The 2023 NCAA transfer portal is going to be as crucial to roster construction for next season as recruiting is. That’s the nature of the business, especially with a record number of players seeking to swap schools. With the 2023 transfer portal tracker live, we take a look at some of the top college football players who have already made their move.
2023 NCAA Transfer Portal: Top College Football Players on the Move
There’s a plethora of premier talent in the 2023 transfer portal, with some high-profile names already committed. While some of the bigger names are included in our look at the top college football players on the move, we’ve also honed in on some names that are taking the leap from Group of Five programs to either Power Five teams or a program that might be held in a little higher prestige than their current home.
South Carolina TE Jaheim Bell to FSU
South Carolina TE Jaheim Bell was one of the biggest names in the 2023 transfer portal before committing to FSU. An exceptional athlete who tallied 492 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns despite limited usage this year, Bell spurned the NFL to join a Seminoles team trending upwards. Returning quarterback Jordan Travis gets an elite weapon to play with.
Arizona State G LaDarius Henderson to Michigan
Michigan has made an absolute killing in the 2023 transfer portal, bringing in a host of big names, including Coastal Carolina EDGE Josiah Stewart. However, the acquisition of Arizona State guard LaDarius Henderson is extremely exciting for an offensive line that has been consistently one of the best in the nation. Henderson will be a wrecking ball in the Big Ten.
Oregon LB Justin Flowe to Arizona
Justin Flowe is a case study in the unpredictability of high school recruiting. A five-star prospect, Flowe leaves Oregon three years and barely 12 games after arriving. Injury has derailed his college career, but when healthy, Flowe is an absolute force who can take over a game from the LB spot. Arizona makes a significant splash in the 2023 transfer portal.
UNLV RB Aidan Robbins to BYU
UNLV had its most successful season since 2017, and one of the reasons was the play of RB Aidan Robbins. The 6’3″, 230-pound back rushed for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns this fall, his first as a starter. A hot property in the 2023 transfer portal, Robbins chose BYU over a host of other Power Five offers, including UCLA and Syracuse.
Old Dominion WR Ali Jennings III to Virginia Tech
With 106.6 yards per game, Ali Jennings III was one of the most productive WRs in college football this year, despite missing time with injury. One of the hottest properties in the 2023 transfer portal, he instantly becomes one of the top playmakers on a Virginia Tech team that struggled to move the ball through the air this fall.
MORE: Top WRs in the 2023 College Football Transfer Portal
Jennings had as many touchdowns in nine games as the entire Hokies’ passing offense did all season.
Northern Illinois OT Marques Cox to Kentucky
Northern Illinois’ Marques Cox was a star on the 2021 MAC Championship-winning team. You only need to look at the program’s struggles since losing him to injury this year to understand his impact on a team. Kentucky plucked Cox out of the 2023 transfer portal, landing a reliable pass protector for an offensive line that has been extremely porous this fall.
Texas State G Kyle Hergel to Boston College
Boston College was another team struggling to protect their QB this season, although a litany of injuries didn’t help their cause. In grabbing Texas State guard Kyle Hergel out of the 2023 transfer portal, BC adds a nasty, athletic, intelligent, piece on the interior to protect Emmett Morehead. Beating in-conference rivals to his signature is a side bonus.
Penn EDGE Jake Heimlicher to UCLA
Penn EDGE Jake Heimlicher earned first-team All-Ivy League honors in 2022 after a career year, in which he logged 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks. The 6’4″, 245-pound pass rusher has strength and a relentless motor in his pass-rush armory and will get to test his mettle at the Power Five level after being picked up by UCLA in the 2023 NCAA transfer portal.
Cincinnati CB Ja’Quan Sheppard to Maryland
Predominantly a special teams ace and defensive backup for his first three years with Cincinnati, Ja’Quan Sheppard flourished this season. Logging 50 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and 10 PBUs, Sheppard transfers to Maryland as a first-team All-AAC cornerback. Facing Ohio State on Oct. 7, 2023, will prove a high-level test for this underrated jewel of the transfer portal.
USF LB Antonio Grier to UCF
USF’s Antonio Grier saw limited time this season due to a hand injury, and his loss was a huge factor in the Bulls’ struggles this fall. Grier is a force in all phases, with sideline-to-sideline speed, downhill physicality, and coverage fluidity. After losing one LB to the 2023 transfer portal, UCF finds another there as they prepare for their Big 12 transition.
