College football’s first transfer portal window, in December, saw over 2,700 football players enter the portal looking for new schools in 2023.
The spring window opened April 15, and although the portal hasn’t flooded the way it did over the winter, there are some big names making moves.
Spring competitions are playing out, rosters are still being molded and coaches are always looking to add talent to the depth chart, so these next few weeks will give them an opportunity to do just that.
We look at the top players who have entered the portal this month seeking to find new landing spots for the 2023 season. The rankings will be adjusted as new players enter their names into the portal.
coverage:
Transfer takeaways and trends to watch
Ranking the top 10 transfer classes
Winter portal winners and losers
Transferring from: Georgia
HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 335 pounds | Class: Freshman
Background: Alexander was the No. 56 prospect overall in the 2022 class and the No. 5 defensive tackle. After signing with Georgia out of IMG Academy, he had nine total tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks (including one in the national championship game) in his freshman season. He is a talented interior lineman who should have plenty of options.
Transferring from: Wyoming
HT: 6-6 | WT: 318 | Class: Sophomore
Background: Pregnon redshirted during the 2021 season but was named the starter at right guard in the 2022 season, not giving up a sack in 11 games. He already has seen a ton of interest, including offers from Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, LSU, Miami, Tennessee, Penn State, Arizona State, Auburn and Kentucky.
Transferring from: Florida State
HT: 6-4 | WT: 245 | Class: Redshirt sophomore
Background: McLendon has played in every game for the Seminoles over the past three seasons. In 2022, he had 12 starts, 37 tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He has 61 total tackles throughout his career, along with 12.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Transferring to: California | Transferring from: San Diego State
HT: 6-0 | WT: 210 | Class: Senior
Background: McMorris is a two-time All-Mountain West selection and a two-year starter for San Diego State. He was the conference’s co-defensive player of the year, and he has had five interceptions and 151 total tackles over the past two seasons.
How he fits at Cal: He is a tall corner who can help the defense immediately. He has experience and has shown to have a nose for the ball, so this was a big get for the Bears.
Transferring to: Texas A&M | Transferring from: Boston College
HT: 5-11 | WT: 177 | Class: Senior
Background: DeBerry played in seven games during his freshman season in 2019 then saw action in 11 during the 2020 season and registered 44 total tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception. He had two picks during the 2021 season and was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2022 with one interception and 50 total tackles.
How he fits at Texas A&M: DeBerry is a welcomed addition to a Texas A&M program that has seen 26 scholarship players enter the transfer portal since December. DeBerry will join a revamped secondary that also will include cornerback Tony Grimes from North Carolina and Florida State defensive back Sam McCall.
Transferring from: Houston
HT: 6-4 | WT: 305 | Class: Sophomore
Background: After redshirting in 2020, Johnson played in 13 games during the 2021 season as a backup guard. He started as a sophomore in 2022 at left guard and was named a first-team All-AAC player. Johnson did not allow a sack in 11 games this past season. Now he has Southern California, Colorado and Missouri among the teams after him.
Transferring from: Texas A&M
HT: 6-6 | WT: 330 | Class: Freshman
Background: Wykoff was a three-star prospect in the 2021 class out of Texas’ Magnolia High School. He redshirted his first season then played in 12 games at center after Bryce Foster suffered a knee injury. Wykoff has three years of eligibility remaining and valuable experience playing this past season.
Transferring to: BYU | Transferring from: Oklahoma State
HT: 6-7 | WT: 325 | Class: Junior
Background: Etienne started his career at Kansas’ Fort Scott Community College. Then it was on to Butler Community College, also in Kansas, and eventually Oklahoma State. He started all 13 games last season for the Pokes at left tackle, and he already has committed to BYU to play next season.
How he fits at BYU: The Cougars already have a starting left tackle in Kingsley Suamataia, so Etienne could move over to the right tackle spot and compete for that job.
Transferring from: TCU
HT: 6-1 | WT: 190 | Class: Freshman
Background: Hudson was the No. 58 prospect in the 2022 cycle and the highest-ranked commit in the Horned Frogs’ class. He originally committed to Oklahoma then decommitted and picked SMU. He decommitted again and signed with TCU out of high school. Hudson had 14 receptions for 174 yards and three touchdowns this past season, and he still has three years of eligibility remaining.
Transferring from: Southern California
HT: 5-11 | WT: 180 | Class: Junior
Background: Bryant played in five games during his freshman season in 2020 and had seven receptions for 51 yards. He then broke out in 2021, finishing third on the Trojans in receiving yards (579) and tied for the most receiving touchdowns (seven). USC then brought in wideout transfers Jordan Addison, Mario Williams and Brenden Rice for the 2022 season, resulting in Bryant’s production dipping. He took a redshirt to preserve some eligibility, and Bryant is now on the transfer market. Texas A&M, Oregon, Arizona and Miami have all been mentioned for his commitment.
Transferring from: Jackson State
HT: 6-1 | WT: 225 | Class: Junior
Background: Prior to joining Jackson State, Davis was a first-team junior college All-American and won a national championship at Kansas’ Hutchinson Community College. He then played at Middle Tennessee State in 2021 and had 68 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. In the 2022 season, he was third on the Jackson State team in total tackles with 58 and tallied 7.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Transferring from: Virginia
HT: 6-1 | WT: 205 | Class: Senior
Background: Kelly played in all 12 games last season for North Carolina, for which he had 49 total tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. He then entered the transfer portal this offseason and chose Virginia; however he reentered the portal after Virginia’s spring game.
Transferring from: Colorado
HT: 5-10 | WT: 185 | Class: Junior
Background: Reed has played in 12 games in back-to-back seasons for Colorado. He had two interceptions, 42 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 2022. Reed also broke up six passes and held opposing quarterbacks to a 48.9% completion percentage when he was the primary defender.
Transferring from: Texas
HT: 5-10 | WT: 163 | Class: Sophomore
Background: Thompson was the No. 143 prospect in the 2022 class out of Spearman, Texas. He ran a 10.38-second 100-meter dash as a high school junior and had offers from some major programs, including Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Oregon. He played in nine games this past season for the Longhorns and had one catch for 32 yards.
Transferring to: Texas | Transferring from: Minnesota
HT: 6-2 | WT: 300 | Class: Junior
Background: Carter started 11 of the 12 games during the 2021 season and posted 21 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack. He started all 13 games this past season, with 19 total tackles, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten player in 2022.
How he fits at Texas: The Longhorns are losing a few defensive tackles to the NFL, but there is still depth with Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II. Carter should be able to work into that rotation and provide help up front for a Texas defense that allowed just 123 rushing yards per game in 2022, second in the Big 12.
Transferring from: Jackson State
HT: 5-9 | WT: 204 | Class: Redshirt sophomore
Background: While with Delaware State, Wilkerson led the MEAC in carries (220) during the 2021 season. He had 848 yards and eight touchdowns on the season and was named first-team all-conference. With coach Deion Sanders and Jackson State in 2022, Wilkerson led the team with 1,167 rushing yards and also had nine touchdowns
Transferring from: Cincinnati
HT: 6-4 | WT: 245 | Class: Junior
Background: Thomas was a three-star recruit in the 2020 class who played in four games as a true freshman then was a role player on Cincinnati’s College Football Playoff team in 2021, recording 23 total tackles in 12 games. With an increased role in 2022, he ranked third in the team in total tackles (70) and also recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Transferring from: Utah State
HT: 6-4 | WT: 225 | Class: Junior
Background: Vaughns transferred to Utah State from Texas and played in all 14 games during the 2021 season for the Aggies. He had 43 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He followed that up with 56 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2022. He is a versatile player who has proven production and should have quite a few options.
Transferring from: Texas
HT: 6-3 | WT: 210 | Class: Freshman
Background: Brown was the No. 187 recruit overall in the 2022 class and the No. 18 outside linebacker. He picked the Longhorns over offers from Texas Tech, Baylor and many other Power 5 programs. He didn’t see game action in his first season, as he redshirted, so he still has four years of eligibility remaining.
Transferring from: North Texas
HT: 6-3 | WT: 230 | Class: Redshirt freshman
Background: Gumms was a three-star prospect out of high school in the 2021 class and signed with North Texas. He played in 14 games during the 2022 season and had 458 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Gumms already has received offers from Oregon, BYU, Colorado, Arkansas, Utah, West Virginia and a handful of others.
Transferring from: Appalachian State
HT: 6-3 | WT: 285 | Class: Redshirt freshman
Background: Everett took a redshirt year in 2021, his first season on campus, then started six games at center for App State in 2022. He played in 10 of 12 games and allowed just one sack all season. He already has received offers from Louisville, Colorado, Cincinnati, UNLV, Oklahoma, Illinois, Maryland and Virginia Tech.
Transferring from: Georgia
HT: 6-1 | WT: 205 | Class: Junior
Background: Blaylock had 18 receptions for 310 yards and five touchdowns in his first season in 2019. He missed the 2020 season with a knee injury then recorded two receptions in four games during the 2021 season and 15 receptions for 227 yards and one touchdown in 2022.
Transferring from: Oregon
HT: 6-0 | WT: 165 | Class: Redshirt freshman
Background: Tucker was the No. 137 prospect in the 2022 class and the No. 8 recruit in the state of California. He signed with Oregon and played in one game before taking a redshirt season. Tucker, who ran a 11.05-second 100-meter dash in high school, still has four years of eligibility remaining.
Transferring from: Alabama
HT: 6-5 | WT: 250 | Class: Redshirt freshman
Background: Brown was a four-star prospect in the 2022 class out of Dayton, Ohio, and signed with Alabama. He took a redshirt this past season, so he still has four years of eligibility remaining.
Transferring from: Oregon State
HT: 6-3 | WT: 209 | Class: Junior
Background: Nolan threw for 2,677 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the 2021 season. He played in five games during the 2022 season and threw for 939 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions on 111 attempts, as Ben Gulbranson took over the starting role midway through the season. The Beavers also added DJ Uiagalelei from Clemson via the portal during the winter.