CFB Transfer Portal 2025: Sleeper Picks for Biggest Impact Players Next Season

It’s easy to look at the transfer portal rankings and throw something out there like, “I expect Carson Beck to have a big year,” or “Boy, I can’t wait to watch Zachariah Branch get his hands on the ball at Georgia.”

Yeah, OK? Those guys are top-rated prospects. Of course everybody expects big things from them.

But what about the dudes who’ve fallen a little bit under the radar? It’s a lot more fun to look at the “deep cuts” than the top-10 hits when it comes to picking breakout players from the 2025 transfer portal. In a lot of cases, the ones the recruiting services deem the best get overshadowed by some others.

For every John Mateer and Patrick Payton expected to have monstrous seasons at their new stomping grounds, there are some guys in new surroundings who will thrive. Kyle McCord, Ja’Corey Brooks, Jermod McCoy and Kurtis Rourke are just a handful of guys who weren’t top-rated portalers last year who wound up stars.

None of the guys on this list are in the top 75 players in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings, but we expect them to make massive impacts and perhaps transform their programs into contenders.

On the next few slides, we’ll examine some sleepers for biggest impact players in ’25.

Jackson Arnold, Auburn Tigers Quarterback

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If you’ve given up on Jackson Arnold, well, you’ve got way too much of a quick trigger. Yes, I’m looking at you, Brent Venables.

Last season after a disastrous first half against Tennessee, that’s exactly what the Oklahoma coach did, and Arnold never won Venables' trust back. The Sooners ultimately moved on to John Mateer, and Arnold headed to another SEC program.

He will attempt to give Hugh Freeze his first serviceable quarterback in the coach’s third year at Auburn. It’s an important crossroads for the coach and the rising junior who had so much promise when he came to OU as a 5-star.

Yes, Arnold was turnover-prone in his couple of seasons in Norman, but he didn’t have a lot of weapons around him, either. That won’t be the case on the Plains as the Tigers have given him some heavy artillery.

Freeze nabbed Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech, giving Auburn one of the top playmakers in the portal to go along with super sophomore Cam Coleman.

Arnold’s strong arm and elevated upside are just the things to bring out the best in that duo, and it’s tantalizing to think about the potential if it all comes together for him at Auburn. Rolling the dice on ceiling is never a bad thing when it comes to the portal.

If it all clicks, Arnold has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC. All the elements are present for big-time success.

Devon Dampier, Utah Utes Quarterback

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It has been a brutal couple of seasons for coach Kyle Whittingham in Utah, which is puzzling considering just how strong the Utes have been recently.

They hitched their star to oft-injured quarterback Cam Rising, though, and unfortunately, he just couldn’t stay healthy. The first season for the Utes in the Big 12 last year was extremely forgettable.

Now, they’re flipping the script completely, and there are two new playmakers in Salt Lake City who could do big things. Lots of folks are talking about Washington State transfer running back Wayshaun Parker, and rightfully so.

But the biggest pick to click may be former New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier, a 5’11”, 204-pound dual-threat signal-caller who wants to help Utah forget about the rocky past couple of seasons.

Even though Dampier is only a 3-star transfer and the No. 325-ranked player in the portal, he’s got a bunch of ability. Plus, he’s following offensive coordinator Jason Beck from the Lobos to Utah, so he’s familiar with the system.

A season ago, Dampier threw for 2,768 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he also had 12 interceptions. He was at his best running the ball, gaining 1,166 yards and scoring 19 times.

If he can cut back on the turnovers, Dampier has electrifying ability. How will it translate for his final two years in the Power 4?

CJ Daniels, Miami Hurricanes Wide Receiver

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A season ago, when Garrett Nussmeier was throwing up PlayStation numbers at LSU, CJ Daniels was part of the show. But he was nowhere near the biggest part.

Perhaps that’s why the Bayou Bengals’ fourth-leading pass-catcher decided to look for greener pastures in South Beach. Now, he has to feel like he hit the quarterback jackpot with the Hurricanes getting Carson Beck to spurn the NFL and play for a season at Miami.

Daniels may wind up being the top overall target for Beck in ’25 after catching 42 passes for 480 yards in 2024 but failing to cross the goal line. 

Pretty much everybody thought Daniels would bust out following a junior season in which he caught 55 passes for 1,067 yards and 10 scores in 2023 while at Liberty, but that never materialized. Maybe that’s why he tumbled to the No. 98-ranked overall player in the portal and the 21st-rated receiver.

He’s better than that, folks, and the 6’2”, 205-pound receiver has the opportunity to prove he’s a major pro prospect with a big year. With Beck throwing him the ball, the sky is the limit.

Miami is going to have a very young receiving corps in ’25, and the ‘Canes could use another veteran to go alongside Daniels. But he’s going to be one of the top receivers in the ACC.

CJ Donaldson, Ohio State Running Back

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If you want a breakout upperclassman, look no further than the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, who are going to insert a talented, underutilized player into a major position of need.

With TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins off to the NFL, there is a major, flashing vacancy sign over the running back position in Columbus. With the Buckeyes breaking in a new quarterback in Julian Sayin, they'll need a reliable runner.

Enter CJ Donaldson, who has one remaining season after leaving West Virginia and a lot to prove.

He's stepping into an ideal spot. The only scholarship runner returning to Ohio State is James Peoples, who had just 197 yards a season ago. Talented youngsters Bo Jackson, Anthony “Turbo” Rogers and Isaiah West will bolster the room, but Donaldson stands to get the majority of carries.

Donaldson took a bit of a back seat in Morgantown to Jahiem White the past couple of years, but he was still a quality runner. The 6'2", 238-pound bruiser has gained at least 526 yards in all three seasons and has 31 career touchdowns.

These are all translatable at Ohio State, where the Buckeyes are in need of a bell cow. Donaldson is big, rugged and is in a bit of a "contract year" situation, stepping onto the biggest stage in the sport to show NFL franchises what he can do.

Everybody should pay attention to Donaldson, who may prove to be one of the nation's top runners with an extended workload.

Mark Gronowski, Iowa Hawkeyes Quarterback

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Just the thought that perhaps coach Kirk Ferentz could potentially have a signal-caller who not only has a pulse but also the possibility of making game-changing plays with his arm seems far-fetched.

How long has it been for Iowa to have a star quarterback? Ever?

A season ago, a stagnant Minnesota Golden Gophers offense injected life into that side of the ball by going out and getting FCS star signal-caller Max Brosmer for a year. Now, the Hawkeyes are trying to do the same with Mark Gronowski.

The former South Dakota State quarterback is basically a Jackrabbits legend who has one season of eligibility remaining. He threw for 10,330 career yards, 93 touchdowns and ran for 1,767 more yards and 37 scores.

That's crazy production, and now he's coming to the Hawkeyes. Fans in Iowa City must feel like they've died and gone to heaven.

If Gronowski can resurrect a dormant offense for the Hawkeyes, you know NFL teams are going to love him. He already has proven he's a terrific leader, a winner and a mass-producer. Doing it in the Big Ten would make major noise.

Still, even though he's accomplished so much and is a 6'3", 230-pound quarterback, the transfer rankings don't love him. He's just a 3-star and the No. 336-rated overall transfer.

The prediction here is that he's much better than that and wins the Big Ten newcomer of the year with a season that propels him into the NFL draft.