College Football’s transfer portal has run wild through the month of December. With over 700 players already committed to transfer to their next school, we have a firm grasp on which teams did the best work this season.
Our Transfer Portal Team Rankings showcase which teams have made the most of the portal so far.
2024 Transfer Portal Team Rankings
Our transfer portal team rankings consider the total number of players gained against the number of players lost. They certainly value top-tier players making the move but also look at gaps in the roster from this past season or projected losses to the draft, exhausted eligibility, or the portal itself.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
Some programs have already made the most of the portal, while others are still working hard. Here’s who sets the tone for the top portal class of the 2024 offseason. These are the teams you’d want to have your eyes on this spring.
1) Ole Miss Rebels
Total Transfers: 10
Top Offensive Transfer: Antwane Wells Jr., WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Walter Nolen, DL
It’s likely the best defensive front transfer portal class in the history of the portal heading to Oxford, Mississippi, next fall. With former No. 1 overall prospect Walter Nolen on board, the Ole Miss Rebels made mincemeat of the rest of the nation through the portal on the defensive side of the ball.
Nolen hasn’t quite lived up to lofty expectations during his career, but there is no denying the talent is there. He had his choice of just about any program in the country, but he chose head coach Lane Kiffin and Co. at Ole Miss.
He’s not alone, either, as former Tennessee EDGE Tyler Baron and Florida EDGE Princely Umanmielen also joined the mix. Baron is a sack artist with underappreciated power, while Umanmielen is a dynamic and versatile pass-rusher off the edge.
On the backend, Kiffin brought in a new cast of defensive backs to improve their coverage units. Decamerion Richardson is a lockdown cornerback from in-state rival Mississippi State while Tahveon Nicholson, Tamarion McDonald, and Chris Paul Jr. bring versatility and potentially elite levels of play.
Perhaps just as impressive, however, is the addition of arguably the best receiver in the SEC when he’s healthy: Antwane Wells Jr. from South Carolina. Wells had an injury bug that kept him off the field for the majority of the season in Columbia, but when he’s on his game, there is no stopping his elite athleticism, size, speed, and all-around receiving abilities.
Ole Miss’ Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Antwane Wells, WR, South Carolina (transfer portal)
- Tyler Baron, EDGE, Tennessee (transfer portal)
- Walter Nolen, DL, Texas A&M (transfer portal)
- Princely Umanmielen, DL, Florida (transfer portal)
- Tahveon Nicholson, ATH, Illinois (transfer portal)
- Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State (transfer portal)
- Tamarion McDonald, DB, Tennessee (transfer portal)
- Christopher Paul Jr., DB, Arkansas (transfer portal)
- Key Lawrence, S, Oklahoma (transfer portal)
- Louis Moore, S, Indiana (transfer portal)
2) Indiana Hoosiers
Total Transfers: 15
Top Offensive Transfer: Kurtis Rourke, QB
Top Defensive Transfer: James Carpenter, DT
It’s no surprise that the Indiana Hoosiers have completely reworked their roster under new head coach Curt Cignetti. With nine players making the trip from Harrisonburg to Bloomington, Cignetti brought not only nearly his entire staff from JMU but also nearly every integral member of the Dukes’ historic season in 2023.
What jumps out, however, is the outside additions. Giving offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan a veteran at quarterback has been a staple of Cignetti’s roster construction over the past few seasons, and Kurtis Rourke is next in line. With the success of dual-threat quarterbacks inside Shanahan’s offense at JMU well documented, Rourke could be in line for a career year with the Hoosiers in 2024.
With a clean bill of health, the talented Rourke can hit every level of the field, was a top-tier Group of Five quarterback, and is an elite quarterback with arm strength, accuracy, progressive read ability, moxie, and leadership ability. Rourke will have some serious weapons to throw to in the passing game.
He brings with him a preferred target in Miles Cross from Ohio and the staff grabbed Myles Price from Texas Tech. Cross caught over 1,300 yards in three seasons with the Bobcats, hauling in career-highs in yards and touchdowns this past season. At 6’1″ and over 210 pounds, he has terrific size outside and should be a huge asset to this receiving corps at or beyond the sticks in this offense.
Price hauled in over 1,700 yards in four seasons at Texas Tech and was on pace for a career year in 2023 had he not been limited to just 10 games. Still, he caught five touchdowns and dominated from inside with his athleticism, hands, quick release, and yards-after-the-catch ability.
Add the additions of Donaven McCulley and Ke’Shawn Williams, and this receiving corps could be a scary unit for Rourke to find at every level. He’ll have good protection with Trey Wedig from Wisconsin and Nick Kidwell and Tyler Stephens coming over from JMU.
And the defense is just as good.
James Carpenter’s nickname is gamewrecker, and Mikail Kamara is a beast off the edge. These two pair together to form one of the top defensive front duos in the Big Ten next fall.
The linebacking corps brought in Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker from JMU, pairing together with returning safety Jordan Grier, who withdrew his name from the portal to stay with the new staff.
Add in the fact that they also brought in Derek McCormick and his deep leg, and every facet has been re-tooled and re-worked beautifully by Cignetti and Co.
Indiana’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Kurtis Rourke, QB, Ohio
- Trent Howland, RB, Indiana (withdrew name)
- Kaelon Black, RB, JMU
- Ty Son Lawton, RB, JMU
- Myles Price, WR, Texas Tech
- Donaven McCulley, WR, Indiana (withdrew name)
- Ke’Shawn Williams, WR, Wake Forest
- Miles Cross, WR, Ohio
- Zach Horton, TE, JMU
- Carter Smith, OT, Indiana (withdrew name)
- Trey Wedig, OT, Wisconsin
- Nick Kidwell, OT, JMU
- Tyler Stephens, OL, JMU
- James Carpenter, DT, JMU
- Mikail Kamara, EDGE, JMU
- Aiden Fisher, LB, JMU
- Jailin Walker, LB, JMU
- Jordan Grier, S, Indiana (withdrew name)
- Derek McCormick, K, UL-Monroe
3) Louisville Cardinals
Total Transfers: 15
Top Offensive Transfer: Caullin Lacy, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: Thor Griffith, DL
It’s an impressive haul for Louisville. The ACC runners-up bring in a slew of characters at every level but noticeably improved some gaps on offense through the portal.
Tyler Shough enters as the projected starter for 2024, entering his final season of eligibility and on his third school, having previous stops at Oregon and Texas Tech. When healthy, Shough has an NFL arm and a lot of experience in a pass-first, short-area passing attack.
Shough will have some top-tier weapons to throw to as well, with Ja’Corey Brooks coming over from Alabama, Mark Redman coming in from San Diego State, Tanner Koziol committing from Ball State, and the best of the bunch, Caullin Lacy entering the picture from South Alabama.
Lacy is a dominant WR1 and proved he can play against top-tier competition with his best game coming against Oklahoma State this past season with the Jaguars.
Monroe Mills has reportedly yet to sign his NLI with the Cardinals but is a big pick-up on the offensive line alongside Yale’s Jonathan Mendoza, who was likely the most sought-after player from the FCS level on the OL this circuit.
On defense, the Cardinals aggressively grabbed a handful of impact players. Jordan Guerad and Thor Griffith are difference-makers on the defensive front. Corey Thornton is a lockdown cornerback and there’s no denying Tayon Holloway’s talent when he’s on the field.
Louisville’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Tyler Shough, QB, Texas Tech (transfer portal)
- Don Chaney Jr., RB, Miami (FL) (transfer portal)
- Ja’Corey Brooks, WR, Alabama (transfer portal)
- Caullin Lacy, WR, South Alabama (transfer portal)
- Izayah Cummings, WR, Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Mark Redman, TE, San Diego State (transfer portal)
- Tanner Koziol, TE, Ball State (transfer portal)
- Jonathan Mendoza, OT, Yale (transfer portal)
- Monroe Mills, OT, Texas Tech (transfer portal)
- Victor Cutler Jr., iOL, Ohio State (transfer portal)
- Pete Nygra, iOL, Northern Illinois (transfer portal)
- Thor Griffith, DL, Harvard (transfer portal)
- Jordan Guerad, DL, FIU (transfer portal)
- Corey Thornton, CB, UCF (transfer portal)
- Tayon Holloway, CB, North Carolina (transfer portal)
4) Colorado Buffaloes
Total Transfers: 19
Top Offensive Transfer: Will Sheppard, WR
Top Defensive Transfer: DJ Lundy, LB
It’s a new era of Colorado football, even a new era compared to last year’s new era of Buffaloes football. Deion Sanders and Co. aggressively went after the offensive line after they watched Sheduer Sanders run for his life in 2023.
Van Wells returns to the program and is joined by Phillip Houston, Yairi Walker, Tyler Johnson and Khalil Benson. Each player serves as a potential upgrade from what Colorado trotted out a season ago.
Will Sheppard, however, is the top name on the offensive side of the ball. The elite receiver went under the radar while at Vanderbilt, but continually impressed. At his best, Sheppard is a dynamic WR1 and has the chance to become a first-round NFL Draft pick next year.
On defense, DJ Lundy is a three-down linebacker making the trek from Florida State. His ability against the run is only put aside by his coverage instincts and skill.
Justin Mayers is a pass-rushing savant on the inside from UTEP, while Chidozie Nwankwo, Anquin Barnes, Samuel Okunlola, and Quency Wiggins bring big-name recruiting profiles with them from Power Five schools.
Preston Hodge may be the steal of the portal after a dominant year at Liberty.
Colorado’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Destin Wade, QB, Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Walter Taylor, QB, Vanderbilt (transfer portal)
- Cordale Russell, WR, TCU (transfer portal)
- Will Sheppard, WR, Vanderbilt (transfer portal)
- Keaten Wade, WR, Kentucky (transfer portal)
- Terrell Timmons Jr., WR, NC State (transfer portal)
- Chamon Metayer, TE, Cincinnati (transfer portal)
- Phillip Houston, iOL, FIU (transfer portal)
- Van Wells, iOL, Colorado (withdrew)
- Yakiri Walker, iOL, UConn (transfer portal)
- Tyler Johnson, iOL, Houston (transfer portal)
- Kahlil Benson, iOL, Indiana (transfer portal)
- Justin Mayers, DL, UTEP (transfer portal)
- Chidozie Nwankwo, DL, Houston (transfer portal)
- Anquin Barnes, DL, Alabama (transfer portal)
- Quency Wiggins, DL, LSU (transfer portal)
- Samuel Okunlola, DL, Pittsburgh (transfer portal)
- DJ Lundy, LB, Florida State (transfer portal)
- Preston Hodge, CB, Liberty (transfer portal)
5) TCU Horned Frogs
Total Transfers: 13
Top Offensive Transfer: Bless Harris, OT
Top Defensive Transfer: Devean Deal, EDGE
The TCU Horned Frogs had a down year following their College Football Playoff run from a year prior. They went to work on improving the trenches a big time in the portal this offseason.
In doing so, they scooped Florida State’s Bless Harris to man one of the tackle spots. Harris was a star for FSU this past season and could blossom into a top-tier NFL Draft prospect. Also on the offensive line, former Texas A&M guard Remington Strickland and San Diego State’s Cade Bennett are upgrades from this past season.
On defense, the additions of a handful of players should play a role in success in 2024. Most notably, Devean Deal proved his worth from various positions on the defensive front with Tulane. Deal is a massive man who can line up just about anywhere.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr has untapped potential, while Cooper McDonald is a tackling machine. Jaise Oliver is an underrated athlete through the portal as well.
TCU’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Braylon James, WR, Notre Dame (transfer portal)
- Drake Dabney, TE, Baylor (transfer portal)
- Howard Sampson, OT, North Texas (transfer portal)
- Bless Harris, OT, Florida State (transfer portal)
- Cade Bennett, iOL, San Diego State (transfer portal)
- Remington Strickland, iOL, Texas A&M (transfer portal)
- NaNa Osafo-Mensah, EDGE, Notre Dame (transfer portal)
- Devean Deal, EDGE, Tulane (transfer portal)
- Kaleb Elarms-Orr, EDGE, Cal (transfer portal)
- Jonathan Bax, EDGE, TCU (withdrew)
- Cooper McDonald, LB, San Diego State (transfer portal)
- Donovan Saunders, DB, Cal Poly (transfer portal)
- Jaise Oliver, S, Tulsa (transfer portal)
6) Michigan State Spartans
Total Transfers: 14
Top Offensive Transfer: Jack Velling, TE
Top Defensive Transfer: Simeon Barrow Jr., LB
New head coach Jonathan Smith not only dropped all his Oregon State clothes off at a Goodwill in East Lansing, but he also brought with him most of Oregon State’s top-tier players of the future. Aidan Chiles is a big deal and a steal through the portal from the Beavers pipeline, considering Chiles likely had his pick of Power Five schools had he not chosen to follow his head coach.
TJ Sheffield is a massive get from Purdue, just as big as keeping Jaron Glover in the portal. But Jack Velling is perhaps one of the most underrated transfer portal additions this offseason.
Velling is a massive man with a full route tree and thrives over the middle. He’ll pass and run block well but is a mismatch nightmare in the open field.
Michigan State’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Aidan Chiles, QB, Oregon State (transfer portal)
- Jaron Glover, WR, Michigan State (withdrew)
- TJ Sheffield, WR, Purdue (transfer portal)
- Jack Velling, TE, Oregon State (transfer portal)
- Ethan Boyd, OT, Michigan State (withdrew)
- Kristian Phillips, iOL, Michigan State (withdrew)
- Geno VanDeMark, iOL, Michigan State (withdrew)
- Brandon Baldwin, OL, Michigan State (withdrew)
- Quindarius Dunnigan, DL, Middle Tennessee (transfer portal)
- Derrick Harmon, DL, Michigan State (withdrew)
- Simeon Barrow Jr., DL, Michigan State (withdrew)
- Jordan Turner, LB, Wisconsin (transfer portal)
- Darius Snow, LB, Michigan State (withdrew)
- Kaden Schickel, LS, JMU (transfer portal)
7) South Carolina Gamecocks
Total Transfers: 8
Top Offensive Transfer: Raheim Sanders, RB
Top Defensive Transfer: Kyle Kennard, EDGE
Taking stock of what they lost through the portal, it’s a small but incredibly impactful class coming through the portal for Shane Beamer and Co. at South Carolina. Oscar Adaway is a dynamic back when he’s healthy, and Raheim Sanders is a potential first-round running back with a resurgent season.
Jawarn Howell was a multi-time HBCU Player of the Week from us at CFN this past season at SC State, and Jared Brown comes in from Conway to add some electricity on the pass-catching units.
Kyle Kennard marks a huge get for the Gamecocks. He tied the Georgia Tech single-game record for sacks in a game and has that kind of elite pass-rushing ability that could see him vault into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft with a big year next fall.
South Carolina’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Oscar Adaway, RB, North Texas (transfer portal)
- Raheim Sanders, RB, Arkansas (transfer portal)
- Jawarn Howell, RB, SC State (transfer portal)
- Jared Brown, WR, Coastal Carolina (transfer portal)
- Brady Hunt, TE, Ball State (transfer portal)
- DeAndre Jules, DL, Pittsburgh (transfer portal)
- Kyle Kennard, EDGE, Georgia Tech (transfer portal)
- Gerald Kilgore, CB, Tennessee Tech (transfer portal)
8) Oregon Ducks
Total Transfers: 5
Top Offensive Transfer: Dillon Gabriel, QB
Top Defensive Transfer: Kobe Savage, S
A small class, but a massive one at that, is coming in for the Oregon Ducks. With the loss of Bo Nix to exhausted eligibility (and the NFL Draft), the transfer of Dillon Gabriel not only gives the Ducks a massive piece toward a Big Ten Championship run in 2024, it secures the position for the foreseeable future.
Dante Moore enters to fulfill his one-time promise to the Ducks and to learn behind Gabriel for a season, but there is almost no doubt that Dan Lanning will have a package or two to see Moore in action next fall.
Matthew Bedford is a potential high draft pick equipped with the kind of blocking skill Oregon fans have become accustomed to in the trenches.
Kobe Savage can fly all over the field, and Atticus Sappington has a massive leg for the Ducks now instead of kicking for in-state rival Beavers.
Oregon’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma (transfer portal)
- Dante Moore, QB, UCLA (transfer portal)
- Matthew Bedford, OT, Indiana (transfer portal)
- Kobe Savage, S, Kansas State (transfer portal)
- Atticus Sappington, K, Oregon State (transfer portal)
9) NC State Wolfpack
Total Transfers: 9
Top Offensive Transfer: Grayson McCall, QB
Top Defensive Transfer: Tamarcus Cooley, DB
The NC State Wolfpack will again bring in a veteran quarterback for a one-year fix. Grayson McCall is among the most accurate quarterbacks in college football history and has the elite talent to hit every level of the field with his right arm.
McCall will have new weapons to throw to, none more notable than Justin Joly at tight end. The former UConn man was a pivotal piece of the Huskies’ success when they could throw it, and he comes fully equipped with a mix of blocking and receiving prowess.
Jordan Waters is a great fix at the running back spot, while Zeke Correll headlines the additions on the interior of the offensive line.
On defense, both Maryland transfers Corey Coley Jr. and Tamarcus Cooley could go a long way at replacing some of the talent leaving for the Draft and exhausted eligibility next season.
NC State’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina (transfer portal)
- Jordan Waters, RB, Duke (transfer portal)
- Wesley Grimes, WR, Wake Forest (transfer portal)
- Justin Joly, TE, UConn (transfer portal)
- Grayson Mains, iOL, South Carolina (transfer portal)
- Ethen Erickson, iOL, Colorado State (transfer portal)
- Zeke Correll, iOL, Notre Dame (transfer portal)
- Corey Coley Jr., CB, Maryland (transfer portal)
- Tamarcus Cooley, DB, Maryland (transfer portal)
10) Charlotte 49ers
Total Transfers: 15
Top Offensive Transfer: Jordan Herman, OT
Top Defensive Transfer: Aidan Kaler, LB
The Charlotte 49ers did massive damage early on during the transfer portal circuit this offseason. Charlotte landed some major commitments early on in the process, including both Florida Gators QB Max Brown and OT Jordan Herman.
Herman, a 6’8″, 370-pound mountain of a man, could become an integral piece for Charlotte’s offense. He’s an immovable left tackle prospect who didn’t quite crack the lineup for Florida but showed he can hold his own in limited action during his career.
Cartevious Norton, Justin Olson, and a handful of offensive players come in to help out a Charlotte roster completely void of talent from this past season.
On defense, however, it’s a different story. Multiple Power Five transfers are coming in, but Aidan Kaler deserves the highest praise.
The two-year starter at Stony Brook comes to Charlotte with three-down ability and a track record of dominance. He’s a terrific pass rusher but shines in coverage. He’ll patrol the middle of the field and is a great run stuffer.
Charlotte’s Transfer Portal Class, 2024
- Max Brown, QB, Florida (transfer portal)
- Cartevious Norton, RB, Iowa State (transfer portal)
- Justin Olson, WR, Middle Tennessee (transfer portal)
- Mitchell Mayes, OT, Clemson (transfer portal)
- Jordan Herman, OT, Florida (transfer portal)
- Jordan Spasojevic-Moko, iOL, Texas A&M (transfer portal)
- Mo Clipper Jr., iOL, Tennessee (transfer portal)
- Donovan Spellman, EDGE, Appalachian State (transfer portal)
- Xavier Simmons, LB, Missouri (transfer portal)
- Aidan Kaler, LB, Stony Brook (transfer portal)
- Anthony Romphf, CB, Western Michigan (transfer portal)
- CJ Clinkscales, CB, Boston College (transfer portal)
- Sammy Anderson, CB, Cincinnati (transfer portal)
- Treyveon McGee, S, Iowa State (transfer portal)
- Eltayeb Bushra, S, Fairmont State (transfer portal)
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football’s transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!