Top Non-QB Players in the College Football Transfer Portal After the 2025 Season

As is the case every year, the quarterbacks are getting all the publicity in this year's short, frantic transfer portal window—and rightfully so. All four remaining College Football Playoff teams boast starting signal-callers who have portaled there.

But while the storylines center on Brendan Sorsby, Sam Leavitt, Josh Hoover and other potential star 'slingers, you need to pay attention to the other position players in the portal who are going to make waves wherever they land.

Some of these big names are highlighted because of massive potential, while others already have produced on the field. Some of the best have a combination of the two.

None of the players on this list are quarterbacks, but all are going to be huge wins for whoever lands them from the portal. In some cases, guys already have chosen their destinations. 

Let's take a look at who we think the best of the best non-signal callers are in this year's portal so far—regardless of where they're ranked. This list is full of guys who'll be the next big things or maybe already are.

Rasheem Biles, Linebacker

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If you want to look at who some of the top players are, a great indicator is the teams that are going after them.

There's perhaps not a bigger defensive commodity in the portal right now than 6'1", 220-pound former Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Rasheem Biles, a mass-producer on the second level who is going to be a potential All-American, no matter where he lands.

This past year, he racked up 100 tackles, including 4.5 sacks. He also had a pair of forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pair of interceptions for coach Pat Narduzzi. Biles is all over the place, and now, he can go wherever he wants in the nation to close his career.

Biles is in line for a big paycheck, and there's a reason why he's the top-ranked linebacker in the portal. For our list, he's the best defender available when you're looking at '26 impact.

Right now, it appears the Columbus, Ohio, native could go home and play for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but others like the Miami Hurricanes are driving for his pledge, too.

Whoever signs him is going to get an instant-impact star ready to lead a championship-caliber defense.

Cam Coleman, Wide Receiver

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Why not start with the best on both sides of the ball?

Offensively, there's no question that former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman is the biggest prize in the portal who isn't going to be under center. Quite frankly, he has the size, speed and ability to be the No. 1 receiver taken in next year's NFL draft.

When you can get that kind of star player, you go all-in, and several programs are trying to get him. It appears he's listening to schools like Alabama and the team he was first committed to in the recruiting process: Texas A&M.

If he really wants to shake things up, he'll head West and play for coach Lincoln Riley at USC where he also has a visit lined up.

The Alabama native was a superstar on the Plains, despite coach Hugh Freeze's team having quarterback issues for both of Coleman's two seasons. Now, with Alex Golesh coming to Auburn, the 6'3", 201-pound sophomore pass-catcher from Phenix City is leaving for what likely will be his final season.

As a sophomore in 2025, Coleman had 56 catches for 708 yards and five touchdowns. As a freshman, he grabbed 37 passes for 598 yards and scored eight times. He's a special talent.

Chaz Coleman, Edge

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When you're evaluating transfer portal players, you've got to gauge instant-impact ability because few of these kids are leaving their schools to watch from the sideline. But there's also a measure of potential you've got to build into your litmus test.

Chaz Coleman hasn't done very much of anything on the collegiate level yet, but the 6'2", 246-pound edge-rusher who played his first season at Penn State has worlds of potential.

He was a 4-star prospect coming out of high school and immediately joined the mix in Happy Valley, finishing the season with eight tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Without a doubt, he's the biggest production reach on this list, but there is a reason why he's highly sought-after, and there are ridiculous numbers being thrown around for those who are trying to nab him.

Coleman has already taken visits to LSU and Tennessee, and he also will be at Ohio State this week, where the Buckeyes are the likely favorites to land him.

This is an ideal high-upside take who could wind up being a difference-maker very soon among the top defenders in college football. He's got that type of ceiling. 

Caleb Hawkins, Running Back

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Some of the top running backs already have come off the board such as former North Carolina State runner Hollywood Smothers landing at Alabama and Quintrevion Wisner landing at Florida State.

The best is already off the board, too.

Former North Texas running back Caleb Hawkins was a revelation this past year as a freshman, rushing 231 times for 1,434 yards, scoring 25 touchdowns and averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

Everybody talked about star quarterback Drew Mestemaker, but Hawkins was just as big of a star.

Now, both of those former Mean Green superstars are following coach Eric Morris to Stillwater to play for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. That program's roster was gutted following the ouster of former coach Mike Gundy, but Morris is a rising star in the profession and an offensive mastermind.

With Hawkins and Mestemaker, he's got the firepower to make a major splash in the Big 12 right away.

For Hawkins, he's returning closer to his home of Shawnee, Oklahoma, to play on a much bigger stage. The prediction here is he'll be the biggest running star from the entire portal.

Lance Heard, Offensive Tackle

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There are lots of potential difference-making offensive linemen in the transfer portal like Jacarrius Peak, Carius Curne and Andrew Sprague.

But there isn't one with the upside and starting reps as former Tennessee starting left tackle Lance Heard.

This is Heard's second time in the portal after leaving LSU following his freshman year. Coach Josh Heupel landed him in Knoxville, where he struggled as a redshirt freshman in 2024 before having a stellar season this past year playing left tackle.

With David Sanders Jr. ready to slide over from the right tackle to left side and with Heard wanting a bunch of money to play another year in college, he and the Vols parted ways—and now, somebody is going to get a player who has first-round potential if he can live up to it.

At 6'6", 330 pounds, Heard is a mauler who has two full seasons of starting experience in the SEC. The early buzz is he could head back to play for the Bayou Bengals and new coach Lane Kiffin—he's from Bonita, Louisiana—or he could go to Ohio State, Alabama or elsewhere.

Whoever gets him is going to have a lofty price tag, but Heard is a plug-and-play lineman who is a potential early-round NFL pick if he can reach his massive potential.

Mateen Ibirogba, Defensive Tackle

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Championships are won and lost at the line of scrimmage, and teams like Indiana, Miami, Oregon, Ohio State, Texas Tech and Georgia proved it all year. 

When you've got the chance to get stopgap stars to center your defense around in the portal, you take that chance, and one of those who is out there and ready to enjoy a huge payday is former Wake Forest defensive tackle Mateen Ibirogba.

While you won't find a loaded stat sheet when you look at his junior season, the 6'3", 296-pound Maryland native was a force for the Demon Deacons.

He already has visited the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who desperately want to plug him into the defensive front where several veterans will vacate, but Tennessee, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech are all hot on his trail, too. Others may emerge, as well.

Ibirogba began his career at FCS-level Georgetown, but he really blossomed this season for coach Jake Dickert at Wake, finishing with 21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

That type of production coming from the middle of the defensive line has teams nationwide drooling, and Ibirogba is going to be a great pickup for whoever lands him.

Koi Perich, Safety

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Last year, an elite star safety from a Big Ten team that wasn't making a ton of headlines entered the transfer portal and became a high-profile commitment who was one of the biggest defensive playmakers in 2026.

That was Dillon Thieneman, who left Purdue for Oregon and is now a key player on a Ducks team trying to upset Indiana in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Now, Minnesota's Koi Perich is this year's replica megastar.

The former Golden Gopher is a versatile defensive back who is an all-conference safety and the face of the program under coach PJ Fleck. As a sophomore, the 6'1", 200-pound Esko, Minnesota, native registered 82 tackles, had a sack, a forced fumble, an interception and a touchdown.

Perich broke out a year ago as a freshman when he finished with 42 tackles and five interceptions.

Now, there's a good chance he heads South to play for former defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman with the Miami Hurricanes. They want him desperately, and there's a ton for The U to offer as a College Football Playoff semifinalist who is flashing just how stout the defense is in the first year under Hetherman.

Ohio State is the other program getting early mentions for Perich, who could elect to stay in the Midwest. Honestly, he can go wherever he wants.

Jayden Woods, Edge

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There was plenty of fallout from the Florida Gators roster when Billy Napier was fired and their much-publicized chase of Lane Kiffin fell short and they wound up with Tulane coach Jon Sumrall.

Now, the latter is trying to rebuild his program in Gainesville, and there are several high-impact players jumping ship. Maybe the one with the most potential on the defensive side of the ball is Jayden Woods, a 6'3", 248-pound defensive end.

The Shawnee, Kansas, native was one of the top-100 players in the nation in the 2025 recruiting class and got on the field right away for the Gators. Woods finished the year with 27 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and an interception.

That type of production as a true freshman is pretty special, and teams are taking notice.

There's also still a chance Sumrall could convince Woods to remain in Gainesville, which should be a huge emphasis considering he led the team in sacks last year in his first collegiate season.

Woods has a bright future, no matter where he winds up.