Recruiting Recap: Top 10 Transfer Portal Players
- Liam Donnan
- Mar 21
- 5 min read
Updated: May 27
Per 247 Sports
Since the transfer portal came into effect in 2018, it has only become a more popular tool for college athletes, offering no penalty for those choosing to move schools. In the winter transfer portal, over 2500 football players from the FBS alone entered the portal. Here are the ten best, according to 247 Sports.
1) Isaiah World - OT - Nevada → Oregon
David Calvert - Nevada Athletics
Maybe one of the most appropriately named players in college football, the Nevada transfer stands at a staggering 6’8” 309 lbs. He earned the very rare 5 star transfer rating, after being a 3 star coming out of high school. Oregon gets an immediate replacement for NFL draft selection Josh Conerly in World, who is surprisingly fluid and “bendy” for his frame. He should succeed in Will Stein’s scheme, which likes to get the tackles in space, pulling onside and from the backside. World will be in his last year of eligibility.
2) Damon Wilson II - EDGE - Georgia → Mizzou
Perry McIntyre - ISI Photos - GettyImages
Wilson was one of the highest rated edge rushers in the class of 2023, and spent the past two seasons with Georgia. With no clear path to playing time at Georgia, Mizzou seems like a good choice for Wilson. Like Isaiah World, Wilson also got the rare five star transfer tag, after being a four star recruit leaving high school. Damon Wilson II will have three years of eligibility remaining, after redshirting in 2023.
3) Carson Beck - QB - Georgia → Miami
Maybe the biggest name of the top 10 portal players, Beck was the starting QB for the Bulldogs the last two seasons. Most would agree that there was some regression from Beck from 2023 to 2024, which could be mostly attributed to the loss of star weapons TE Brock Bowers and WR Ladd McConkey, who both went on to the NFL draft. Carson Beck suffered a UCL injury to his throwing arm in the SEC championship game, another interesting aspect of this transfer. Beck committed to Miami one day after entering the portal. Carson Beck is entering his final year of eligibility.
4) Eric Singleton - WR - Georgia Tech → Auburn
A four star transfer prospect, Singleton has put up back to back 700 yard receiving campaigns with the Yellow Jackets. The transfer to Auburn likely lands him in the WR2 role behind outstanding true sophomore Cam Coleman. Singleton offers Oklahoma transfer QB Jackson Arnold another weapon at his disposal. The Tigers receiver room is loaded with talent, in an effort to start putting their elite recruiting efforts together. Singleton will have two years of eligibility remaining.
5) John Mateer - QB - Washington State → Oklahoma
After backing up Cam Ward in 2023, Mateer took the reins of the Cougars high powered offense in a big way. Mateer passed for over 3000 yards, threw 29 touchdowns, and ran for another 826 yards, and 15 touchdowns. He followed his Wazzu offensive coordinator and QB coach Ben Arbuckle to Oklahoma. It will be interesting to see how Mateer fares in his first year as a Sooner, as multiple receivers transfer out, including star Nic Anderson, who left for LSU. Mateer will have two years of eligibility left.
6) Patrick Payton - EDGE - FSU → LSU
The former 4 star recruit had his most productive year in the 2023 season, which saw FSU win the ACC championship. The Seminoles had a disastrous season in 2024, finishing 2-10, which left many seeking greener pastures, and Payton is the best of the bunch. He enters LSU’s defensive line as a veteran presence, and with 16 sacks and 32 TFL on his career. Payton will have one year of eligibility remaining.
7) Duce Robinson - WR - USC → FSU
Robinson was the highest ranked tight end in the class of 2023, and made the switch to receiver upon his arrival at USC. He stands at 6’6”, making him a physical, reliable receiver, who will offer Boston College transfer QB Thomas Castellanos an excellent target. Robinson will be a big part of a FSU offense which will look to completely rejuvenate and turn the team around in year five for Mike Norvell. Duce Robinson will have two years of eligibility remaining for the Seminoles.
8) Nic Anderson - WR - Oklahoma → LSU
QB Garret Nussmeier gets a new WR1 in Nic Anderson, a dominant receiver who missed almost the entire 2024 season due to an injury to his quad. In one season playing, Anderson had almost 800 yards, and got in the end-zone 10 times, including the game winning catch against Texas in the Red River Rivalry, where he introduced himself to the nation. If LSU plans to make a big splash in the SEC, Nic Anderson will be a massive part of it. Brian Kelly's LSU teams have always been known for their dynamic passing attacks, pairing a Heisman candidate QB with a receiver of this caliber should send waves through Baton Rouge. Anderson could have up to three years of eligibility remaining, if he seeks an injury waiver.
9) Xavier Chaplin - OT - Virginia Tech → Auburn
Chaplin had a big rise in his career from his initial 3 star, 109th ranked tackle in the class of 2022, to the 9th overall transfer player by 2025. With this, he naturally takes the jump in competition, from a mid-level ACC team, to the SEC. Fellow transfer, QB Jackson Arnold gets an elite tackle to protect him, while Auburn looks to make an improvement on their 5-7 record in 2024. Xavier chaplin had been injured throughout the 2024 season, and they may linger through spring practice. Chaplin will have two years of eligibility remaining.
10) Dillon Thieneman - SAF - Purdue → Oregon
Thieneman completely slipped through the cracks in the class of 2023, as he was ranked the 74th best safety coming out of high school. He stepped into college, and made an immediate impact, becoming a third team all-American as a true freshman, winning the Big Ten freshman of the year award. Safety was the weakest area of the Oregon defense in 2024, something Thieneman could single handedly fix for Tosh Lupoi and Dan Lanning’s defense. Thieneman has over 200 tackles and 6 interceptions in two years of college football, and has two seasons of eligibility left.
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