Indiana, LSU, and Texas Tech are highlighted for having some of the best transfer classes this cycle.
New coaches, like Eric Morris at Oklahoma State, often use the portal to bring in a large number of new players.
Key player acquisitions include quarterbacks Josh Hoover to Indiana and Brendan Sorsby to Texas Tech.
Smart teams approach the transfer portal with specific needs and goals, identifying plug-and-play additions who can lift a program from eight wins to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff — as was the case with Texas Tech this season.
Or, in the case of Indiana, from the cellar of the Big Ten nearly to the top of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
But there are also cases where new coaches need to use the big-tent approach of grabbing as many new players as they can to rapidly rebuild a roster. The best example of that in this year’s cycle is Oklahoma State and new coach Eric Morris.
∎ Transfers by conference: SEC | Big Ten | ACC | Big 12
The portal is closing Friday night but the fun isn’t quite over yet, as players who entered before the deadline can still sign with a new program and be eligible this season.
While there will be more additions in the coming weeks, here are the best transfer classes to date, starting with the Hoosiers, LSU and Red Raiders:
Indiana
Best transfers: QB Josh Hoover, WR Nick Marsh, OG Joe Brunner
The unbeaten Hoosiers found their next starting quarterback in Hoover (TCU). They found a new top-level receiver in Marsh (Michigan State) and a productive Power Four back in Turbo Richard (Boston College). They’ll rebuild up front behind Brunner (Wisconsin), maybe the best offensive lineman on the market. And to top things off, Indiana added immediate help on the defensive line and an all-conference defensive back in A.J. Harris (Penn State).
LSU
Best transfers: QB Sam Leavitt, S Ty Benefield, WR Jayce Brown
Leavitt (Arizona State) is one of three transfer quarterbacks in this class, along with Husan Longstreet (Southern California) and Landen Clark (Elon). Lane Kiffin also added maybe the portal’s most impactful defensive back in Benefield (Boise State) while rebuilding the Tigers’ receiver corps with Brown (Kansas State), Eugene Wilson (Florida), Winston Watkins (Ole Miss) and Tre’ Brown III (Old Dominion).
Texas Tech
Best transfers: QB Brendan Sorsby, DT Mateen Ibirogba, LB Austin Romaine
One of the top overall players in the portal, Sorsby (Cincinnati) brings Big 12 experience and an NFL-ready skill set to the starting job. Tech added another experienced Big 12 contributor in Romaine (Kansas State), a starter since midway through his freshman year. Ibirogba (Wake Forest) was an all-conference pick in the ACC and one of six linemen set to join the roster, including edge Adam Trick (Maryland) and defensive tackle Bryce Butler (Washington).
Virginia Tech
Best transfers: EDGE Javion Hilson, WR Que’Sean Brown, EDGE Kamauryn Morgan
James Franklin pulled over several players from Penn State, including tight end Luke Reynolds and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. The Hokies were especially productive in adding edge rushers, with Morgan (Baylor) and Hilson (Missouri) joined by a run of ex-Nittany Lions in Cortez Harris, Mylachi Williams and Daniel Jennings.
Texas
Best transfers: WR Cam Coleman, DT Ian Geffrard, RB Hollywood Smothers
This is a smaller transfer class headlined by the type of players who can lift the Longhorns back into the playoff. That includes high-profile newcomers who can support Arch Manning’s development in Coleman (Auburn) and Smothers (North Carolina State). Defensively, Texas added two huge pieces to the front seven in Geffrard (Arkansas) and former All-ACC linebacker Rasheem Biles (Pittsburgh).
Ole Miss
Best transfers: OT Carius Curne, WR Darrell Gill Jr., CB Jay Crawford
Along with Curne (LSU) and Gill (Syracuse), the Rebels’ offense adds quarterback Deuce Knight (Auburn) as the potential new starter. While young, Curne has the frame and athleticism to develop into one of the best in the SEC. Crawford (Auburn) is a proven starter on the outside with room for growth. Running back Kewan Lacy doesn’t count in this group, but retaining him for another year might’ve been the biggest off-field win of the newly minted Pete Golding era.
Penn State
Best transfers: QB Rocco Becht, S Marcus Neal Jr., WR Chase Sowell
Penn State’s 36-player class includes a bunch of big pieces from last year’s offense under Matt Campbell at Iowa State, including Becht, Sowell, running back Carson Hansen, tight end Ben Brahmer and interior lineman Trevor Buhr. Likewise with the defense: Neal, fellow safeties Jeremiah Cooper and Jamison Patton, tackle Ikenna Ezeogu and linebackers Caleb Bacon and Kooper Ebel will help ease the transition to a new staff and make the Nittany Lions a Big Ten contender.
Louisville
Best transfers: S Koen Entringer, TE Brody Foley, WR Tre Richardson
Louisville and coach Jeff Brohm continue to do excellent work in the portal. Entringer (Iowa) is a huge get for a defense that really needs his experience and proven production; he considered the NFL draft before joining the Cardinals. The offense added quarterback Lincoln Kienholz (Ohio State) and one of the cycle’s strongest collections of pass-catchers, including Foley (Tulsa), Richardson (Vanderbilt) and Lawayne McCoy (Florida State).
Kentucky
Best transfers: QB Kenny Minchey, OT Lance Heard, S Jordan Castell
Kentucky and new coach Will Stein have made some noise. Minchey (Notre Dame) was briefly committed to Nebraska before being flipped to the Wildcats. Castell (Florida) is a veteran SEC starter who can help with the development of a young but talented transfer haul at linebacker. Where the Wildcats have excelled is in overhauling the offensive line with Heard (Tennessee) and guards Tegra Tshabola (Ohio State) and Coleton Price (Baylor). Stein also remade the backfield by bringing in CJ Baxter (Texas) and Jovantae Barnes (Oklahoma).
Oklahoma State
Best transfers: QB Drew Mestemaker, LB Isaiah Chisom, RB Caleb Hawkins
Like Campbell at Penn State, Morris brought in a huge chunk of his key players from North Texas, led by Mestemaker, Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young. These pieces will lead to a huge improvement from this season’s putrid offense. The defense will feature an influx of Power Four transfers such as Chisom (UCLA), Louisville lineman Jerry Lawson, linebacker Tate Romney (Arizona State) and cornerback Trudell Berry (Vanderbilt).