Biggest Names in the Transfer Portal After Start of 2024 Late Entry Window
The second wave of the college football transfer portal has arrived.
As you'd expect, some marquee names—from Damien Martinez to Kadyn Proctor—have announced their intention to transfer. These immediate-impact players will be top priorities in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, there really is no offseason for coaches.
They're constantly aware of potential transfers anyway, and now they'll be directing more energy to recruiting them.
April 16 marked the beginning of this window and runs until April 30. While players don't need to make a decision on their next program by that deadline, their paperwork must be submitted by then.
Damien Martinez, RB
1 of 7
Shortly before this window cracked open, Damien Martinez announced he would be leaving Oregon State.
Martinez put together a strong true freshman year in 2022, rushing for 982 yards at 6.1 per carry with seven touchdowns. Last season, he jumped to 1,185 yards (6.1 per attempt) and nine scores.
Given his production, Martinez will have no shortage of options.
Ole Miss, though, is a very sensible spot. Not only is Lane Kiffin a regular factor in the portal, the Rebels lost Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State during the early transfer window.
Another heavy portal hitter, Miami is moderately thin at the position and needs to replace Henry Parrish Jr., too. Kentucky and Tennessee are worth monitoring, as well.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR
2 of 7
KeAndre Lambert-Smith held a regular role in three of his four seasons at Penn State, also leading the Nittany Lions with 53 receptions and 673 yards last year.
His final season of eligibility will be used elsewhere, however.
Matt Zenitz of 247Sports recently noted a few SEC programs have already contacted Lambert-Smith. No contact is confirmed, but any of Auburn, Florida and South Carolina should be especially interested.
Regardless of where he lands, Lambert-Smith will arrive with expectations of being a major contributor in 2024.
Justus Ross-Simmons, WR
3 of 7
Lambert-Smith is the prize at receiver, sure, but Justus Ross-Simmons isn't terribly far behind.
As a freshman with Colorado State in 2022, he pulled in 26 passes for 424 yards and three touchdowns. Last season, Ross-Simmons made 45 catches for 724 yards and another three scores.
Michael McAllister of 247Sports said he expects Syracuse to get involved for the wideout. It's a natural connection for Ross-Simmons, who McAlister notes is a Rochester, New York native.
As with every top transfer, though, plenty of Power 4 programs will have Ross-Simmons on the radar.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Kadyn Proctor, OT
4 of 7
Bad news for Alabama? Kadyn Proctor transferred after Nick Saban's retirement and returned home to Iowa, where he'd been committed until the final moments of his recruiting process.
Good news for Alabama? Proctor is coming back.
That's the expectation, at least, considering the offensive lineman entered the portal with a "do not contact" tag. Oh, and Proctor recently attended the spring game in Tuscaloosa.
Proctor, who started at left tackle for the Crimson Tide, landed All-Freshman honors from SEC coaches in 2023.
Keyron Crawford, Edge
5 of 7
First, an apology to Keyron Crawford. He's not exactly a popular figure in photo databases, so chasing down a backup tight end from Oklahoma is the best picture available.
That's about to change.
Crawford assembled a breakout season in his second year at Arkansas State. While notching 44 tackles, the edge-rusher tallied 10.5 stops for loss (5.5 sacks) with 37 pressures and two forced fumbles.
The portal is ideal for players like Crawford, who shined at a Group of Five program and can rise to a power-conference school. (And, yes, it stinks for Arkansas State to lose him.)
Tacario Davis, CB
6 of 7
One of the more interesting available players is Tacario Davis, who entered the portal back in January.
The cornerback never committed anywhere, and he's since participated in spring practice with Arizona. There is a legitimate chance he withdraws from the portal and stays in Tucson.
Davis remains an intriguing option until or unless it happens.
Last season, he garnered All-Pac-12 recognition after finishing second in the conference with 15 pass breakups. Davis collected 25 tackles and one interception for an ascendant Arizona defense.
Jacoby Mathews, S
7 of 7
Texas A&M recently saw a pair of safeties hit the portal, losing both Jacoby Mathews and Sam McCall.
McCall was highly recruited in 2022 and a prized transfer last year, but he's only managed 11 tackles in two college seasons. Mathews, on the other hand, started nine games for Texas A&M in 2023, finishing fourth on the defense with 41 tackles.
According to On3's Steve Wilfong, Mathews is eyeing Florida State and Oregon in the portal.
One important note: During the spring window, players from SEC programs are not allowed to move within the conference.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
