Defensive Transfers Who Could Have the Biggest Impact in 2024
If you're having a difficult time keeping up with all the comings and goings in the transfer portal, don't feel alone.
Just when we thought we were done with the defections, Nick Saban retired and Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL, starting the Alabama-Washington-Arizona-Michigan post-playoff whirlwind that essentially became Round 2.
The Wolverines haven't really been that hurt after promoting Sherrone Moore, but the others saw major turnover.
The post-spring transfer window should be wacky, too.
So, who are the defensive playmakers you should know about who found new homes and will terrorize offenses across the nation next year?
Several names are no-brainers. Others are tougher to get a handle on, but they're former top-shelf prospects with opportunities to thrive in new surroundings. Pretty much all these dudes were top-rated transfers according to one service or another.
You don't normally pick up a transfer to watch from the sideline, so figuring out who will make the biggest impact in 2024 is an adventure.
Let's take a look at some names who will dominate right away for their new programs.
Tyler Baron, Louisville Edge
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It took Tyler Baron a couple of tries to enter the transfer portal over his Tennessee career. Once he did, it took him a couple of landing spots to figure out where he wanted to call home.
Following the 2022 season, he decided to leave Knoxville, only to withdraw his name and return to the Vols. What followed for the inconsistent but talented defensive end was by far his best year on Rocky Top in 2023.
Playing opposite elite talent James Pearce, Baron ate off the edge, amassing 28 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss and six sacks. Throughout his four-year career, he registered 101 tackles, including 27 for a loss and 13.5 sacks.
While his production waned against SEC opponents, the 6'5", 260-pounder still had a strong year, and he will play his final campaign with the Louisville Cardinals. He committed to Ole Miss and seemed all set to play for the Rebels, but he left.
Lane Kiffin would have had Baron and Florida's Princely Umanmielen had he stayed in Oxford, but he followed former Vols safeties Wesley Walker and Tamarion McDonald to play for Jeff Brohm in the ACC.
Knowing this is his last go-round before testing NFL waters, Baron could continue to surge toward his high-ceiling potential. Look for him to have a big year against less-talented offensive lines.
Fadil Diggs, Syracuse Edge
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There are a bunch of edge-rushers on this list, and while the first couple of them wouldn't exactly be considered "elite," they are still veteran playmakers who will have big final seasons in the right system.
Following Tyler Baron on this list is former Texas A&M defender Fadil Diggs, who left College Station to move closer to his New Jersey home and play for Elijah Robinson, who left the Aggies' defensive line job to become defensive coordinator for Syracuse and Fran Brown.
Brown and Robinson grew up together in Camden, New Jersey, which just happens to be Diggs' hometown. So, all this makes sense.
In a crowded defensive line room at A&M, Diggs still stood out, and he has a season of eligibility remaining. He finished the 2023 season with 36 tackles, including 11 for a loss and four sacks.
He was more of a rotation piece until the past couple of seasons, and he has 75 tackles, including 18.5 for a loss and eight sacks for his career. He will play with his brother, Fatim, at Syracuse.
He and Jevon Heard (formerly of West Virginia) will slot in and help replace Kevon Darton, who left the Orange in the portal.
Look for Diggs to have a big, final season. And at 6'5", 260 pounds, he will be noticed by NFL teams.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State Safety
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The top-rated player in the transfer portal may wind up being the No. 1 overall player in the country next season.
Yes, former Alabama safety Caleb Downs has that talent and ability.
Coming out of high school, the former 5-star was thought to be an instant-impact player, and he immediately was a gargantuan piece of the Crimson Tide's defensive puzzle in 2023, making 107 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss, picking off two passes, defending four passes, forcing a fumble and recovering one.
He was the most impactful freshman defensive back in a decade, and when he left Alabama, he really only considered Georgia and Ohio State before committing to the Buckeyes.
Now, he will head to Columbus where he will battle Michigan cornerback Will Johnson for the top defender in the entire league. Downs is the type of player who may not get the Heisman Trophy clout because he won't put up game-changing turnover stats there.
But make no mistake: He impacts the game as much as any defender in the nation, and he automatically makes a good Buckeyes defense even stronger. He is the type of leader who can help a program leap to the next level, and he is a no-brainer on this list.
This is the best player in the portal.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky Linebacker
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The Georgia Bulldogs are never going to be short on talent, so when you see several former players on this list heading to other teams, don't feel sorry for Kirby Smart. The way he's recruited every position means they will have reinforcements.
That's the case at linebacker, where a youth movement of elite talent will be on the field in Athens. But that just means a veteran stat-producer like Jamon Dumas-Johnson is heading elsewhere.
The Kentucky Wildcats won the Dumas-Johnson sweepstakes, and even though he isn't the most physically gifted second-level defender, he has a knowledge and a leadership element that will make the defense a lot better in Lexington.
Dumas-Johnson doesn't play a flashy position, but he just makes plays. The 6'1", 245-pounder has one season of eligibility, and he will be looking to get back on track after injuries hurt production last year, limiting him to just nine games.
He finished 2023 with 34 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks after a breakout 2022 season where he was the Dawgs' top linebacker in a national championship season, finishing with 70 stops, including nine for a loss and four sacks.
The expectation is he will return to that level of production for the Wildcats and be a key cog in the center of that defense. He is going to make that unit worlds better with his ability and acumen.
BJ Green II, Colorado Edge
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The work that Deion Sanders quietly performed in the transfer portal has been exemplary, and the Colorado coach has been true to his word on how he planned on rebuilding his program.
Now, it's just a matter of getting all these new players to jell, which is easier said than done.
Following a four-win season in 2023 that started with so much fanfare, the Buffaloes are going to be much more talented next season, thanks to the portal efforts and a couple of big recruiting wins.
Perhaps the biggest defensive "win" yet came when former Arizona State edge-rusher BJ Green II decided to leave one former Pac-12 team moving to the Big 12 for another.
He will be a major anchor off the edge for Coach Prime, and he could be one of the biggest risers on a defense that desperately needs stars in the front seven.
Green is a bit unassuming off the hoof, standing 6'1", 270 pounds, but he makes things happen every time he's on the field. Last year for the Sun Devils, he earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors with 39 tackles, including 11.5 for a loss and six sacks. He was also credited with 11 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Colorado didn't have anybody close to that production rushing the passer last year, so Green is a much-needed addition. Look for him to have a monster campaign in his final season before heading off to the pros.
AJ Harris, Penn State Cornerback
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One of the dice-rolls on this list that is based on exceptional ability meeting opportunity is A.J. Harris heading to Penn State.
The prediction here is that in new surroundings, the former 5-star cornerback who will have three seasons of eligibility remaining will not only start but also stand out for the Nittany Lions after basically burning a year with the Dawgs in 2023.
He played in seven games and was responsible for eight tackles, but he never really could see the field in important situations. All that will change under coach James Franklin, and while Harris' talent has a lot to do with that, so does need.
Penn State is losing Kalen King, Johnny Dixon and Daequan Hardy from the defensive backfield, and all three are likely to get selected in the NFL draft. While Zion Tracy and Elliot Washington II played in the Peach Bowl as true freshmen, Harris will have plenty of chances.
The 6'1", 190-pound Phenix City, Alabama, native has a lot of versatility. Though he probably has NFL upside as a cornerback, Harris has the size and physicality to play safety or nickel, too. He will have a lot of options in Happy Valley, and the future is very bright.
Even though Harris hasn't really produced on a college level yet, this is a golden opportunity for him to move into a good defense and be a big part of it. That has to be a huge reason why he chose Penn State over Ohio State and others.
Domani Jackson, Alabama Cornerback
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A couple of recruiting cycles ago, you may remember elite cornerback Domani Jackson as one of the biggest "can't-misses" of the recruiting season.
Then, he went off to the black hole of a horrible defensive stretch at USC under former coordinator Alex Grinch and basically disappeared from the national spotlight. Even last season when he started 11 games, he put up just ho-hum stats.
Jackson registered 33 tackles and deflected three passes, and even though that isn't bad, the 6'1", 190-pound cornerback was once ticketed for greatness and decided to search for that elsewhere.
He thought he found it in Tuscaloosa in late December, so he committed to the Crimson Tide—when Nick Saban was head coach and Travaris Robinson was the defensive backs coach. Now, they're gone, but Jackson remains.
Unless things change, it appears he will help anchor Kane Wommack's first defense at Alabama under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. Jackson left a situation in Los Angeles where D'Anton Lynn is the new coordinator and former Houston defensive coordinator Doug Belk is the defensive backs coach for a little more of an uncertain one in the SEC.
But Alabama was one of Jackson's two finalists the first time around, and he has stayed firm through Saban's retirement. With Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold off to the NFL, Jackson has an ideal chance to step in and start at cornerback.
Can he break out and blossom into the star everybody thought he would be? That would be big news for the Tide.
Marvin Jones Jr., Florida State Outside Linebacker
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Another one of these guys on the list we are betting on blossoming once given a major chance to shine on a big stage is another former Georgia Bulldog—the third such player on this list.
Much like AJ Harris, Marvin Jones Jr. was a bit mired in the middle of a deep, talented depth chart in Athens when it came to pass-rushers.
When he got on the field, he was able to produce, and coach Kirby Smart and Co. hated to lose a player with his massive upside. Ultimately, though, he saw the potential to head to Florida State and replace Jared Verse, who is heading to the NFL.
It didn't hurt matters that his father was a legendary Seminole, either.
Now, Jones will try to follow in those footsteps and be the next great FSU transfer portal find, an avenue that has been kind to coach Mike Norvell and company the past few years.
In a couple seasons at Georgia, the 6'5", 250-pound Jones played outside linebacker and played in 25 total games, recording 16 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss and two sacks. Labrum surgery caused him to miss last year's spring practice, and an ankle injury hampered him this year, too.
Jones has two seasons of eligibility remaining, and while there isn't a lot of on-field resume to justify him being here, the prediction here is he will live up to his former 5-star status, especially if he stays healthy.
His NFL clock is ticking, and this is a need-production year meeting a big-time chance to start.
Trey Moore, Texas Outside Linebacker
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There are fewer "sure things" on this list than Trey Moore getting into the spotlight at the flagship school of the Lone Star State and making a name for himself.
If you're a college football fan with deep-rooted knowledge of all things at all levels, you probably know Moore's story. He likely was one of the top five (if not the top) defensive playmakers in the entire Group of Five at UTSA.
The 6'3", 250-pound redshirt sophomore was a freshman All-American for the Roadrunners in 2022, and he continued his torrid pace a season ago. As a San Antonio native, he initially decided to stay home and shine, but now he's heading to the biggest college football stage.
Watch out for him to have an All-American-like impact. Yes, he's that good.
As the Longhorns enter the SEC after a College Football Playoff run, they look loaded enough to do it again this year.
Moore just adds to that embarrassment of riches, and when you team him with elite rising sophomore Anthony Hill Jr., Texas has a pass rush that every team should be envious of.
In the past two seasons combined, Moore has 104 tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss and 22 sacks. He also has an interception, three passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. That's the kind of star the Horns are getting, and fellow incoming transfer/former Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba easily could have made this list, too.
Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon Cornerback
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When Jabbar Muhammad entered the transfer portal following coach Kalen DeBoer's departure from the national runner-up Washington Huskies to Alabama, his recruitment shaped up to be a big-boy battle.
The Crimson Tide were firmly in the mix to land his services, and so were Texas and Oregon.
The Ducks, coach Dan Lanning and all their up-and-coming clout and NIL prowess were the ones who ultimately won out, keeping the aggressive cornerback in the Pacific Northwest and helping bolster their secondary as they head to the Big Ten.
Lanning is ready to lead the program into the future, and Muhammad is the type of back-end leader to really help that area. Even though Oregon has a lot of talent on all levels, he's a plug-and-play defender who could start for pretty much any program in the nation.
Like Caleb Downs going to Ohio State instead of back home to Georgia, Muhammad kind of debunked theories that he would wind up a Longhorn after playing for DeSoto (Texas) High School. Instead, he won't move far, from one rival to another.
Playing for a defensive-minded head coach, he said, was a huge pull.
What a massive coup for Oregon, which will benefit from the 5'10", 183-pound defender who plays with a much greater swagger and physicality than his size would indicate.
Walter Nolen, Ole Miss Defensive Tackle
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Despite Walter Nolen being the top-rated player in the transfer portal for the longest time until Caleb Downs entered, you may think it would be a safer bet to go with Princely Umanmielen here if you're selecting a Rebel.
But Nolen's size and athleticism are tantalizing, and while the 6'4", 290-pounder hasn't been the door-slamming defensive lineman many thought he would be during two seasons at Texas A&M, he began to show flashes last year.
Look for him to turn it up a notch at Ole Miss, and with so much talent around him after what Lane Kiffin did in the transfer portal, opponents aren't going to be able to pay Nolen as much attention as needed.
He is going to churn out quality numbers and make an even bigger impact than statistics may suggest from the center of that defensive line. He is the type of player who can be the centerpiece as a run stopper and interior pass-rusher and change game plans.
Yes, the former No. 1-ranked high school prospect in the nation still has that potential.
He runs like a defensive end but has the strength of a man his size, and he finished the 2023 season with 37 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss and four sacks. In two years, he had 66 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and five sacks.
Now, he is going to play for defensive coordinator Pete Golding in Oxford, and he has the potential to ride a huge season into being a top-10 pick in next year's draft.
Kamari Ramsey, USC Safety
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Chip Kelly is known as an offensive mastermind, but during the past couple of seasons in UCLA, he actually had quite a stellar defense, and that had a ton to do with coordinator D'Anton Lynn.
Now, with Lynn off to hated rival USC, it's going to be interesting to see how that impacts the Bruins. It further hurts Kelly and his crew that stars like Kamari Ramsey are gone to the rival Trojans, too.
Ramsey is an elite talent, and everybody in the nation was after him. He finished his first full season as a starter in '23 with 40 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, an interception and four passes defended.
He and top Bruins cornerback John Humphrey bolted UCLA with Lynn, and they are going to try to help rebuild a putrid defense that has to improve if coach Lincoln Riley is ever going to have a championship program at USC.
"Imagine, now, this is going to be his second year on this level," Ramsey's father Stacy told the Orange County Register's Luca Evans. "He excelled in his first year. So it's going to be kinda scary what he's going to be able to do."
With his three full seasons of eligibility remaining, the Trojans not only get the second-best safety in the portal behind Downs, but he also has the same number of seasons left to play. That's a huge win for a defense that needs impact guys.
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M Edge
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The Texas A&M Aggies have been depleted by the transfer portal the past two seasons as former coach Jimbo Fisher fell from being a highly paid "sure thing" to the hot seat to getting canned.
But new coach Mike Elko has racked up talent since coming over from Duke, and the defensive-minded coach is going to have plenty of ammunition to start his program.
Getting guys like cornerback Dezz Ricks (Alabama), Cashius Howell (Bowling Green), Jaydon Hill and Scooby Williams (Florida) and others will help ease the sting of those who left. But the biggest "win" in the portal was former Purdue edge-rusher Nic Scourton.
Like Trey Moore, he was a huge production guy, but he did it in the rugged Big Ten. Teaming with Howell is going to give the Aggies a terrific one-two punch off the edge.
At 6'4", 280 pounds, Scourton shouldn't be able to move the way he does, but he's an elite force with high NFL upside. For the Boilermakers in '23, he had a breakout season with 50 tackles, including 15 for loss and 10 sacks. He also had three passes defended and a forced fumble.
A lot has changed (including his name, as he was formerly Nic Caraway) in the years since he left Bryan, Texas, as a 6'2", 235-pound defensive end with offers from Purdue, Memphis and Colorado State. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Scourton has transformed his body and his game.
He could be one of the top incoming defenders in the SEC.
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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