Transfer season is in full swing in college football, again, and some standout players are already on the move.
The portal officially opened Monday and closes on Dec. 28.
Players on teams that compete in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff and later bowl games will be allowed to enter an additional five-day transfer portal window in January after the portal closes.
Let’s take a look at the players who are testing the waters and transferring.
Boise State QB Malachi Nelson enters portal
After spending the 2024 season at Boise State and the 2023 season with the USC Trojans, Nelson is entering the transfer portal once again, according to ESPN. Nelson threw just 17 passes this season with the Broncos, who are the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos to Florida State
Castellanos, who announced his intention to hit the transfer portal on Nov. 14, has found a new school. The quarterback told On3 that he has committed to Florida State. Castellanos was Boston College’s starter this year until he lost his job to Grayson James with three games left in the season. Florida State went 2-10 and struggled with injuries and poor play at quarterback this season. The Seminoles hired Gus Malzahn, Castellanos’ one-time coach at UCF, as their new OC.
Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman to Houston
Weigman, a highly touted recruit in the Class of 2022, announced his commitment to Houston on Dec. 11. Weigman began the season as the Aggies’ starter, but injuries and inconsistent play led to Marcel Reed taking over at QB. The redshirt sophomore went 9-4 in two seasons at Texas A&M, including a 4-1 record this year. In six total games in 2024, he threw for 819 yards and three scores, while also tossing five interceptions. Houston went 4-8 in 2024 and started Donovan Smith and Zeon Chriss at quarterback.
Alabama QB Dylan Lonergan
Lonergan, a former four-star recruit, is entering the portal, according to On3. Across his two seasons at Alabama, Lonergan appeared in just three games, throwing a combined eight passes. The Crimson Tide is 9-3 and didn’t make the College Football Playoff.
Tulane QB Darian Mensah to Duke
Tulane’s emerging star signal-caller is off to Duke, according to ESPN. In what was the redshirt freshman’s first season under center, Mensah led the Green Wave to a 9-3 record and an AAC Championship Game berth. Mensah totaled 2,723 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, six interceptions and a 166.7 passer rating this season, while completing 65.9% of his passes. Mensah’s passer rating and completion percentage led the AAC. He replaces outgoing quarterback Maalik Murphy, who has guided Duke to a 9-3 mark this season.
USC WR Duce Robinson
Robinson, a sophomore receiver who also played for the USC baseball team, is headed for the portal, per On3. Robinson was 247Sports’ highest-rated tight end in the class of 2023 and the highest-rated recruit from his home state of Arizona. He hauled in 23 passes for 396 yards and five touchdowns this season for the Trojans. The 6-foot-6 Robinson has two years of eligibility remaining.
Duke QB Maalik Murphy
One year after transferring from Texas to Duke, Murphy is back in the portal, he told ESPN. Murphy won the starting job this season and had a strong year for the 9-3 Blue Devils. He set a school record with 26 touchdown passes and threw for 2,933 passing yards. Murphy also tossed 12 interceptions and rushed for two more scores. The redshirt sophomore will not play in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, when Duke takes on Ole Miss. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke
Van Dyke is entering the portal again, ESPN reported on Dec. 9. He arrived at Wisconsin ahead of the 2024 season after transferring from Miami (Fla.), where he won ACC Rookie of the Year in 2021. Wisconsin hoped Van Dyke would bring stability to its quarterback position, but his 2024 season came to an end after two-plus games when he tore his ACL in Week 3. Van Dyke has one more season of eligibility remaining.
Ohio State QB Devin Brown
Brown announced his intention to enter the transfer portal in a social media post on Dec. 8, saying he intends to stay with the Buckeyes through the CFP. Brown lost a close QB competition to Kyle McCord in 2023 and was relegated to a back seat again when the Buckeyes brought in Kansas State transfer Will Howard for 2024. For 2025, Ohio State has a crowded quarterback room that includes Julian Sayin, who was the top-rated recruit nationally in the 2024 class.
Western Kentucky QB TJ Finley
Finley has announced he intends to enter the portal for the fifth time. He previously played for LSU, Auburn and Texas State. Finley was named the WKU starter earlier this season, but he was sidelined with a leg injury in early September and never reclaimed the starting role. In three games, he threw for 490 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Michigan RB Cole Cabana
Cabana, a sophomore running back from Dexter, Michigan with three years of remaining eligibility, intends to enter the portal. The former four-star recruit has struggled with injuries and playing time in his two seasons with the program. Cabana finished his Michigan career with just two career carries for six yards, both of which came in 2023.
Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold
Arnold is throwing his hat into the portal ring. A former five-star recruit, Arnold was Oklahoma’s primary QB this season. He was benched after four weeks, though he later regained the starting job. OU went 5-5 in games that Arnold started. The sophomore signal-caller totaled 1,421 passing yards, 12 passing scores, three interceptions and a 124.8 passer rating, while completing 62.6% of his passes. He also rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns.
Iowa QB Cade McNamara
McNamara is on the move again, announcing that he plans to enter the transfer portal when it officially opens. This will mark the second time that McNamara has entered the portal. He transferred to Iowa from Michigan following the 2022 season. Iowa hoped McNamara would elevate its offense, but he tore his ACL five games into the 2023 season. He struggled in 2024, throwing for just 1,017 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games. He missed the team’s final four games of the season. McNamara previously helped Michigan win the Big Ten in 2021 before losing the starting job to J.J. McCarthy the following year.
Stanford QB Ashton Daniels
Stanford’s top quarterback will be looking for a new school. Daniels, who started nine games this season, confirmed to On3 that he intends to enter the portal. In 11 appearances this season, he threw for 1,700 for 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Daniels also led the Cardinal in rushing with 148 carries for 669 yards and added three touchdowns on the ground. The junior has one year of eligibility left. Daniel’s backup, Justin Lamson, is also transferring.
Michigan WR Tyler Morris
The Wolverines’ leading wideout in 2024 is planning to leave, he announced on Dec. 3. Morris paced all Michigan receivers with 23 catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns, though he ranked behind tight end Colston Loveland in each category. Those aren’t big numbers, but Michigan averaged just 133.6 yards per game (No. 130 in the nation) as it struggled to find a QB to replace McCarthy, Morris’ high school teammate. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
USC QB Miller Moss
The 22-year-old will enter the transfer portal when it opens, he announced on Dec 2. “I really enjoyed my time at USC,” Moss told ESPN in a separate statement. “It was transformative for my life as a whole and for me growing up for the last few years. I’m thankful. I gave that program everything I had. There comes a point where there’s a time to move on to new opportunities, and I’m hoping to better myself as a person and a player.” After spending two years as Caleb Williams‘ backup, Moss opened the 2024 season as USC’s starter. He completed 64.4% of his passes for 2,555 yards, 18 scores and nine picks in the regular season before losing the starting job in November.
Liberty QB Kaidon Salter
Liberty’s starting quarterback announced that he plans to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 2. Salter won the 2023 Conference USA MVP when he led Liberty to the Fiesta Bowl. He’s totaled 7,900 yards and 77 touchdowns over his college career and has one season of eligibility remaining.
FIU QB Keyone Jenkins
FIU’s standout signal-caller announced that he plans to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 2. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Texas Tech WR Micah Hudson
Hudson announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 1. Hudson was the 25th-ranked overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class but had an underwhelming freshman season. He has three seasons of eligibility left.
FIU WR Eric Rivers
Rivers announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 1. Rivers was statistically one of the best wide receivers in the country in 2024, finishing fourth in receiving yards (1,172) and receiving touchdowns (12).
North Carolina State WR Kevin Concepcion
The talented NC State wide receiver announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 1. Concepcion won ACC Rookie of the Year and was named a freshman All-American in 2023.
Georgia CB Julian Humphrey
Humphrey, a third-year sophomore, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 1. Humphrey’s announcement came at an unusual time, as Georgia is set to play in the upcoming SEC Championship Game. Humphrey was one of the Bulldogs’ starters for the first 10 games of the season before being benched.
Virginia QB Anthony Colandrea
Colandrea announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 1. The sophomore started the first 11 games of the season for Virginia before being benched in its regular-season finale with bowl eligibility on the line.
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