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West Virginia football transfer portal tracker

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West Virginia football transfer portal tracker


The transfer portal has become a hot topic across the realm of college football and that has been no different at West Virginia.

Several players have inserted their names into the portal, which is a database that allows other schools to contact them regarding a transfer, and WVSports.com will track it. It’s important to note that because a player is listed in the portal does not mean that they have to transfer out of the program, just that schools can contact them.

Here is a list of the Mountaineers that are currently in the portal exploring the possibility to transfer as well as who has transferred into the program and what it could mean to the current West Virginia football team.

For the purpose of this we will focus mainly on scholarship football players.

TRANSFERRED TO WEST VIRGINIA:

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Scruggs committed to West Virginia over scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, Colorado, UNLV and a number of others. The nickel back recorded 70 tackles and an interception for South Alabama in 2024 and received an offer from the Mountaineers once Rich Rodriguez took over the program. Scruggs started his career at Washburn but did not record any statistics, then moved onto Central Missouri where he played in 11 games and recorded 37 tackles. From there, Scruggs moved onto Hutchinson C.C. where he had 38 tackles and an interception. The Missouri native has one year of eligibility remaining in his college career.

Singleton committed to West Virginia after an official visit to campus. The speedy wide receiver hauled in 64 catches for 639 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also had 23 rushing yards on 6 carries. The Florida native started his career at Akron but also spent time at Hutchinson C.C. He has one year of eligibility remaining in his career.

Young Bear appeared in 32 games during his time at Tulsa but took over a starting role in the final two games of his sophomore season before becoming a starter for all 12 games in 2024 at left guard. The Oklahoma native has played over 1,000 snaps at the college level and has one season of eligibility remaining in his career. Picked West Virginia over a number of other offers once he entered the portal.

Bowie was a standout wide receiver at Martinsburg and out of high school committed to Concord. There he would put together a massive season in 2022 where he hauled in 102 catches for 1,773 yards and 18 touchdowns and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy. Bowie then moved onto Jacksonville State where he spent two seasons and appeared in 17 games. This past season, Bowie appeared in all 14 games and recorded 13 catches for 209 yards. He then elected to enter the transfer portal and returned home for his final two campaigns in Morgantown.

Barrick played 30 games over his three years at Jacksonville State and was primarily used as a blocking tight end with 428 of his total 614 snaps coming in that area. A native of Martinsburg, Barrick hauled in 9 receptions for 102 yards over his career and is coming off a season where he hauled in 6 catches for 70 yards. Barrick committed to West Virginia for the final year of his college career.

Henderson appeared in 10 games over his time at both Texas A&M and Fresno State. The California native had his most productive campaign in 2023 where he completed 53-78 passes for 715 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He also rushed for 104 yards and 2 scores while appearing in five games. Started his career with the Bulldogs where he appeared in five games and completed 5-8 passes for 49 yards. The signal caller has two years of eligibility remaining in his career.

A native of Parkersburg, Traugh spent two seasons at Youngstown State where he redshirted during his first season after appearing in just two games and then put together a strong freshman campaign with with 36 catches for 409 yards and 5 touchdowns across 12 games. That earned him FCS freshman all-American honors and Traugh then entered the transfer portal. Took an official visit to West Virginia in early January and would commit to the football program shortly after. Traugh has three years of eligibility remaining in his college career.

Woods spent only one season at North Carolina after enrolling early with the program as a 2024 four-star recruit. The Georgia native came to North Carolina after racking up 151 tackles, eight sacks, 20 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as a senior which led to a long list of scholarship offers. Woods will have four years left in his career and brings a lot of potential and upside.

Vaughn spent two seasons at Jacksonville State where he started his career as a quarterback before making the move to wide receiver. The Georgia native then proceeded to emerge as the top pass catcher for the Gamecocks and hauled in 49 catches for 804 yards and 5 touchdowns and started nine of 14 games. Vaughn then entered the transfer portal Dec. 16 and took an official visit to Morgantown shortly after. Vaughn would then commit to the Mountaineers giving Rich Rodriguez a big outside option with both speed and elusiveness. He has three years left in his career.

Head spent only one season at Tulane where he made 4-5 field goals and had 77 kickoffs for 4,873 yards and 50 touchbacks. The Illinois native has three years left in his career and committed to West Virginia after an official visit to campus.

Walker spent five seasons at Ut Chattanooga where he was productive across 37 games racking up 147 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 9 passes defended and 4 interceptions. In 2024, the Alabama native recorded 60 tackles, 7 pass breakups, and 4 tackles for loss while playing 749 snaps. West Virginia jumped into the mix with a scholarship offer Dec. 20 and took an official visit Jan. 2. A versatile safety that has played well in space and has one year of eligibility remaining in his career.

Perry spent three seasons at Jacksonville State where he was highly productive in each recording a total of 257 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 passes defended, 6 forced fumbles, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions across 36 total games. The Georgia native earned freshman all-American honors in 2022 where he recorded 72 total tackles and an interception, while this past season Perry had 110 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Perry has experience playing under Rodriguez and has played almost 2,000 snaps in his college career. Committed to West Virginia after an official visit to campus and now has one season remaining in his college career.

Carter spent four seasons with the Gamecocks although he redshirted in his first year without seeing the field. Over the past three seasons, the Alabama native has appeared in 35 total games and recorded 89 tackles, 10 passes defended and an interception. The cornerback followed Rodriguez to Morgantown after taking an official visit and now has one season of eligibility remaining in his college career.

Coats was a first-team all-Mountain West selection in 2024 after a campaign where he posted 41 tackles, 17 passes defended and 4 interceptions while charting elite coverage grades. The Mississippi native spent two seasons at Nevada and in the first recorded 13 tackles, 5 passes defended and an interception. Prior to his time at Nevada, Coats spent time at East Central C.C. where he appeared in 21 games and recorded a total of 47 tackles, with 6 pass breakups, 5.0 sacks and 4 interceptions as a productive piece across the board. Coats visited Morgantown Jan. 8 and committed leaving him with one season of eligibility remaining in his college career.

Golden-Nelson started his career at Memphis where he spent two seasons and appeared in four games prior to transferring to Akron. The Tennessee native then spent three seasons with the Zips where he appeared in 29 games during that time and recorded 66 tackles, 10 passes defended and a pair of interceptions. During the 2024 season, Golden-Nelson recorded 33 tackles, and 7 passes defended. Entered the transfer portal Dec. 17 and received offers from a number of programs prior to making a visit to Morgantown Jan. 7 where he would commit to the program. The experienced cornerback has played 1,060 snaps at the position during his time at Akron and has one season of eligibility remaining in his career.

Makane’ole spent four seasons at LSU where he was on the offensive line in the first three and then made the move to the defensive line in 2024. Over his time with the Tigers, the Florida native appeared across 63 total snaps on offense and 21 on the defensive side of the ball while also seeing time on special teams. The versatile lineman could potentially line up on either side of the ball and has one year left.

Edwards spent the past two seasons with the Panthers where he rushed for 1,557 yards and 11 touchdowns. That included this past season where Edwards rushed for 1,022 yards and 6 scores while catching 12 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. The Florida native also spent one season at Texas San Antonio as well as previous stops at Hutchinson C.C. and Georgia Military College. Edwards entered the transfer portal Dec. 26 after the JUCO ruling and currently has one year of eligibility remaining.

Harrington only spent one season at Washington where he appeared in just eight games and recorded a total of three tackles. But prior to that the North Carolina native was at Oklahoma for three seasons where he redshirted in one and then appeared in 15 games over two years where he recorded 29 tackles and a pair of interceptions. He also started two games at the cheetah position in 2023 prior to a season ending injury. Harrington started his career at Bakersfield College where he was one of the top junior college players in his class after recording 97 tackles and 7 interceptions. One year left.

Wilson spent five seasons with the Rams where he 234 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 9 passes defended, 6 sacks and 2 interceptions during that time. The Colorado native started 25 games the past two seasons and recorded 107 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 3 passes defended in 2023 and 98 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions this past season. Wilson entered the transfer portal Jan. 8 and quickly made the decision to commit. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

Minor spent two seasons with the Penguins where he appeared in just one game. The former in-state product played high school football for Robert C. Byrd and was an Honorable-Mention Class AA selection for his efforts on the field. Minor entered the transfer portal Dec. 28 and received an offer from Marshall but committed to the Mountaineers after a visit with three years remaining in his career.

Martin only spent one season at North Carolina State where he did not see the field and entered the transfer portal where he would commit to West Virginia following an official visit to campus. The Huntington native was a top target of the Mountaineers during his initial recruitment and the first-team all-state selection now finds his way home. Martin has all four years of eligibility remaining and likely will play the interior offensive line.

Davis spent three seasons with the Panther on the field where he is coming off a season where he recorded 56 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack and a pair of interceptions earning first-team all-conference honors at the nickel back position. Over the course of his time at Virginia Union, Davis had a total of 115 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions, 4 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles as a two year starter. The versatile safety could fill a number of roles in his final season of eligibility.

Siders spent four seasons at Wyoming and started 26 of 33 games after redshirting in his first campaign. The Colorado native was productive in his three seasons on the field recording 91 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. That included the 2022 campaign where he had 44 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Siders entered the transfer portal in early December and gives West Virginia a seasoned defensive lineman. He has one season of eligibility remaining in his career.

Crawford has spent five seasons at the college level with four at Arkansas and one at Charlotte. During that time, the Texas native has appeared in 39 career games and made a total of nine starts. The former-four star prospect in 2020 class has played primarily at right tackle over the course of his college career. Crawford initially committed to UCLA after entering the transfer portal Dec. 9 but after an official visit to Morgantown elected to flip his pledge. Crawford has one year remaining in his career.

Brown spent only one season at Charlotte where he started four games and threw for 563 yards with 3 touchdowns and six interceptions. Prior to that Brown spent two years at Florida where he redshirted in his first before completing 19-28 passes for 192 yards. Put together a prolific high school career where he recorded 4,416 passing yards and 68 touchdowns in two seasons at Lincoln Christian in Oklahoma. Brown has two years remaining in his career after committing to the Mountaineers.

Chambers only spent one season with Appalachian State where he appeared in 11 games and recorded a total of 38 tackles, 2 passes defended and an interception. Prior to that Chambers was at North Carolina Central where he spent two seasons. In 2023, Chambers was a first-team HBCU all-American after he recorded 41 tackles, 6 pass breakups, 3 interceptions and a forced fumble. His efforts also was a finalist for the Aeneas Williams Award which is given to the top HBCU defensive back in DII. As a freshman Chambers made 27 tackles and broke up a total of seven passes. The North Carolina native has one year remaining.

Robinson is coming off a massive campaign at Texas San Antonio where he was named American Athletic Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference after recording 43 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. The Virginia native spent four seasons with the Roadrunners where he recorded a total of 110 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and 3 forced fumbles across 43 games. Robinson narrowed his choices down to West Virginia and Virginia Tech prior to committing to the Mountaineers and giving the coaching staff one of the top edge rushers available in the transfer market. The former junior college prospect has one season of eligibility remaining in his college career.

Weimer started his career at the junior college level at Hartnell College where he caught 78 passes for 1,040 yards and 11 touchdowns. He then moved to City College of San Francisco where he had 75 receptions for 1,253 yards and 17 touchdowns. Weimer would sign with UNLV where he appeared in seven games and recorded 26 catches for 278 yards and score. The California native then moved to Idaho State where he had 75 grabs for 1,016 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2024. Weimer should have one year left in his career and is a veteran pass catcher that has been productive at multiple stops.

Clay started his career at the junior college level but then moved onto North Alabama where he spent three seasons and appeared in 29 games during that time with 15 starts. Clay started all 12 of the games during his final season with the Lions where he played a total of 792 snaps and performed well at right tackle. The Cincinnati native has one season of eligibility remaining in his career due to the junior college ruling and committed to the Mountaineers football program during the spring portal window.

Taylor spent only one season with the Mountaineers where he played in the final seven games of the season including one start. He finished that run with 10 tackles and a pass breakup across 147 total snaps. The Georgia native entered the transfer portal and committed to West Virginia with three years of eligibility remaining.

Barnes spent two seasons with the Huskies and was productive in both. During the 2023 campaign, Barnes had 23 catches for 422 receiving yards and five touchdowns with his 18.3 yards per catch leading the team along with the touchdown grabs. The year prior Barnes hauled in 31 catches for 338 yards and four scores. The California native spent two seasons at American River College where he was an all-American in 2022 catching 38 passes for 526 yards and 4 touchdowns and the year prior had 23 catches for 381 yards and a score. Barnes committed to the Mountaineers after an official visit to campus and has one season of eligibility remaining.

Kelly started his career at South Florida where he played in 11 games and recorded 19 tackles before moving onto Georgia Tech where he recorded 36 tackles and then elected to transfer once again to Missouri. The Florida native played in all 13 games this past season and recorded 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. The talented defensive lineman committed to West Virginia following an official visit to Morgantown. Kelly has one season of eligibility remaining in his college career.

Hamilton spent two seasons with the Tar Heels where he redshirted in the first season after appearing in three games with 3 catches for 20 yards. As a redshirt freshman, Hamilton then had 7 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown. Hamilton committed to West Virginia following an official visit to campus April 18-19. The North Carolina native has three years of eligibility remaining in his career.

Bogle has spent three years with the Salukis where he appeared in four games and redshirted and then played in 13 games with one start as a redshirt freshman with 32 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss. But broke out as a redshirt sophomore when Bogle recorded 87 tackles, a conference-best 16.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks and 2 interceptions while starting the final 10 games of the season. Bogle was a Second Team All-MVFC selection and earned honorable mention all-American honors in the process. The Florida native has two years of eligibility remaining in his career after committing to the Mountaineers once the program got involved in his recruitment.

Aisosa enrolled at Oklahoma in January of 2024 but only spent one season with the football program prior to entering the transfer portal. The Oklahoma native has all four years of eligibility remaining and visited West Virginia April 22 which led to his commitment to the Big 12 Conference program. Aisosa is likely an interior option.

Hensley spent four years with the Chanticleers and three as the starting field goal kicker where he connected on 34-43 field goal attempts with a long of 49 in two separate seasons. The Tennessee native entered the transfer portal April 17 and committed to the Mountaineers giving the program a seasoned field goal kicking option. Hensley has one season of eligibility remaining in his college career.

Smith-Brown spent three seasons with South Carolina State where he hauled in a total of 81 catches for 1,196 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Florida native had his most productive year this past season where he had 54 grabs for 749 yards and 4 scores. Smith-Brown took an official visit to Morgantown April 21and then committed to the program giving the Mountaineers a wide receiver with over 1,300 snaps played at the position. Smith-Brown has one year of eligibility remaining.

Agbo spent three seasons with Texas where he served in multiple roles as an offensive tackle, a jumbo tight end and an offensive guard. He entered the transfer portal April 18, and the Mountaineers were able to get him on campus for an official visit and close out his recruitment. Agbo has played 20 games as a blocker during his time with the Longhorns and 32 overall. A former four-star prospect, Agbo has two seasons of eligibility remaining in his career and gives the Mountaineers an athletic offensive lineman option.

Knighton is an experienced running back that has spent five seasons between stops at SMU and Miami, where he began his career. The former four-star prospect was limited to just 43 yards on 12 carries and had 4 catches for 42 yards in a season shortened to just three games in 2024 due to injury but rushed for 745 yards and 7 touchdowns, an average of 5.5 per carry and also made 13 catches for 89 yards and a score the previous year. The Florida native started his career at Miami and appeared in 27 games and rushed for 1,193 yards and 10 touchdowns during that time. Knighton has one season of eligibility remaining in his college career.

McCants spent three years at Jacksonville State under Rich Rodriguez before entering the transfer portal. After a redshirt season, McCants played in 12 games with one catch for 28 yards. Last season, McCants made his biggest impact with 15 catches for 146 yards for the Gamecocks. The Alabama native has experience in the scheme and two years of eligibility remaining in his career.

Lee only remained with Mississippi State for a few months prior to re-entering the transfer portal but immediately became one of the most sought after interior options along the offensive line. Prior to his stint at Mississippi State, Lee was at Eastern Michigan where he made starts at center, right guard and left guard for the Eagles. He started 10 games in 2024 with starts at all three interior spots and six more at center during the 2023 season. Lee started his career at Colorado and has one year left. The Colorado native brings over 1,100 snaps played to the West Virginia offensive line.

Lewis has spent all four years of his career at Akron where he has appeared in 36 total games and recorded 205 tackles, 17 passes defended, 10.5 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions. The Ohio native is coming off a season where he recorded 74 tackles, 7 passes defended and an interception. Entered the transfer portal in April and committed to West Virginia following a series of official visits. Lewis is a versatile defensive back that has spent time at various positions including slot cornerback. Has one year left.

Lewis transferred to UNLV in the winter after four seasons at Mississippi State where he played a total of 365 snaps across 40 games. Over the course of his career Lewis recorded 44 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup and played a number of different linebacker spots during that time. Lewis entered the transfer portal April 21 after previously entering the database in December when he committed to UNLV. Will join the West Virginia football program with one season remaining.

Katzer walked on to Washington State and did not appear in a game after a redshirt year before having six carries for 54 yards the following season. The Washington native spent a season at Citrus College where he rushed for 975 yards and 16 touchdowns. He then transferred to Ferris State where he put together a massive campaign with 1,128 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 8.8 yards per carry. Entered the transfer portal in February and committed to West Virginia after an official visit April 30. Katzer has two years of eligibility remaining.

Haslam spent three years with the Governors where he appeared in 24 games. Haslam started nine games in 2024 at left tackle and the Georgia native entered the transfer portal with two years remaining. Has played multiple positions and is an experienced offensive line option. Committed to West Virginia following an official visit to campus.

Ramper entered the transfer portal April 30 and picked up an offer from West Virginia. From there, Ramper would take an official visit to Morgantown a few days later and ultimately commit to the program. The Pennsylvania product spent three years with the Slippery Rock football program where he appeared in 28 contests and he recorded 74 catches, 1,165 yards and 14 touchdowns. This past season Ramper caught 42 passes for 748 yards and 8 touchdowns. Ramper has one year of eligibility remaining.

Bussell spent two seasons with the Tennessee football program after enrolling in January of 2023. The Tennessee native redshirted during his first year before playing in three games at right guard this past season. After a strong spring with the Volunteers, Bussell elected to enter the transfer portal April 22, and the Mountaineers were able to get him on campus for an official visit. Bussell has three years of eligibility remaining in his career and could potentially play multiple spots up front.

Crutcher spent last season at West Florida where he appeared in ten games and recorded 13 tackles and an interception to go along with 4 pass breakups. Prior to that the Alabama native was at Dodge City C.C. where he recorded 19 tackles and 2 interceptions in 2023 at the junior college level. Crutcher is slated to play cornerback for the Mountaineers and has at least one year remaining in his career.

Grant finished last season with 31 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and a forced fumble. That was a significant jump from the 13 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks that he posted the year prior. The Texas native spent his first three years at Colorado where he appeared in just two games on special teams in 2020 and then played in three games the year after with 13 tackles and 3.0 for a loss. Grant then appeared in 10 games where he had 15 tackles and 2.0 for loss. He entered the transfer portal April 25 and committed to West Virginia following a visit. The key pass rushing target has one season of eligibility remaining in his career.

Ward spent only one season at North Carolina where he appeared in nine games overall and three at the tight end position. The New Jersey native entered the transfer portal April 25 and immediately became a hot commodity given his profile and upside at the tight end position. Ward hauled in 85 receptions for 1,823 yards and 27 touchdowns during his time at the high school level and has three years of eligibility remaining in his college career. He took official visits to both West Virginia and Virginia prior to committing to the Mountaineers.

IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL:

Games: 28

Spells spent three seasons with the West Virginia football program where he appeared in 28 games and recorded 25 tackles, 4 passes defended and an interception. The Florida native elected to enter into the transfer portal following the conclusion of spring football and now has one year of eligibility remaining in his career.

Games: 1

Collins, a Princeton native, spent only one season with West Virginia where he was used on a single snap as a deep threat. The former first-team all-state selection had a senior season where he hauled in 83 catches for 1,897 yards and 27 touchdowns along with 5 more rushing scores. Collins has four years of eligibility remaining.

Games: 12

Collins spent three seasons with the West Virginia football program and did not appear in a game this past season. The one-time safety grew into a linebacker during his time with the Mountaineers but recorded just 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss during his college career with the program. Has two years remaining.

HAS TRANSFERRED ELSEWHERE:

Games: 12

Trotter spent two seasons with the West Virginia football program, but missed the entirety of the first due to injury. As a redshirt freshman, Trotter collected 92 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 0.5 a sack and an interception as one of the best players on the defense. The Pennsylvania native didn’t have any shortage of opportunities and took visits to both Washington and Missouri. Committed to Missouri and still will have three years left in his career.

Games: 30

Donaldson spent three seasons at West Virginia and he rushed for 2,058 yards and 30 touchdowns during that timeframe. The former tight end transitioned to the running back spot and became a very valuable piece to the roster. Donaldson will have one season of eligibility remaining in his college career after committing to Ohio State.

Games: 38

Rimac spent four years with the program and has been a three-year starter at left guard and started 29 games during that time for the Mountaineers. Was set to be the lone returning starter on the offensive line from last year’s unit but elected to enter the transfer portal with one year left in his college career. Committed to Virginia Tech after Matt Moore made the move there.

Games: 22

Ray spent two years with West Virginia where he was thrust into a large role early in his career at the wide receiver position. The Florida native hauled in 46 passes for 747 yards and 8 touchdowns over that time and was leading the program in receiving this past year before an injury cut his year short. Ray has two years left in his career and committed to Mississippi after taking several visits.

Games: 22

Lathan spent three seasons in Morgantown where he emerged as a starter after a redshirt year but appeared in just five games recording 27 tackles and a forced fumble before being sidelined due to injury. Lathan then played in all 13 games this past year where he he recorded 79 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Lathan has two years of eligibility remaining in his career and committed to Kansas.

Games: 23

Clement was a former walk-on for West Virginia that spent three years with the Mountaineers. The Martinsburg native earned a scholarship during his redshirt freshman season and over his two years on the field hauled in 73 catches for 1,221 yards and 9 touchdowns including leading the Mountaineers in 2024 with 51 grabs for 741 yards and 5 scores. The in-state native will have two years remaining after he elected to transfer to Illinois.

Games: 12

Sammarco appeared in all 12 games as a true freshman across 96 snaps and he caught one pass for four yards. He remained with the team through the coaching change and spring ball but was removed from the roster in April. Sammarco has three years of eligibility remaining in his college career and committed to Alabama.

Games: 12

Williams was primarily a reserve over his first two years but displayed plenty of promise, including filling in for Consensus All-American Wyatt Milum at left tackle when he was out. Williams played 240 snaps after a redshirt season and is a massive offensive tackle that won’t hurt for suitors. He has three years of eligibility remaining and committed to head to Missouri as his next college stop.

Games: 0

Terry was only with the West Virginia football program one season and actually entered the transfer portal twice. Terry first did in the winter then elected to return after the coaching change before jumping back into the portal after the spring. The offensive lineman should have all four years of eligibility remaining. Committed to Ohio State.

Games: 11

Farmer appeared in all but two games during his true freshman season where he recorded 6 catches for 54 yards. The Florida native was underutilized in his lone season on campus and entered the transfer portal with three years remaining. Committed to UCF which brings him closer to home.

Games: 0

Altuner spent only one season at West Virginia where he missed the majority due to injury but did make it back by the end of the year. Altuner, a native of Maryland, will have all four years of eligibility remaining in his career. He would follow Matt Moore to Virginia Tech.

Games: 6

Garnes transferred to West Virginia for Duquesne but spent only one season with the program which was cut short due to injury. Garnes recorded 25 tackles and a pass defended and will have one season of eligibility remaining. Committed to Arizona.

Games: 0

Austin only spent one year with the football program and decided to enter the transfer portal. The offensive tackle will have four years left. He followed Matt Moore to Virginia Tech for the next step of his career.

Games: 1

Byerson, the son of former basketball player Brad, spent only one season with the West Virginia football program where he appeared in just one game. Byerson entered the transfer portal after the spring and will have all four years remaining after committing to Boston College.

Games: 8

Crandall arrived at West Virginia after one season at Colorado State but spent only one year with the Mountaineers before entering the portal yet again. Crandall appeared in 11 games and recorded a total of 9 tackles. He will have two years left at his next stop after committing to Oregon State.

Games: 13

Joseph transferred to West Virginia from Northwestern where he put together a solid career with 38 tackles and 3 interceptions which by far his most playing time in his last year with the Wildcats. During his lone year with the Mountaineers Joseph recorded 40 tackles and an interception. The Miami native will have one season of eligibility remaining in his college career after committing to UNLV.

Games: 0

Williams was with the West Virginia football program one season where he did not see the field as a reserve linebacker. The Ohio native has all four years left and committed to Toledo.

Games: 1

Fisher only saw action in one game during his two years with the program and the pass rusher elected to enter the transfer portal after spring practice. Fisher has three years of eligibility remaining in his college career after committing to UTEP.

Games: 1

Dunbar was with the West Virginia football program for one year and left the Mountaineers after one spring with the new coaching staff in place. The South Carolina native had a prolific career at the high school level but was sparsely used in his single season with West Virginia. Has all four years remaining after committing to South Alabama.

Games: 3

The son of former tight end Tory Johnson, TJ spent two years with the program where he redshirted in the first before seeing primarily action on special teams in the second season. The Virginia native bounced back and forth between tight end and wide receiver and now will have three years remaining at Southern Mississippi.

Games: 0

Washington only was with the West Virginia football program one season where he was slotted at cornerback. Elected to exit the program with four years remaining following the conclusion of spring practice. Committed to Bowling Green.

Games: 22

Anderson has spent four seasons with the West Virginia football program where he has had both highs and lows. He finishes his career with 88 rushes for 456 yards and 3 touchdowns to go along with 6 catches for 66 yards. The Ohio native has one season of eligibility remaining in his college career and will play at South Dakota.

Games: 3

Kinsler spent one year with the West Virginia football program where he appeared in three games and recorded a total of two tackles. Kinsler remained with the program when the coaching change occurred but exited once spring ended. The New Jersey native should have all four years remaining in his career after committing to Southern Mississippi.

Games: 0

Onwuka only spent one season with the West Virginia football program where he did not see the field. He has four years of eligibility remaining in his career and could play multiple positions on the defensive line or as an edge rusher. Committed to Coastal Carolina.

Games: 0

Burton transferred to West Virginia after just one season at BYU and would follow the same pattern after just one in Morgantown. The Utah native did not see any game action and now will have three years left after committing to UAB.

Games: 12

Weidman spent three years at West Virginia where he served as a reserve offensive lineman during that time playing a total of 88 offensive snaps. An interior option, Weidman has two years of eligibility remaining after committing to Massachusetts.

Games: 7

Dixon was a late addition to the 2022 class but was never able to make his mark during his time on the field for the Mountaineers. He was used as a reserve tight end as well as on special teams and had one catch for five yards during his career. He has two years remaining in his career and committed to Rhode Island.

Games: 6

Tagaloa-Nelson was a late addition for West Virginia in his recruiting class and remained with the program for two seasons. The safety saw action in five games in the second year and recorded three tackles. Tagaloa-Nelson has three-years left after committing to Eastern Kentucky.

Games: 0

Pascuzzi spent four years at Iowa including a redshirt season. The Kansas native appeared in 22 games primarily as a blocker and recorded 2 catches for 40 yards in his career. Pascuzzi has one year left in his career after committing to West Virginia but spent only the spring with the program before reentering the transfer portal and committing to Tulane.

Games: 4

Jackson appeared in four games as a true freshman as a depth piece at cornerback and special teams and then redshirted in the second. The Ohio native spent the spring with the new coaching staff but then entered the transfer portal joining his brother Josiah who had done so in the winter. Jackson has three years remaining after he committed to Gardner-Webb.

Games: 0

Jackson only spent a few months with the West Virginia football program after enrolling in the winter and then exiting the program in the transfer portal in April. He was recruited by the Mountaineers as a safety. The Huntington native then committed to Marshall and will have his entire complement of eligibility remaining.

Games: 0

Henry only spent a few months with the West Virginia football program after enrolling in January but then departing through the transfer portal at the end of spring. The Florida native has his full eligibility remaining after committing to Coastal Carolina.

Games: 0

Etienne only spent a few months with the West Virginia football program after enrolling in January but left the program following spring practice. Etienne then committed to Marshall as the versatile defensive back will have all four years of eligibility remaining in his career.

Games: 0

Rehmann, like several others on this list, only spent one season with West Virginia and once the new coaching staff took over stayed through the spring only to enter his name into the transfer portal. The wide receiver has four years remaining after committing to Delaware.

Games: 0

Turner spent three years at Catawba where he rushed for 1,961 yards and 20 touchdowns. Turner is coming off a standout season where he accounted for 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging a total of 7.0 per carry and earned all-American honors. It was the first time that Catawba had an all-American at the position. Turner took an official visit to West Virginia Jan. 2 and saw enough to end his recruitment. The Florida native has one year left in his career but reentered the transfer portal after spending only the spring with the football program and eventually committed to Lenoir-Rhyne.

Games: 1

Jackson spent two years with the program where he redshirted after playing in just one game and then did not see the field. The defensive back will have three years remaining at his next stop and recorded just one tackle on the field. Committed to Garden City Community College for the next step in his career.

———-

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Major college football program loses six defensive backs to transfer portal

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A major SEC football powerhouse is undergoing some notable unwelcome change on its roster as it brings on a new coaching regime in time for the 2026 season.

Jon Sumrall is poised to step onto the Florida Gators’ sideline starting next fall, but the transition from Billy Napier to his tenure has already resulted in key personnel losses on the field as players look for an exit via the college football transfer portal.

Exodus from the Swamp

Since the coaching change, the Gators have lost a reported total of 26 players from their roster through the portal, including a stunning six total defensive backs.

The latest was Aaron Gates, the redshirt sophomore secondary defender with plans to depart the Florida program and transfer to another school, according to On3 Sports.

That leaves Sumrall and the Gators without a half-dozen defensive backfield contributors, among the 22 total players who have exited the program already.

Included among that number are two starting safeties in Jordan Castell and Sharif Denson, alongside cornerbacks Teddy Foster, Josiah Davis, and Jameer Grimsley.

Defense is losing a lot

Ten of those outgoing Florida players are on the defensive side of the ball, including defensive linemen Tarvorise Brown and Michai Boireau, linebacker Grayson Howard, and edge rusher Jayden Woods.

High-profile players like quarterback DJ Lagway, a former five-star prospect, and one-time four-star wide receiver hopeful Eugene Wilson are also leaving Florida as transfers.

On the good side, the Gators are set to return corner Dijon Johnson and rising sophomore Lagonza Hayward, who took over Gates’ spot this past season after his injury.

Sumrall will dip into the portal

Sumrall is considered one of the most promising younger head coaches to emerge from the active 2025 coaching carousel, but he will have a tall task ahead of him replacing that outgoing talent.

It doesn’t sound like he’s averse to using the transfer portal to his own advantage.

“We will use the transfer portal. If you’ve studied my rosters the last couple years, I haven’t had the resources to keep very many of my good players. They all end up getting poached,” Sumrall said earlier this month.

“So I’ve had to embrace the transfer portal probably more than most, maybe even more than I’d like to at times, by necessity. But we will use the portal to enhance our team and to supplement where there may be holes or deficiencies.”

Where the Gators ranked defensively

Florida’s defense ranked 10th among the 16 SEC teams this past season against the pass, allowing almost 223 air yards per game on average.

And the Gators were just 12th in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score 24 points per game each time out.

Nationally, Florida’s defense ranked 74th among the 136 FBS teams in passing defense, letting opposing quarterbacks complete nearly 64 percent of their pass attempts.

That figure included allowing 8.0 yards per pass attempt on average, although the Gators stiffened when in scoring position, ranking sixth nationally by surrendering just 13 passing touchdowns all year.

And they were top 20 in FBS when defending the red zone, allowing opponents to convert 75 percent of possessions into points.

How the college football transfer portal works

College football’s transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2, but that hasn’t stopped a flurry of players from entering their names for consideration at a new school right now.

The new 15-day transfer portal window from Jan. 2-16 and the elimination of the spring transfer period has condensed the timeline for players and programs to make their moves.

The NCAA Transfer Portal is a private database that includes the names of student-athletes in every sport at the Division I, II, and III levels. The full list of names is not available to the public.

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams

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5 college football teams under the most pressure during the transfer portal window

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The college football transfer portal officially opens just one day after the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal on Jan. 2, and with just one window, is expected to be as wild as ever.

While the transfer portal isn’t officially open, the NCAA is not only drowning in lawsuits, but also has no way to prevent contact from occurring before the window opens. There have already been plenty of reports linking some of the top names in the portal to other programs despite the fact that they aren’t technically allowed to be in contact.

Regardless of the back-channeling, which is most certainly happening, teams across the sport need the portal for a variety of reasons. Some schools will be using it to completely revamp their roster after a down year, while others are looking for the perfect piece or two to help them make a title push.

Although just about every team in the country has portal needs, five programs stand out among the rest in terms of who is under the most pressure.

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders.

Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders looks on during a time out in the game against the Utah Utes during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Colorado Buffaloes

We are three seasons into the Deion Sanders era at Colorado, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame corner has shown minimal interest in recruiting from the high school ranks. In fact, Sanders has made zero off-campus visits, brought in just 14 recruits in the 2026 class and said he’d be a “fool” to try and recruit 30 freshmen a year since “half” will “probably” leave.

That said, the portal method has drawn mixed reviews, as his first year saw him bring in 52 transfers and go 4-8, just one year after the program’s dreaded 1-11 season.

Year two saw Colorado bring in a 43-man class, go 9-4 and make its first bowl game since 2020, while Travis Hunter won the Heisman. However, this season saw Colorado bring in 33 transfers, but the Buffs took a huge step back, going 3-9.

With Colorado already losing 25 players to the portal in addition to a slew of other upperclassmen, they will need to bring in around 50 transfers. If they miss this group, it very well could mark the beginning of the end for Sanders in Boulder.

Texas Longhorns

As I mentioned earlier, no two programs use the transfer portal in the same manner. While Colorado needs a portal class that can revive the program again, Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns need a portal class that can be the difference between them being left out of the College Football Playoff by a couple of spots, and getting into the dance for the third time in four years.

The Longhorns have already let All-SEC running back Tre Wisner and former five-star running back CJ Baxter walk, while also seeing their linebacker room take a hit with Liona Lefau (transfer portal) and Anthony Hill (NFL Draft) both leaving as well.

Quarterback Arch Manning turned things around at the end of the year, but it was clear that, based on the fact that he was constantly running for his life, had receivers with drop problems and no run support, the team around him wasn’t necessarily helping his case.

Texas started this season ranked No. 1 and came up short of its goal. While the portal isn’t open yet, they are expected to take some massive swings that could be the difference between them not coming up short next year.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Oh, where to begin with Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels. It was already viewed as somewhat of a risk for Belichick to go from being one of the winningest coaches in NFL history to a college game he had never coached in, but this season didn’t instill any confidence in the 73-year-old.

Whether it be behind-the-scenes drama with his 24-year-old girlfriend, or the fact that his team had the No. 110 average scoring margin of -8.9, Belichick found himself on the hot seat after about four games.

It’s truly unclear how long of a leash he has in Chapel Hill, but he does have a guaranteed deal that sees him earn $10 million a year, so a hefty buyout could work out in his favor. However, the best way to ease the tensions and distract fans from his girlfriend’s attempts to trademark everything is to win games.

The Tar Heels have been linked to Bobby Petrino for the offensive coordinator role, and Belichick now knows what he struggled with this season. A good portal class can gain some faith, but another down year filled with shenanigans could mark the end of his legendary career.

LSU Tigers

Much of the pressure here stems solely from Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for the LSU job. The new Tigers head coach led the Rebels to their best regular-season record in program history and their first College Football Playoff appearance, but still couldn’t turn down the opportunity to coach at a blueblood.

Since winning the title in 2019, the Tigers have gone 47-29 and haven’t really come close to making the College Football Playoff. Kiffin won’t be getting very much grace in Baton Rouge from LSU fans, but those around the country are simply waiting for the 50-year-old head coach to fail in order to scold him for leaving Ole Miss.

As we have seen with Kiffin at Ole Miss, the right portal class can get you in the playoff, and that appears to be the immediate expectation. So, anything short of that will already have fans turning on the controversial head coach.

Florida State Seminoles

Whether it was due to money or just how many other programs moved on from their head coach, the Florida State Seminoles opted not to fire Mike Norvell this season. After a 13-1 season in 2023, the Seminoles have gone a combined 7-17 over the past two seasons, and Norvell is on ice that is as thin as it gets.

The Seminoles have relied on the portal for two consecutive years to fill certain positions, but the program’s biggest flaw has been its quarterback evaluations. They whiffed on DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State) and Tommy Castellanos (Boston College) in the portal, and really haven’t found a steady solution at the position since Jordan Travis’ departure.

To put it bluntly, if Florida State has another down year, or even a slow start because of an underwhelming portal class, Norvell will be in the unemployment line.



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College football transfer portal prices: Position‑by‑position ranges surge

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The college football transfer portal will officially open Jan. 2 and with it should come a flurry of activity, big-money deals and roster transformations. 

There is more pressure than ever this time around with the spring portal period disbanded in favor of a sole winter period that runs from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16. It’s why this year’s winter portal could resemble what we see with NFL free agency with many of the best options coming off the board quickly for big money deals. 

“People are going to spend out of the gate — like immediately — your top guys, your best guys, are going to go quick,” said a Big Ten general manager. “Then it’s the rest of them that are asking for money, but at some point they’re going to come down a little bit because the money has already been spent.” 

There was a belief a year ago that with the passing of the House settlement and introduction of the College Sports Commission as an enforcement arm that last year may have been the Golden Age for big paydays. With a $20.5 million revenue share cap and a promise for stricter enforcement of NIL deals, the idea was that prices would come down this cycle as teams could no longer double dip between unlimited collective money and the rev share. For a variety of reasons, however, that hasn’t proven to be the case. 

In some cases, even, prices have doubled. 

Low–High ranges and average compensation by position for the 2026 transfer portal cycle. Averages are marked as dots; some highs are open-ended.
CoPilot

“I feel like the average starter this cycle, the sort of line you have to hit, is $600,000,” said one SEC general manager. “I feel like last year starters’ in our conference were $300,000. Now it feels like starters are more like $600,000.”

What does that look like for the entire market? CBS Sports talked to dozens of sources from agents to general managers to collective leaders to put together value ranges for each position ahead of this window’s official opening. 

Quarterback

High End: > $3.5 million
Average: $1.5 million to $2.5 million
Low End: $750,000 to $1 million

Just like in the NFL where the top quarterbacks account for around 20% of a team’s cap, the best portal quarterbacks this cycle are expected to command a hefty chunk of the pie. 

Top-ranked arms like Brendan Sorsby (from Cincinnati), Josh Hoover (from TCU) and Sam Leavitt (from Arizona State) are expected to reach — and possibly pass — the $3.5 million mark. 

It’s well-documented last cycle’s double dip (teams spending freely before rev-share caps were put into place over the summer) allowed teams to go gangbusters in transfer portal spending, including at QB where Duke made the little-known Darian Mensah famous for a $4 million annual salary. General managers thought there would be a downturn in spending at the position this cycle because of rev-share caps, but that sentiment has changed in recent weeks. 

The best QB in the portal, Brendan Sorsby is set for a monster payday. 
Getty Images

Schools are figuring out creative ways to exceed the rev-share cap, usually through marketing deals the school can find for their high-profile QB1.  

“Six weeks I would have said no way,” an ACC GM said. “In the last six weeks people have figured out ways to construct a contract. You can put 15 deals together to get to $4 million.” 

What 20% of a team’s cap looks like depends on the school. Some Power Four programs will only be at the full revenue sharing max, around $14-18 million for each Power Four football programs. Other big spenders will be at $25 million-plus due to the outside name, image and likeness deals the program manages to generate. 

As for whether it makes sense to pay a quarterback that much, it’s a matter of debate for the general managers we spoke with. 

“Even if you’re at $25 million, are you really going to put 20 percent of your resources into one player?” a Big Ten GM said. “You better hope he’s good. You better hope he’s Fernando Mendoza or Diego Pavia – he has to be or that’s a bad investment.” 

Beyond the upper end of the market, the number required for a quality starter in the portal continues to creep up. Last year, quality-starting QBs could be found in the upper 600s and low million-dollar range. Now the same level of player costs $1.5 to $2.5 million. 

Even high-upside backups who haven’t started are making that sort of ask. 

“I don’t know in the portal if you’re going to get a guy experienced and proven (for) less than $2 million,” a SEC GM said. 

As for the low end of the market, there are some Power Four teams who could choose to go the discount route for a starter, be it a player jumping up from the FCS or Group of Five ranks — there are starters who’ve played a lot of snaps who can be found at that price — or betting on a player who’s shown flashes in short bursts on the Power Four level. 

Running back

High End: > $1 million
Average: $400,000 to $700,000
Low End: $250,000

Similar to the NFL, at the running back spot you’ll see some college teams really prioritize it and others shy away from spending big money. There are multiple running backs this cycle who could command seven figures if they enter the portal such as Louisville’s Isaac Brown and Florida’s Jaden Baugh. The idea of a $1-million plus running back prompted strong reactions.

“If you’re spending a million dollars on a running back, you need a new GM,” said one agent.

Said a Big Ten general manager: “The running back numbers have been absolutely stupid. They don’t make any sense.”

Still, there are those willing to invest major resources in a top running back just like the Philadelphia Eagles did in plucking Saquon Barkley away from the New York Giants or the Atlanta Falcons drafting Bijan Robinson 8th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

“I’m a bigger fan of running backs than the whole trend 10-15 years ago,” said an ACC general manager. “‘Oh don’t ever draft a running back in the first round’. Well, look at all the best ones that ever played. They were all drafted in the first round.” 

Once you get past the top-end running backs, most agree that you can get a good back in the $300,000-$500,000 range. 

Wide receiver

High End: $1 million to $2 million
Average: $500,000 to $800,000
Low End: $300,000 to $500,000

If you want a top receiver out of the transfer portal, be prepared to spend big. Auburn’s Cam Coleman could be in the $2 million range, predicted one Big Ten general manager. Coleman is ranked as the No. 1 overall transfer in Cooper Petagna’s 247Sports transfer portal rankings. 

Auburn star WR Cam Coleman to enter transfer portal: 7 potential destinations for No. 1 player in 2026 cycle

Cody Nagel

Auburn star WR Cam Coleman to enter transfer portal: 7 potential destinations for No. 1 player in 2026 cycle

With receivers, it can depend on whether the player is viewed as a true No. 1 receiver or more of a No. 2. If you’re a true No. 1 with legitimate NFL talent, you’ll command $1 million and upward, especially the big-bodied outside plays. A Big Ten general manager, throwing out a hypothetical, said Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith could command up to $4 million for one year of his services should he transfer. Smith is a cut above the rest of the sport, though. The hypothetical gap between him and Coleman could be $2 million — though a bidding war could also push Coleman’s number above $2 million — while the gap between Coleman can be hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

As one Big 12 general manager explained: “$1 million for elite receivers, $1.5 million to $2 million for freak receivers and $400,000-$750,000 for everyone else.” 

A No. 2 starting receiver could be more in the $300,000-$600,000 range. What determines the price range for those? Some of it is based on production, some of it is based on traits and some of it is simply physical attributes. 

“Bigger, taller WRs, even without production, can be in that $600,000-$700,000 range,” said an agent. “Smaller guys/third guy is $200,000-$300,000. Decent guy is $400,000-$600,000 at No. 2. Tall guys get an extra $100,000.” 

In last year’s cycle, there were multiple receivers who were in the seven-figure range including Auburn’s Eric Singleton and Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion. Multiple receivers will hit that range again. 

Tight end

High End: $600,000 to $800,000
Average: $300,000 to $500,000
Low End: $200,000 to $300,000

Tight end is an eye-of-the-beholder position. Some schools don’t use them much in their offense. Others require two on the field at a time. The best ones can be game changers at receiver like Tanner Koziol was for Houston this year (727 yards, 6 TDs) for a 10-win team. Interestingly, Koziol transferred to Wisconsin first, didn’t mesh and reentered the portal in the spring to emerge as a difference maker for the Cougars. 

That’s why the range for tight ends is so varied. 

Value is there to be found on the lower range — with at least one all-conference player this year making $200,000 this year — but mostly it’s the block-first tight ends who fit in the lower range. Most starters will be between $300,000 to 500,000 while the elite players of the cycle, like Iowa State’s Benjamin Brahmer and Tulsa’s Brody Foley, will sit between $600,000-800,000.

The 6-foot-7 Brahmer is (currently) the top-ranked tight end in the transfer portal. 
Getty Images

Offensive Tackle 

High End: > $1 million
Average: $500,000 to $1 million
Low End: $300,000 to $500,000

Outside of quarterbacks, offensive tackle is the position that traditionally commanded the highest average premium. Even some non-proven tackles last cycle — think 300 or fewer snaps coming from a high-end Power Four program — commanded well into the seven-figure range last year. 

That seems to have shifted, or at least plateaued, this cycle. 

“That’s the one position that oddly feels like it’s the same market as last year,” the SEC GM said. 

As one agent with several high-level tackles — those located in the top 15 of the 247Sports rankings — put it: “Last year it seemed like if you were pretty good you could get a million. This year it seems like teams are shying away from a million. I’ve seen a lot of $700,000 to $900,000 offers for the tackles. The minute you ask for a million they clam up.” 

Regardless, elite tackles will still command a million-plus. There just aren’t that many of them with those like Auburn’s Xavier Chaplin and LSU’s Carius Curne fronting the market as currently constructed — and a few big names are floating out there still as hot rumors. 

A transfer last cycle too, Xavier Chaplin (No. 65) now leaves Auburn with eyes on another big payday. 
Getty Images

Teams still have to pay up even for the solid starters. The average in the Power Four for that level of player will still sit between $500,000 and a million. Some teams will try to find value between $300,000 to $500,000 at tackle, but those players will either be FCS players jumping up or unproven Power Four players teams are taking a chance on. 

Interior Offensive Line

High End: $600,000 to $800,000
Average: $300,000 to $500,000
Low End: $200,000 to $300,000

Opinions on guard can vary depending on a team’s priorities. Seeing them as critical interior anchors and a huge piece of the run game, some high-profile programs are willing to shell out up to $800,000 for an elite guard. Other schools, even the  high-profile ones, consider them the most replaceable pieces on offense and allot around $400,000 on the high end. 

Thus, the salary range can be extreme. 

“A large-bodied guard could warrant $700-800K plus for a guy who could be drafted,” said one agent who represents a blue-chip guard. The agent noted there would only be a handful of those types this cycle.

Center is a more specialized position generally than guard, so the better ones tend to be a bit more expensive. A good center with experience will be in the $500,000 range, a little higher than the average on the inside. 

EDGE

High End: $1 million to $1.7 million
Average: $600,000 to $1 million
Low End: $300,000 to $500,000

After quarterback and offensive tackle, edge-rusher is the premium position where you’ll see considerable resources dedicated for many programs. If you have a game-wrecker at this position, it can open so much for you defensively and it’s why so many programs want a great one.

With high demand comes hefty prices. If a player like South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart, who recently re-upped with the Gamecocks, had instead hit the portal, he would have garnered in the $2 million range, according to a Big Ten personnel executive. If you want anyone even in the neighborhood of Stewart’s caliber, you’ll be spending seven figures this cycle. One general manager known for shopping in the expensive portal aisles said “the really good ones are between $1-$1.5 million.” 

Penn State edge-rusher Chazz Coleman is the top-rated edge transfer, according to 247Sports, and No. 2 overall transfer. 

If Chazz Coleman’s payday matches his ranking, he is set to make above $1.5 million. 
Getty Images

Even just an average starting edge-rusher can command in the $700,000 range, according to a different Big Ten general manager.

“I don’t know if it’s desperation or scarcity,” the GM said, “but guys without a whole lot of production or proven impact are commanding eye-brow raising money.”

Defensive tackle

High End: $800,000 to > $1.5 million
Average: $500,000 to $700,000
Low End: $250,000 to $500,000

The scarcity of talented defensive tackles has made this a position of high value if you’re going shopping out of the transfer portal. The gem of this year’s class is Wake Forest’s Mateen Igirogba (No. 5 in 247Sports’ rankings) who could command in that range of $1.5 million or a little more. USC transfer Devin Thompkins, No. 11 in the rankings, is another expected to be in the seven-figure range. 

For a top interior defensive linemen, according to a Big Ten general manager, “to get you in the conversation it has to be at least $800,000.” An SEC GM summed it up well, “Decent DT for $400,000-$500,000, really good ones $700,000-plus. Great ones $1 million-plus.”

Linebacker

High end: > $700,000
Average: $250,000 to $500,000
Low end: $150,000 to $250,000

The general consensus is this is the cheapest starting position outside of the specialists. Multiple people we talked to believed you could get a good starter around $300,000. If you wanted an all-conference type, it’d be in the $600,000 range. While the linebacker position isn’t where programs like to spend up, Jacob Rodriguez, who finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, proved this year at Texas Tech just how potent having a top linebacker can be. 

‘It’s like euphoria’: How Texas Tech All-American LB Jacob Rodriguez mastered the art of the punch-out fumble

Chris Hummer

'It's like euphoria': How Texas Tech All-American LB Jacob Rodriguez mastered the art of the punch-out fumble

Cornerback

High end: $800,000 to > $1 million
Average: $400,000 to $700,000
Low end: $150,000 to $350,000

In part because programs need so many cornerbacks, this position has one of the widest ranges in salary, according to one agent who represents multiple top options. Some programs really value the position while others prefer quantity over well-paid quality. 

Elite cornerbacks, especially in the Big Ten and SEC, can command $1 million and up. Another agent, who represents cornerbacks, says SEC and Big Ten schools will pay $700,000 to $800,000 for those 6-foot-1, 195-pound cornerback types that Nick Saban loved. Meanwhile ACC and Big 12 programs, excluding Texas Tech, might be more willing to accept a 5-foot-10 fast DB, and spend only $400,000. 

A viable starting cornerback is usually going to cost you $300,000 and up. If you want more of a higher end option, that number is more in the $400,000-$600,000 range. But a Power Four nickel back could be more in the $150,000 neighborhood. 

“That’s a position I feel you can get a good player for a reasonable number,” said the SEC GM. “It’s hard to get a proven player for a reasonable number. There are good players out there for less than $400,000.”

Safety 

High end: $700,000 to $1 million  
Average: $350,000 to $500,000
Low end: $200,000 to $350,000

Once again similar to how NFL teams see the position in the draft, there are a few programs that really value this position but the majority are going to see an opportunity to invest elsewhere. One GM even said it wasn’t an impact position. For those that really value it and want their version of a Caleb Downs-type, as if they grow on trees, that could cost up to $1 million. 

An outgoing Boise State transfer, Ty Benefield is slotted as one of the best defensive backs in the 2026 cycle. 
Getty Images

But, by and large, there is value to be found in the $350,000-$500,000 range. One agent even said that multiple schools told them that their budget was $350,000 for a starting safety. 

“It’s just a position where there’s a lot of them,” the agent said. “If you’re not elite they fall into a different bucket.” 

Specialists

General range: $50,000 to $200,000

Specialists make money, too! It’s not often discussed in portal season, but there’s a healthy market for specialists, especially the really good ones. Solid starters will be in the $50,000 to $100,000 range. But the best kickers and punters, especially in the Big Ten and SEC, can push between $100,000 and $200,000. 





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NIL gives football programs like Texas Tech a ‘taste of success’

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Dec. 31, 2025, 4:06 a.m. CT



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$1.6 million WR makes transfer portal decision ahead of College Football Playoff game

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One of the most talented wide receivers in the SEC has made his final decision when it comes to entering the transfer portal days before his team is set to appear in the second round of the College Football Playoff.

And it’s a decision that Alabama fans should welcome right before their team is set to take on the top seed team from the historic Rose Bowl.

Alabama star is staying put

Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams has stated that he will return to the school for the 2026 college football season.

“Of course. I’m Alabama through and through. I have no intentions of being anywhere else,” Williams told reporters before the Tide’s appearance in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal game.

So he’s not going into the portal? “Nah,” he said.

Coming off an impressive comeback victory against Oklahoma in the first round, Alabama is set to face off against undefeated No. 1 overall seed Indiana in the second-round fixture from Pasadena on New Year’s Day, and Williams should be a big part of its game plan.

Williams burst onto the scene last fall

Williams made a name for himself as a 17-year-old freshman last season, catching 48 passes for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in addition to two rushing scores.

The wideout’s gravity-defying and acrobatic plays in a statement win against Georgia, in particular, made him a household name among college football fans in the SEC and nationally.

And he was able to parlay that success into a solid NIL valuation, ranking among the top 50 players in the NCAA and in the top 35 in football with a reported $1.6 million estimation, according to the On3 Sports national rankings.

This was a down year, though

Expectations were through the roof coming off his debut campaign, but Williams’ production didn’t live as much up to the hype in his sophomore effort.

The wideout recorded 43 receptions for 636 yards and just four touchdowns in 2025, although he had a strong outing against Wisconsin early this fall, when he secured 5 grabs for 165 yards and two of his touchdown catches.

“This season has presented a lot of opportunities for me and my squad,” Williams said at the Rose Bowl media day from L.A.

He added: “Learning opportunities. On the field opportunities. Really just growing as an individual.”

How the college football transfer portal works

College football’s transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2, but that hasn’t stopped a flurry of players from entering their names for consideration at a new school right now.

The new 15-day transfer portal window from Jan. 2-16 and the elimination of the spring transfer period has condensed the timeline for players and programs to make their moves.

The NCAA Transfer Portal is a private database that includes the names of student-athletes in every sport at the Division I, II, and III levels. The full list of names is not available to the public.

But to hear the Alabama star speak for himself, it appears Ryan Williams will not be among those names.

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks



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Nick Saban goes on long rant about state of college sports: ‘I got it figured out, nobody will listen’

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Nick Saban went on a lengthy rant about the state of college sports, claiming he had all the answers. But, the former Alabama coach said “nobody will listen” to his solutions.

“I got it figured out. Nobody will listen,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show. “So, you know, what are you going to do? I mean, we got to have, you know, some kind of antitrust exemption. You got to get the political parties together on it. I think the college people have to get over the fact that, you know, a graduate student can be a graduate assistant, get paid, is not an employee. So players don’t have to be employees. And these graduate students have representation. You call it a union if you want, but it’s restricted on what they can negotiate for.

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“They can’t say, you know, I have a lab that takes 10 hours and I’m going to go on strike, so we only have to go six hours. Can’t do that. You do the same thing in football. Put some restrictions and determine what you can and can’t negotiate. Shouldn’t be anything that has anything to do with athletic development. We already have those restrictions, 20 hours a week, whatever it is, that practice time. So there is a way to do this that satisfies both parties, that gives cover to both groups, so that we can move forward.” 

Saban even referred to how he was criticized for his opinions on the state of college athletics at this time. That’s despite college football being more popular than ever, but it’s not without its flaws. 

“And you know, I got killed in the Wall Street Journal for saying things like, college football is messed up,” Saban said. “But the thing about it is, everybody just looks at … the playoffs have created tremendous interest in college football. There’s a whole bunch of teams now that have a chance to get in the playoffs. There’s more interest than ever, higher TV ratings and all that. But the underbelly underneath that is not really good. It’s not really good for the development of players. It’s not really good for all the sports that we try to sponsor in college.”

Nick Saban has hot opinion about state of college athletics

“I mean, and I think we got to decide that we want to be, you know, a professional developmental league,” Saban continued. “Or are we really going to have college athletes who go get an education and develop value for their future as they’re playing and making money? I want them to make money. I think they should make money, but there should be some restrictions on how they go about doing it.” 

However, money aside, Saban said the biggest issue is the transfer portal. NIL can be tweaked, but player movement has to be fixed. He even likened it to the biggest issues in basketball and has coaching legends hitting him up!

“And the movement is as big an issue, to me, a bigger issue than even the money,” Saban said. “I mean, everybody being able to transfer all the time. I mean, that’s not a good thing. Now, we even got a basketball player going to Baylor after he played in the NBA. I mean, you heard me say this before: we are going to have a quarterback gets drafted by the New York Giants. He’s gonna be playing for Penn State. I mean, what about that? Calipari and Izzo are blowing me up. I’m not even a basketball guy.”



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