars, and they're becoming a feeder league of sorts to the Power 5s. It won't stop anytime soon, either, with NFL teams wanting to see those stars perform on the biggest college stage.
Winner: Jeff Brohm's Louisville Resurgence
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It used to take a lot of time to rebuild a program to respectability, but that's no longer the case with the transfer portal.
One of college football's biggest surprises in 2023 was the Louisville Cardinals going from eight wins to 10 and making it to the ACC championship game. Though they lost their final pair of games to finish 10-4, it was a roaring success for favorite son Jeff Brohm in his return.
Part of the success was the addition of graduate transfer quarterback Jack Plummer, who was familiar with Brohm's offense after starting his career with him at Purdue. Now, with Plummer gone, the Cardinals are trying to continue the success.
Louisville is bringing in an astonishing 25 players (so far) to try to keep moving in the right direction. It's a big gamble for Brohm, but when you struggle to recruit on the high school level (58th overall), you have to do something.
Former Texas Tech and Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough will be calling the shots in 2024, and he will be surrounded by some good offensive players like the running back tandem of Peny Boone (Toledo) and Don Chaney Jr. (Miami).
Electrifying receivers Caullin Lacy (South Alabama) and Ja'Corey Brooks (Alabama) will be instant-impact players on the perimeter, and there are defensive reinforcements, too, bolstered even more by Tuesday's news of former Tennessee edge Tyler Baron flipping from Ole Miss.
This is a very strong transfer portal class for Brohm, and while it may not be what he plans to continue doing for the future, it's a nice band-aid for now. The Cardinals won't be going anywhere if he can get the chemistry right.
All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference unless otherwise noted. Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.
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