Most college football fans and analysts focus on the Power Four programs, sometimes neglecting the entire sphere of 134 FBS teams and the swathes of outfits beyond the upper tier.
Yet, these FCS-to-FBS transfers could have massive impacts on their new teams in 2024 and are players to know ahead of the upcoming college campaign.
2024 Top 10 FCS-to-FBS College Football Transfer Players
The Quarterbacks
- Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross to UNLV
- Max Brosmer, New Hampshire to Minnesota
- Zevi Eckhaus, Bryant to Washington State
This whole list could comprise QBs, but we’ll save that for another article. However, we’ll at least look at the top FCS-to-FBS transfer QBs here. The three players above should enter the 2024 season as their teams’ starters, with Matthew Sluka having the easiest path.
10) Cameron Broussard, S, Sacramento State to Washington
Standing 6’3″ and 200 pounds, Cameron Broussard is an imposing defender by size alone. Sacramento State deployed him almost evenly in the box, slot, and at deep safety, allowing his suffocating length to impact every level of the field.
Over the last two seasons as a starter, he registered 141 total tackles, four interceptions, and 10 pass breakups. Now at Washington, Broussard has the opportunity to continue his west coast dominance on the Power Four stage.
9) Eli Green, WR, North Dakota State to Iowa State
Eli Green led the Bison with 1,197 all-purpose yards last season, including 118 on the ground and 202 as a kick returner. His 45-877-3 receiving line highlights his downfield ability, as his speed obliterated angles before and after the catch.
With Green bolstering the trio of Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Daniel Jackson, Iowa State quietly has one of the best WR corps in the Big 12.
8) Luke Newman, OT, Holy Cross to Michigan State
Following a four-year career at Holy Cross, Luke Newman is transferring to the school he grew up rooting for as a Michigan native. The 6’4″, 310-pounder started the last three seasons at left tackle, earning multiple All-American and All-Patriot League honors.
He’s projected to kick inside to left guard for the Spartans, where he’ll protect QB Aidan Chiles and pave lanes for RBs Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams and Nathan Carter.
7) Sam Franklin, RB, UT-Martin to Oklahoma
With 315 career carries, 2,129 yards, and 20 TDs across three seasons, with most of those coming in the last two years, Sam Franklin was a sought-after RB in the portal.
He ultimately landed with the Sooners, who lost Daylan Smothers, Marcus Major, and Tawee Walker to the portal themselves. With Gavin Sawchuk returning, Oklahoma now has one of the best RB duos in the conference.
6) Ayden Garnes, CB, Duquesne to West Virginia
Since 2022, Ayden Garnes has produced 84 tackles, seven TFLs, four INTs, 13 PBUs, a forced fumble, and one blocked kick. He earned first-team All-NEC recognition last season, splitting his time between the slot and outside.
MORE: Top 10 Remaining Players in the College Football Transfer Portal
Duquesne played West Virginia in Week 2, and Garnes put on teach tape, allowing zero receptions in his coverage. As a result, it’s not surprising the Mountaineers coveted his services.
5) Dymere Miller, Monmouth to Rutgers
JaQuae Jackson and Isaiah Washington left for the NFL, leaving Rutgers without much in the way of known talent at WR. Monmouth transfer Dymere Miller corrects the issue tenfold, after setting a program record with 90 catches for 1,293 yards and nine TDs and leading the FCS in receiving yards per game (117.5).
Miller has already ingratiated himself with the coaching staff, as offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca said this spring, “We really liked his skill set when we watched his film from Monmouth. In the first two practices, he might be even a little better than I was thinking on the film.”
4) Joey Slackman, DT, Penn to Florida
In 2023, Joey Slackman generated 50 total tackles, 12 TFLs, and four sacks en route to an all-conference selection. He’s quick off the line and can line up at multiple spots along the defensive line, owning the brawler mentality coaches adore upfront. Going from the Ivy League to the SEC won’t be easy, but Slackman has the violent hands and imposing power that will translate.
3) John Pius, EDGE, William & Mary to Wisconsin
John Pius is no stranger to production, racking up 171 tackles, 40.5 TFLs, and 24.5 sacks in four seasons at William & Mary. He earned first-team all-conference honors in each of the last two years and won CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.
Coming off a 72-tackle, 19-TFL, and 11.5-sack breakout sophomore campaign, Pius earned a spot on the 2024 Senior Bowl watchlist and was the only FCS player included on the 2023 Butkus Award watchlist.
2) Anton Juncaj, EDGE, Albany to Arkansas
There are plenty of words to describe Anton Juncaj’s 2023 campaign, but one comes to the forefront: elite. He generated 21.5 TFLs, a program record-setting and FCS-leading 15 sacks, five forced fumbles, and three PBUs.
His All-American nod was well-deserved, as was his attention in the portal. But it was Arkansas that won the lottery and will reap the rewards of Juncaj’s play off the edge alongside Landon Jackson.
1) Aamir Hall, CB, Albany to Michigan
Michigan endured turnover along several key units, including the secondary. Aamir Hall provides instant depth — if not a starter — at the cornerback position. He was an All-American last season, tallying 63 tackles, five INTs, and 10 more PBUs.
KEEP READING: 2024 Top 100 College Football Players
Before joining Albany in 2023, Hall spent three years at Richmond (24 games), where he totaled two INTs and 14 PBUs. Outside of his coverage prowess, Hall is also an effective support run defender, filling space and wrapping up.
Honorable Mentions
- Sheldon Arnold II, S, East Tennessee State to UCF
- Bryce Phillips, CB, Tennessee State to San Diego State
- Micah Sahakian, OT, Cornell to Duke
- Jacob Dobbs, LB, Holy Cross to James Madison
- Jack Burgess, P, Weber State to Texas Tech
- Terrell Allen, EDGE, Tennessee State to Tulane
- Thor Griffith, DT, Harvard to Louisville
- Teddye Buchanan, LB, UC Davis to Cal
- Torricelli Simpkins, OL, North Carolina Central to South Carolina
- Donovan Saunders, CB, Cal Poly to Texas A&M
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