The rise of the college football transfer portal as a roster-building tool cannot be overstated as vast percentages of the sport’s rosters consist of veterans from other schools, and with so many impactful players on the transfer market every offseason, sometimes a budding star slips through the cracks. For example, it was just last year that rising Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones flew under the radar as a three-star prospect and flourished as a dual-threat weapon for the Hokies.
The highest-rated players in the portal receive top billing for a reason, given that they typically have years of productive experience on their résumés or boast tremendous ceilings as former blue-chip recruits. But some emerging depth options, standouts at the Group of Five and FCS levels and modestly successful starters reach similar heights.
Ohio State, Washington and Colorado headline the teams that may have found diamonds in the rough during the 2024 transfer cycle. Other players like veteran quarterback KJ Jefferson could turn heads this fall, as well.
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Here are 10 under-the-radar transfers with star potential for the 2024 season:
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 89 Rating | No. 197 Overall | No. 27 QB
Former School: Arkansas
KJ Jefferson is a transfer portal sleeper who could shine with his fresh start at UCF. His dual-threat ability is a perfect match for the Knights’ offensive system, which prominently featured running quarterbacks in recent years. Jefferson, like the entire Arkansas team, took a step backward last season in a disappointing campaign, but he is ultra-experienced as a sixth-year player and has two good years on his résumé. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC at his peak. The bounce-back potential as a premier Big 12 quarterback is real.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 89 Rating | No. 297 Overall | No. 23 LB
Former School: Tennessee
The reigning tackle leader at a prominent SEC program winding up the following season at the Group of Five level is a striking development, and it is one that benefits Memphis greatly. Elijah Herring hit the portal after starting the final 12 games for Tennessee in replacement of the injured Keenan Pili, but with the latter back for 2024, Herring’s path to playing time was not as clear as it was for most of his breakout campaign. Herring garnered significant Power Four interest on the transfer market but stayed close to home with his commitment to Memphis.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 89 Rating | No. 246 Overall | No. 43 WR
Former School: Florida Atlantic
Colorado already had great talent at the top of its receiving corps in Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr., and incoming transfer Will Sheppard has WR1 upside, further crowding the room. How, then, does LaJohntay Wester factor into the potentially elite aerial attack? The size of his role remains to be seen, but the Buffaloes need to get the ball in his hands one way or another. Wester is an All-American punt returner and reigning first-team All-AAC selection at wideout. His explosiveness and top-end speed should be a huge weapon for Colorado on both offense and special teams.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 88 Rating | No. 369 Overall | No. 28 Edge
Former School: Gardner-Webb
In order for an FCS standout to thrive at the FBS level, he has to first truly dominate the lower subdivision. Ty French did just that during a thrilling career at Gardner-Webb in which he hauled in All-American honors over each of the last three seasons. West Virginia returns a terrific offense but needs greater production on the other side of the ball, and French promises to deliver as a starting pass rusher. He broke his former school’s career records for sacks (34.5) and tackles for loss (61) in just three years.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 89 Rating | No. 195 Overall | No. 37 WR
Former School: Boise State
Eric McAlister was about as productive of a wide receiver on a per-game basis as any in college football last year as he racked up 47 catches for 873 yards and five touchdowns across nine games. He shined with a 160-yard outburst in his best contest. But his decision to opt out of the final quarter of the regular season kept him somewhat under the radar entering his transfer portal recruitment. McAlister returned to his home state of Texas to play for TCU — a team with which he completed an outstanding spring camp.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 88 Rating | No. 366 Overall | No. 36 QB
Former School: New Mexico State
Diego Pavia still has work to do before he even secures the starting quarterback job at Vanderbilt given that he did not arrive on campus in time for spring practices, but all signs point to the former New Mexico State standout getting the keys to the offense. There is a major difference between Conference USA and the SEC in terms of defensive competition, but Pavia is the reigning CUSA Offensive Player of the Year and has a dual-threat skillset that could carry over nicely to the power conference level. His former head coach, Jerry Kill, will aid in his transition as a Vanderbilt consultant.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 89 Rating | No. 203 Overall | No. 20 RB
Former School: Georgia State
Missouri already hit a home run with one transfer running back under Eli Drinkwitz’s watch, turning Cody Schrader into a Heisman Trophy vote-getter last season. The Tigers might have found their next backfield standout from the portal, as well, in former Georgia State star Marcus Carroll. Soon to be a fifth-year contributor, Carroll ranked among the national rushing leaders all season and closed the 2023 campaign ranked sixth in the FBS at 112.5 yards per game.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 89 Rating | No. 193 Overall | No. 20 DL
Former School: Harvard
The Ivy League to the ACC is a major transition but one in which Thor Griffith could thrive. He raked in national honors in each of his three seasons at Harvard and had the makings of an NFL prospect despite playing at the FCS level, and he now has a bigger stage on which he can prove himself to pro scouts. Griffith was a finalist in 2021 for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top FCS freshman in the nation, and he picked up first-team All-Ivy League honors each of the last two seasons to go with All-American recognition as a senior.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 89 Rating | No. 255 Overall | No. 46 WR
Former School: California
This is the second-straight season in which California lost its leading receiver to the transfer portal, and Washington is the beneficiary as Jeremiah Hunter joined the program in the winter. The Huskies lost its top three receivers to the NFL, and in turn, the Hunter addition is a key step in reloading their prolific offense and preventing a major dropoff in 2024. He may immediately be the top target on this vastly revamped roster. Hunter paced the Golden Bears last season with 62 catches for 703 yards and seven touchdowns, bringing his career tallies to more than 2,000 yards and 13 scores.
Transfer Profile: 3-Star | 89 Rating | No. 202 Overall | No. 16 TE
Former School: Ohio
Will Kacmarek first has to battle longtime backup and role player Gee Scott Jr. for the starting job, but if he becomes the featured option of the two, he will have massive shoes to fill with Cade Stover off to the NFL. The Ohio State tight end room is no stranger to elite weapons, and while expectations for Kacmarek are much more modest, he could still thrive as he continues on a steep upward trajectory. The former defensive line recruit transitioned to tight end at Ohio, thrived in the MAC and could now shine in the Big Ten.
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