The transfer portal continues to change college football, and several big names have entered from the ACC.
The ACC is losing two of the conference’s better quarterbacks to the transfer portal, as well as some key talent from defensive lines. Who else makes up the top 10 ACC players in the portal?
Top ACC Transfer Portal Departures in 2023
Find all other top transfer portal departures from each conference around the country: AAC | Big Ten | Big 12 | CUSA | MAC | Mountain West | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt
10) Bangally Kamara, LB, Pitt
Bangally Kamara has been a starting linebacker in 21 games for the Panthers in the past two seasons and has been incredibly productive and consistent.
Over the past four seasons, Kamara has 117 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, nine passes defended, and an interception. Expect him to close out his collegiate career at a more competitive school.
9) George Pettaway, RB, North Carolina
After not being featured heavily and redshirting in 2023 behind Doak Walker Award Finalist Omarion Hampton, George Pettaway has decided to search for a new start.
MORE: CFN’s 2023 All-Transfer Portal Team
Pettaway did play in his freshman season in 2022 — seeing the field in 11 games — finding 93 yards and two touchdowns. However, Pettaway decided to redshirt in 2023 to protect his eligibility and struggled to see the field.
With three years of eligibility remaining, the four-star recruit won’t be short on offers.
8) Samuel Okunlola, DL, Pitt
Samuel Okunlola is also one of the top defensive linemen in the transfer portal. Okunlola has had visits with some big programs and is expected to transfer to a competitor in 2024.
Okunlola decided to enter the portal as a redshirt freshman after enrolling at Pitt early. He led the team with five sacks in 2023, impressive as he only started the final four games of the season. Okunlola is one of the top 10 defensive ends available in the transfer portal.
7) Aeneas Peebles, DL, Duke
Aeneas Peebles is another Blue Devil who has opted to enter the transfer portal after Mike Elko left for the Aggies. Entering as one of the top players available at his position, Peebles is expected to be highly recruited.
The former Duke lineman is coming off the best season of his career after registering four sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.
6) Bless Harris, OT, Florida State
With one year of eligibility remaining, Bless Harris has also entered the transfer portal for a second time. Harris originally transferred to Florida State before the 2022 season from Lamar.
During his time at FSU, Harris has been hindered by injuries. After being injured in the first game of the 2022 season, he ended up missing the rest of the season. While he did come back and play 390 snaps, starting five games in 2023, he was still suffering the impact of injury.
5) Kyle Kennard, DE, Georgia Tech
Kyle Kennard has chosen to play his senior season away from Georgia Tech and was one of the top defensive linemen in the ACC. The Atlanta native and three-star recruit is now on the move.
The 6’5” 238-pound defensive linemen led the Yellow Jackets with six sacks in 2023 while also putting up an inception and two forced fumbles. He has 12.5 sacks in his four-year career with Georgia Tech.
4) Andrew Mukuba, S, Clemson
Andrew Mukuba is expected to be one of the top safeties recruited out of the transfer portal.
It was anticipated that Mukuba would turn pro and enter the NFL Draft. However, he didn’t have a great year in 2023. Clemson asked a lot of him, even as a cover cornerback at times, and Mukuba now looks to take his services elsewhere.
Despite his least productive season with the Tigers, Mukuba’s talent is easy to see. He has 31 starts in his last three seasons at Clemson and recorded 42 tackles this season.
3) R.J. Oben, DE, Duke
Instead of turning pro, R.J. Oben has opted to enter the transfer portal and play his sixth year of college football in 2024.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
The Duke defensive lineman had five sacks during the 2023 season and was expected to be drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. He had even accepted an offer to participate in the Senior Bowl.
Oben’s production has been consistent, with 14 sacks over the last three seasons. With NFL attention, Oben will be one of the most converted defensive linemen in the transfer portal and is expected to land with a blue-chip program.
2) Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami
Tyler Van Dyke is one of the most prominent quarterbacks to enter the transfer portal this season.
The former Miami QB had a fantastic start to his career but has struggled to match the same level of production recently. Van Dyke was even benched during the 2023 season. While he later returned as the starter, Van Dyke is looking for a new home and should have plenty of interest in his services.
1) Riley Leonard, QB, Duke
Next School: Notre Dame
After being named as a potential top quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft before the season started, Riley Leonard has entered the transfer portal. It’s no surprise that he is one of the top quarterbacks available.
Duke raced out to a 4-0 record before Leonard suffered an injury that hampered the rest of his season. They ended the season 7-5, and the Blue Devils lost their head coach, Mike Elko, to Texas A&M. This had led to an exodus of talent at Duke, including Leonard.
Leonard is one of the top players in the portal and had attention from programs such as Ohio State before transferring to Notre Dame officially.