The 2023-24 transfer portal cycle is on track to set another record, with 2,100 college football scholarship players already in the portal at the FBS level. So far, nearly 1,400 people have announced their commitment as we enter the 14-day spring transfer window, April 16-30.
What big names should you know before the portal deadline? In order to help you know who is going where and which most important transfers are still in the market, Athleticism ranks the best players available on the portal.
Transfers are ranked based on experience, production, potential, interest and feedback from coaches across the country. This is a rolling list that we will constantly update as players make decisions, so be sure to keep this one bookmarked.
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Key takeaways from day one of the CFB spring transfer portal
1. RB Damien Martinez, Oregon State: Martinez has emerged as one of the best young backs in college football in 2022, earning Pac-12 Offensive Freshman and Freshman All-America honors after rushing for 982 yards and seven touchdowns. The 6-foot, 232-pound runner from Texas was even better as a sophomore, ranking second in the Pac-12 with 1,185 yards and nine scores and once again earning first-team all-conference honors.
Martinez is now looking for a new home where he can prove he is one of the best running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft. He plans to visit Miami, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Arizona over the next two weeks and would make an instant impact on all of them.
2. CB Tacario Davis, Arizona: Here’s a situation we haven’t really seen in the portal era. Davis entered his name into the transfer portal in late January after Arizona’s coaching change, but he stayed and is participating in spring practices with the team. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound corner led the Pac-12 with 15 assists in his first season as a starter and earned all-conference recognition from the AP.
Davis says he stuck around to see how things go with his new coaches, but he hasn’t officially pulled out of the portal yet. Until he takes that step, other schools can continue to recruit him. This is a day-to-day deal, and it will be interesting to see if the Wildcats can keep him.
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3. Safety Jacoby Mathews, Texas A&M: The former top-50 recruit from Louisiana was the No. 2 safety prospect in the class of 2022 and one of the many gems in the Aggies’ loaded No. 1 class. Mathews joined the starting lineup as a sophomore and recorded 42 tackles, four assists and one interception. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman decided to transfer in February and is now officially on the market for his final two seasons of eligibility. Oregon is a school to watch in this race.
4. WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State: The Big Ten’s most experienced returning player hits the market. Lambert-Smith started 38 games in his four years with the Nittany Lions and became quarterback Drew Allar’s No. 1 target in 2023, finishing with 53 catches for 673 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound senior has one season of eligibility remaining and is looking to improve his NFL Draft standing elsewhere, with many Power 5 schools vying for his services.
5. OL Jason Zandamela, USC: The 6-foot-3, 306-pound center was one of the highest-ranked members of the Trojans’ 2024 recruiting class, with several services ranking him as the No. 1 interior line prospect in the country. Zadamela, who was born in Mozambique and played at Clearwater Academy International in Florida, enrolled at USC early but is now looking to move closer to home. Miami, Florida and Georgia would be in the mix.
6. DT CJ West, Kent State: The 6-foot-2, 315-pound senior became a three-year starter for the Flashes, with 110 tackles, 59 pressures, 19.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks during his career. West ranked as the best defensive tackle in the MAC last season according to Pro Football Focus and earned third-team All-MAC honors from the league’s coaches. He became one of the most popular players in the portal upon entering, with LSU, Miami and Texas A&M among a long list of Power 5 offers.
7. OL Marcus Bryant, SMU: The 6-foot-8, 318-pound left tackle became a 30-game starter for the Mustangs during his four years in the program and was a first-team All-AAC selection for the league champions in 2023 . Bryant has one more. season of eligibility and intriguing upside for those looking for a plug-and-play starter with more than 2,300 career snaps. Washington, Mississippi State and TCU are among the teams in contention.
8. OL Branson Hickman, SMU: Hickman was a three-year starter at center for SMU that earned second-team All-AAC honors last year and finished as the fourth-best starting center in the country according to PFF’s rankings. The 6-foot-3, 294-pound senior has two seasons of eligibility remaining and has taken official visits to TCU and Arkansas.
9. OF Dayon Hayes, Pitt: After leading the Panthers with 10.5 tackles for loss in his first season as a starter, Hayes is looking to move on to his final season of eligibility. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound defender recorded 45 tackles, 44 pressures, four sacks and four assists in 2023, but told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he transferred because he didn’t believe Pitt could “win now”. Will he be able to find a competitor who will give him the opportunity to debut and shine?
ten. DT Philip Blidi, Indiana: There’s always a demand for starting D-linemen in the portal, and Blidi’s recruitment has really taken off, with LSU, Washington, Auburn and Oklahoma among the many schools vying for his services ahead of his final season. eligibility. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle played a rotation role at Texas Tech for three seasons before joining the Hoosiers and recorded 30 tackles, four TFLs and 15 pressures in 11 starts.
(Photo: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)