College Football 2024: Hottest Transfer Performances of October
With October gone, the college football picture is certainly a lot clearer, even if we still don't know how everything is going to shake out.
Some College Football Playoff contenders emerged, and others faded away. Other teams played the role of spoiler or are enjoying the types of seasons they aren't used to having. Much of this is because of exceptional performances from players plucked from the transfer portal.
That has truly become the sport's great equalizer in the past few seasons.
So, taking into account only the performances in the past month, who have been the top transfer playmakers?
Some, like elite Ole Miss edge-rusher Princely Umanmielen and Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, won't be on this list. Regardless of the nice seasons they're having, they were injured through much of October.
Who blew up and showed out in the 10th month of the year? Let's take a look at the top transfer performances from October.
Defensive Linemen
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Kyle Kennard, South Carolina Gamecocks
When Shane Beamer got Kennard from the transfer portal, he knew he was getting a game-wrecking veteran edge. But he probably didn't expect to get a leader who would become the SEC's best pass-rusher and the catalyst for an elite defensive line.
The senior from Atlanta rolled up nine tackles during October and built his conference-leading sack total with three sacks in a win over Oklahoma and a narrow loss to Alabama. He posted those totals in just a pair of games.
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M Aggies
If there's a defensive lineman who has been more productive than Kennard, it's A&M's Scourton, a former superstar at Purdue who has returned home to finish a college career that's likely going to result in him becoming an NFL first-round pick.
Mike Elko's Aggies continue to surge in his first season behind a disruptive defense, and the defensive end is the most consistent player on a deep defensive line. In a spotless October, Scourton rolled up nine tackles, a pair of sacks and added five tackles for a loss to his SEC-leading total.
BJ Green, Colorado Buffaloes
Everybody rightfully talks about Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter as playmakers responsible for Colorado's second-year turnaround under Deion Sanders. But improvements on the offensive and defensive fronts are massive, too.
Green is the primary reason for the turnaround on defense, and the Buffs knew they got a special player when he left Arizona State for Boulder. Green continues to be a consistent force at edge, finishing the month with eight tackles, a trio of sacks and a forced fumble. Colorado just continues to improve on that side of the ball.
MIkail Kamara, Indiana Hoosiers
One of the biggest storylines of the college football season is the Indiana Hoosiers, which are running roughshod through an easy schedule in Curt Cignetti's first year as head coach in Bloomington.
The offensive turnaround is evident, but some shrewd defensive pickups have helped, too. Kamara followed Cignetti from James Madison, and he's proving every week he is a Power Four playmaker. Kamara can line up all over the front and had 10 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Hoosiers in October, including a sack apiece in wins over Northwestern, Nebraska and Washington.
Simeon Barrow, Jr., Miami Hurricanes
There may not be a more underrated defensive lineman in all of college football than Miami Hurricanes star Simeon Barrow Jr. He didn't get a lot of clout when he was at Michigan State, and he's overshadowed again in Coral Gables this year.
But all the man does is make plays, and the NFL will take notice. He was explosive in October as the 'Canes won the month, garnering 11 tackles, three sacks, forcing a fumble and recovering one. Barrow does a lot of things from the middle of the line, allowing edges like Rueben Bain Jr. and Tyler Baron to get after quarterbacks.
Ja'Maree Caldwell, Oregon Ducks
The upstart Oregon Ducks are rolling in their first season in the Big Ten, and it's because coach Dan Lanning has concocted the perfect mixture of explosive players and the toughness needed to compete in the rugged conference.
Caldwell is part of the latter group, a 340-pound Houston transfer who is a run-clogger who also is athletic enough to make plays against quarterbacks, and NFL teams drool over Caldwell's athleticism for his size. In October, he piled up 11 tackles, forced a fumble and recovered one as the Ducks beat Ohio State and Illinois, among others.
LT Overton, Alabama Crimson Tide
Overton was part of a mass exodus from Texas A&M when Jimbo Fisher was let go, and he is showing he would have been an elite force for that deep, talented Aggies D-line this year. Instead, though, he's in Tuscaloosa, where he's certainly needed.
The versatile lineman's impact can't be found in numbers, but he is a consistent visitor to opponents' backfields. He had 11 tackles and a sack and was a force, even in a forgettable month for the Tide, which lost to Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
Linebackers
2 of 6
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, USC Trojans
When the Pac-12 dissolved leaving Oregon State without a home and coach Jonathan Smith left, so did a lot of star players. One of those was defensive leader Mascarenas-Arnold, who has resurfaced at USC.
He is the unquestioned defensive leader for a rebuilt Trojans defense that has seen some bright moments this year. Though October was a rough month for USC going 1-3, Mascarenas-Arnold had three double-digit tackle games (against Rutgers, Penn State and Minnesota) and had 44 tackles, two sacks and a pick for the month.
Jaheim Thomas, Wisconsin Badgers
It's been a long and winding collegiate career for Thomas, who has previous stops at Cincinnati and Arkansas and has enjoyed quality seasons (90 and 70 tackles, respectively) in each of the past two years.
With the Badgers this year, he's been a force in his final season. The 6'4", 245-pound second-level defender piled up 30 tackles and a sack during Wisconsin's three-win October and even flashed in last week's tough loss to Penn State.
Jake Golday, Cincinnati Bearcats
When Golday was at Central Arkansas, he was a man among boys for the lower-level school, and the 6'4", 240-pound Tennessee native was all over the place. So, he decided to showcase his talents on a higher plain.
That couldn't be better news for the Bearcats, as Golday has been a catalyst for a major turnaround in their second season in the Big 12. He had 23 tackles, 1.5 sacks, forced a fumble and covered one in October, and he just continues to grow and learn. He's a leader for Scott Satterfield.
Branson Combs, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Much like Golday, Combs came from the FCS level, in this case Southern Illinois. He isn't going to get a bunch of attention playing for coach Dave Clawson in a mid-level ACC program, but he is doing some nice things for the Deacs.
The 6'3", 228-pound senior started the month slowly with just five tackles in a win over North Carolina State, but he was strong in a loss to Clemson (nine tackles). In back-to-back wins over UConn and Stanford, Combs has 20 tackles and a sack. He may get some NFL sniffs if he keeps this up.
Demetrius Knight, South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks really went into Georgia Tech and ravaged that defense for a couple of incredible players who have helped them transform a woebegone unit. Everybody knows about Kyle Kennard, but linebacker Knight is a force, too.
He really built his October resume with a jaw-dropping performance in a win against Oklahoma, getting 11 of his 19 tackles for the month in that game. He also registered a sack for the second consecutive game, forced a pair of fumbles and recovered a pair.
Xavian Sorey, Arkansas Razorbacks
Not all of Georgia's bevy of elite linebacker recruits can play on the field at once for the Dawgs, and one who didn't get enough reps to stay happy was Sorey. He left for Arkansas, where he has become a leader for coach Sam Pittman.
The speedy second-level defender registered 28 tackles during October and also grabbed an interception as the Hogs continue to be a sneaky-tough out most weekends in the SEC (minus the Ole Miss and LSU games).
Defensive Backs
3 of 6
D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana Hoosiers
Most of the time, when a coach comes from a mid-major to a Power Four program, they aren't able to bring a bunch of playmakers with them to help them start the transition. If they do, it's normally not good news.
That hasn't been the case for Curt Cignetti, whose former James Madison Dukes stars have been building blocks in Bloomington. We've already discussed Mikail Kamara, but Ponds has been a lockdown cornerback, too. Ponds had a big October, registering 17 tackles. But he was biggest on the stage with ESPN's GameDay in town when his two first-half interceptions helped the Hoosiers build a lead in a win.
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee Volunteers
The best transfer portal win for coach Josh Heupel's Vols this past offseason has unquestionably proven to be McCoy, the sophomore from Oregon State who may be the best player at the position in Knoxville since Cameron Sutton.
He is a physical presence who excels in man coverage, and he was special against Alabama, turning away a Tide touchdown with an interception in the end zone. For the month, he piled up 16 tackles and had a pair of interceptions to go along with a couple of pass deflections. He's a Thorpe Award semifinalist for a reason.
Trey Amos, Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin knew he needed some reinforcements before this season and went heavy into the transfer portal to grab a bunch of difference-makers. While the chemistry hasn't always been there in Oxford, there's no questioning the talent level, and Amos is a perfect example.
The former Crimson Tide cornerback has done a great job for his former coordinator Pete Golding this year, and October was a particularly strong month. He wound up with 12 tackles, a pair of interceptions (one in in a win over South Carolina and another in an overtime loss to LSU) and five passes defended.
Garnett Hollis Jr., West Virginia Mountaineers
This has been a forgettable season for coach Neal Brown's Mountaineers after a big season a year ago, but there have been some bright spots. Hollis is one of them in the defensive backfield.
The Northwestern transfer from Tennessee is playing his final season in Morgantown, and after a slow start, he had a big month. Hollis started off slow with a one-tackle performance in a win over Oklahoma State. He came up big in losses to Iowa State and Kansas State and kept the momentum in a win against Arizona. He had 20 tackles, a fumble recovery and three passes defended.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes
No defensive back in the nation flashes more on film than Downs, the top-rated transfer safety in the portal and a guy who is going to be a future NFL first-round pick. He is the most talented secondary player in the nation.
While he hasn't made a lot of game-changing, turnover plays for the Buckeyes this year, he was all over the field throughout October and plays his best in the biggest moments. For the month, he had 16 tackles and a pair of passes defended, but his impact is felt everywhere.
Randon Fontenette, Vanderbilt Commodores
When Fontenette left TCU for Vanderbilt, it wasn't exactly national news. That said, the former star prospect has been a big part of the Commodores' resurgence this season.
He's really blossomed under defensive guru Clark Lea, and he is one of the top safeties in the SEC. During October, Fontenette had 20 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception. The pick came in the win over Alabama, and the 1.5 sacks were in a close loss to Texas.
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Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
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Ja'Corey Brooks, Louisville Cardinals
There hasn't been a more impactful transfer wide receiver in the nation this year than Brooks, who wasn't the highest-profile pass-catcher who left Alabama, but he has one-upped Isaiah Bond, who went to Texas. Brooks is playing himself into the NFL.
The 6'3", 195-pound senior from Florida has blossomed into Tyler Shough's top target, and the two have brilliant chemistry. In three of the four October games, Brooks eclipsed 100 receiving yards, and he also had a pair of two-touchdown games (in losses to Miami and SMU). For the month, he caught 22 balls for 431 yards and four scores.
Evan Stewart, Oregon Ducks
Consistency has been a problem for Stewart, who was the top receiver pass-catcher in the portal but arrived in Eugene as the No. 3 receiver on the team. The Ducks have weapons everywhere, and Stewart doesn't always produce.
When he does, though, it's huge. For the month, he grabbed 14 balls for 284 yards and a pair of scores. He was his best on the biggest stage in a win against Ohio State when he had seven grabs for 149 yards and a score. Of course, he tends to disappear like he did against Illinois, too.
Germie Bernard, Alabama Crimson Tide
You can't turn on a Crimson Tide football game without hearing 30 references to Ryan Williams (hey, did you know he's only 17 years old??), but he isn't the only receiver doing big things in Tuscaloosa.
When Kalen DeBoer came to coach the Tide, he brought Germie Bernard with him from Washington, and Bernard has become a great secondary weapon for Jalen Milroe. Bernard hasn't been spectacular, but he's a steady weapon who compiled 17 catches for 313 yards and a touchdown during October.
Justin Joly, North Carolina State Wolfpack
One of the biggest receiving tight ends available in the transfer portal this offseason was Joly, who left Jim Mora Jr.'s UConn Huskies for greener pastures. He found them in Raleigh, where he has helped bring along NC State freshman quarterback CJ Bailey.
Joly is the most consistent target other than KC Concepcion this year, and he has been big in October, catching 10 passes for 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He looked to continue that into November, too, with a huge game Saturday in a win over Stanford. This was on the heels of a four-catch, 95-yard performance in a win over Cal, and he had two TDs in the other games, too.
LaJohntay Wester, Colorado Buffaloes
Much like Bernard in the shadow of phenom Williams, Wester doesn't get a lot of the credit he deserves because he plays alongside a generational talent like Travis Hunter. But he's had a great season to give Shedeur Sanders another major weapon.
The former Florida Atlantic star had 108 catches for 1,168 yards a season ago. While he hasn't been that type of star in Boulder, he is a great No. 2 target. In October, Wester came up big with 18 catches for 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns as he continues to build credit with Sanders.
Kevin Coleman Jr., Mississippi State Bulldogs
This Coleman isn't as explosive as the one who played at Florida State after transferring from Michigan State before heading to the NFL. But he has been a terrific pickup for coach Jeff Lebby in a tough first season in Starkville.
Coleman went a-portaling for the second season in a row. He began his career at Jackson State, then left for Louisville after Deion Sanders bolted for Colorado. Now at his third school, Coleman leads the Bulldogs' receiving corps, and he caught 24 passes for 292 yards and a pair of touchdowns in October.
Running Backs
5 of 6
Tawee Walker, Wisconsin Badgers
After finally breaking through and making an impact for Oklahoma a season ago, Walker decided he wanted to go somewhere where he could be a bigger piece of the puzzle. After Chez Mellusi went down for Wisconsin this year, the Badgers are glad to have the senior.
In a place known for producing star runners, Walker may be one of the most surprising in recent years. He exploded in October to the tune of 477 rushing yards and seven touchdowns as the Badgers went 3-1. Highlights were three-score performances in wins over Purdue and Rutgers.
Woody Marks, USC Trojans
For the second year in a row, Lincoln Riley grabbed a transfer from an SEC program to play running back, and that formula is working just fine. MarShawn Lloyd carried the backfield last year after leaving South Carolina, and this year, it's been Jo'Quavious "Woody" Marks.
Marks came to L.A. from Mississippi State, and the senior from Atlanta has been steady as USC tries to adapt to the rugged play in the Big Ten. Despite the Trojans going 1-3 in October, Marks was a force, gaining 421 rushing yards and scoring five times.
Damien Martinez, Miami Hurricanes
Perhaps the best running back in the transfer portal was Martinez, who helped the Oregon State offense last year actually be a bit explosive at times, even with DJ Uiagalelei playing quarterback.
Even with Cam Ward grabbing all the headlines in Coral Gables, Martinez has done a good job for the Hurricanes after coming across the country. He has been relied upon more and more, and Martinez finished October with 279 yards and four scores. His biggest game was a 148-yard, two-touchdown performance in a win over rival Florida State.
Trevor Etienne, Georgia Bulldogs
After some offseason troubles, it took Etienne a long time to get acclimated in Georgia's offense, and he wasn't always the catalyst coach Kirby Smart hoped he'd be when he left rival Florida for Athens.
But Etienne is finding his sea legs, even in a crowded offensive backfield. October saw him reach the end zone six times for a Dawgs team that rebounded from an end-of-September loss to Alabama to go 3-0, including a win over Texas. In that game, Etienne had 87 yards and scored three times. For the month, he had 210 yards on the ground.
Jonah Coleman, Washington Huskies
When Jedd Fisch was at Arizona, he was known for the pinball passing game that put up video-game numbers, but Coleman was a big, bruising running back who pulled his share of the load, too.
It hasn't been easy to start Fisch's program at Washington after Kalen DeBoer left along with a ton of NFL talent, but Coleman has helped matters. For October, he had at least 80 yards in all three games, but the one touchdown is a little alarming. He needs to get in the end zone more.
Brashard Smith, SMU Mustangs
When Smith entered the portal to leave Miami, it was unclear whether he was going to be a running back or a receiver. He went to SMU, and he's found success as a running back under Rhett Lashlee.
Smith got to stay in the ACC as the Mustangs are having a surprisingly strong first year in the conference, and he's a big reason. He had 236 rushing yards and a pair of scores in October to go along with seven catches for 48 yards.
Quarterbacks
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Cam Ward, Miami Hurricanes
It was a big month, and quite frankly, it's been a big year for transfer quarterbacks. Nobody has had a better one thus far than Ward, who left Washington State for Miami and transformed into a superstar.
In October, he put the Hurricanes on his shoulders in close wins over California and Louisville and led The U to a 3-0 record. They're still undefeated, and Ward is the primary reason. He threw for 964 yards, six touchdowns and a pick in those three games. He's started November with another ridiculous line, throwing for 400 yards and five scores in a big win over Duke.
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Ducks
The other quarterback in the Heisman Trophy watch list alongside Ward (and receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter and running back Ashton Jeanty) is Gabriel, the sixth-year senior who is second on the all-time passing yards list.
Gabriel is at his third stop after previous great showings at UCF and Oklahoma, and he has kept the Ducks surging and undefeated. Wins over Ohio State and Illinois were huge, and Gabriel was a centerpiece in a 4-0 month, throwing for 1,179 yards and nine touchdowns. The four interceptions are too many in the month, but he's been strong.
Will Howard, Ohio State Buckeyes
A gutty, gritty effort in a huge top-five win over Penn State was massive this past weekend for the Buckeyes, but that was a November game. Howard was great against the Nittany Lions, but he has been steady all year, too.
The nation's No. 2-ranked player in quarterback efficiency was good, even in a loss to Oregon. Ohio State went 2-1 during the month, and Howard threw for 756 yards, nine touchdowns and just a pair of interceptions. Does Howard need to be better at throwing the ball downfield? Yes, but he is a veteran leader who can move the football.
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Speaking of the inability to throw downfield, Leonard has struggled doing that, but pretty much everybody knew that wasn't his game when he left Duke for Notre Dame. He has still been able to lead a growing offense for the Irish.
After an embarrassing early-season loss to Northern Illinois, Notre Dame rebounded with a spotless October, and Leonard was a big reason. He threw for 610 yards, five touchdowns and an interception and added 165 rushing yards and four more scores. He is getting better and better after missing a large swath of last season to injury.
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt Commodores
Ward has changed the fortunes of a program perhaps more than any signal-caller, but Pavia is right up there with him. The former Conference USA offensive player of the year has turned Vanderbilt into a competitive force immediately.
The guts-and-glory Pavia has a refuse-to-lose mentality that showed up big in a 3-1 October that included wins over Alabama and Kentucky and a one-touchdown loss to Texas. The former New Mexico State quarterback threw for 813 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions during the month and added 258 rushing yards and two more scores.
Max Brosmer, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck hasn't had a talented passer like Brosmer during his entire tenure with the Golden Gophers, and, boy, is it ever making a difference. Brosmer had a 213-yard performance Saturday in a big win over Illinois, but that was November. It was just a continuation from a big October.
Through the month, the team beat Maryland, UCLA and USC, and Brosmer was big. He threw for 682 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception. The former New Hampshire quarterback also added three rushing touchdowns, and this Gophers team will be a scary out the rest of the way in the Big Ten.
Tyler Shough, Louisville Cardinals
Jeff Brohm has the perfect weapon to run a pass-heavy offense this year, and even though the Cardinals aren't really a threat to play in the ACC title game like they did a year ago, they can put up points with the best of them.
Shough has been a great maestro after previous stops at Oregon and Texas Tech. Through October, he led all transfers with 1,234 passing yards. He also threw for nine touchdowns and four interceptions, and Shough is playing himself into plenty of pro conversations after an injury-plagued career.
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