The transfer portal is in full swing right now, with every team trying to take advantage of the madhouse by pulling talented players to give them a boost going into next season. With all of the talent available, it’s hard to keep track of the best players in the portal with so many names flying in.
Enter CFN’s very own transfer portal rankings for the Sun Belt. Each of these names is familiar to fans within the conference, and many of them will become higher-profile stars if they decide to find a new home in 2024.
Top 10 Sun Belt Transfer Portal Departures in 2023
Find all other top transfer portal departures from each conference around the country: ACC | AAC | Big Ten | Big 12 | CUSA | MAC | Mountain West | Pac-12 | SEC
10) Montavious Cunningham, OT, Georgia State
One of three Georgia State players to make this list, the 6’3″, 305-pound right tackle allowed just two sacks all season and was one of the best offensive tackles in the Sun Belt. Sports Info Solutions charged Montavious Cunningham with just three blown run blocks this season, making the redshirt sophomore a valuable target for any program.
9) Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina
One of the most productive quarterbacks in Sun Belt history, Grayson McCall finished his career at Coastal Carolina with almost 9,000 passing yards and 78 touchdowns.
The rumor mill started to swirl around McCall’s transfer, including his waffling back and forth between NC State and UCF, according to betting odds.
8) Zarian McGill, OC, Louisiana-Monroe
It’s rare to see good centers in the transfer portal, but after ULM head coach Terry Bowden was fired, it makes sense to see Zarian McGill here. McGill did not allow a single sack in over 700 snaps this season and is a talented run blocker.
With over 1,500 snaps under his belt already, McGill could be a nice pickup for his next team.
7) Jordan McCloud, QB, James Madison
The starting quarterback for the wildly successful James Madison Dukes this year, Jordan McCloud did have plenty schemed for him, but he responded well, passing for 3,377 yards and 32 touchdowns. McCloud is on to his fourth school since 2019.
6) Jared Brown, WR, Coastal Carolina
An elite speed threat, Coastal made sure to scheme plays up for Jared Brown to take advantage of him being the fastest player on the field in any game they played. Brown finished 11th in the Sun Belt in receiving yards this year while also rushing for 252 yards on just 15 attempts.
The speedster will be an electrifying playmaker at his next stop.
5) Mikail Kamara, EDGE, James Madison
The Robin to Jalen Green’s Batman, Mikail Kamara was a key cog to James Madison’s defensive success. Kamara’s 36 pressures and eight sacks finished sixth in the Sun Belt this season. He also flashed his ability to stuff the run as well.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
A talented defensive end that can do it all doesn’t often hit the portal, and Kamara is capable of being a Power Five starter.
4) Robert Lewis, WR, Georgia State
Another extremely talented wide receiver in the portal, Robert Lewis is an explosive mover who is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. Lewis finished sixth in the Sun Belt in receiving yards with 877 and tallied seven touchdowns through the air this season.
The talented deep threat should be a top playmaker regardless of where his next stop is.
3) Nate Noel, RB, Appalachian State
The Sun Belt was the deepest conference in the country when it came to running back talent, and Nate Noel was a big part of that. While splitting a backfield, Noel finished eighth in the conference with 786 rushing yards and five touchdowns. A physical rusher with good vision, Noel can be a starting caliber back in a Power Five committee.
2) Marcus Carroll, RB, Georgia State
Next School: Missouri
Carroll was First-Team All-Sun Belt this season and finished seventh in the country in rushing yards. Carroll rushed for 1,345 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, showing excellent burst, physicality, and a do-it-all all skill set with his ability as a receiver.
MORE: All-Transfer Portal College Football Team
Carroll can bring a Jahmyr Gibbs-like season to Missouri in 2024.
1) Caullin Lacy, WR, South Alabama
The best wide receiver in a talented Group of Five haul, Caullin Lacy led all G5 wide receivers in yards in 2023. Lacy does it all on the football field and already had plenty of NFL interest. Lacy’s route-running, speed, hands, and elusiveness in space make him a top-flight wide receiver prospect despite playing in a less-than-stellar passing game.
Lacy should put himself on the national radar in the P5 in 2024 and could contend for the Biletnikoff Award with the right program.