The NCAA transfer portal has reached record numbers once more as hundreds of players across college football look for new homes.
There were several portal success stories in the 2023 season and multiple names will be looking to have the same jump in 2024 that Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr had this fall.
Here's a look at the top players available after the official opening on the portal on Dec. 4.
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Transfer portal rankings 2024: Top players available
Here are the top 20 overall players in the portal to date:
1. Cam Ward, QB, Washington State.
Ward has one year of eligibility left and can lend his talents to a new program in a big way after being named a Pac-12 Conference honorable mention in 2022 with 3,232 yards and 23 touchdowns, then posting better numbers this year.
2. Will Howard, QB, Kansas State.
There are other quarterbacks in the portal who may be considered more solid in certain facets of the game than Howard is, but he's considered by many to be the "best all-around quarterback prospect."
3. B.J. Green II, EDGE, Arizona State.
The Sun Devils have lost their co-sack leader for 2023. Green finished out the 2022 season with 39 combined tackles (21 solo), 6.0 sacks and one forced fumble.
4. Cayden Green, OT, Oklahoma.
Since he originally entered the portal on Dec. 14, Green is considered to be among the best -- if not the best -- offensive lineman in the transfer portal. Green has already attracted some attention, already set to visit Missouri and Oregon.
5. Dante Moore, QB, UCLA.
Moore is one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects to watch after he finished out the 2022 season for the Bruins with a 53.5% completion rate, 1,610 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
6. LaJohntay Wester, WR, FAU.
Wester looks to continue his career elsewhere after finishing the 2023 season with 108 receptions for 1,168 yards with 8 receiving touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown. He also totals 290 career kick return yards and 632 punt return yards, garnering his first career punt return touchdown in 2023.
7. Trevor Etienne, RB, Florida.
The younger of the Etienne brothers will continue his career away from Gainesville as bad gets to worse where the portal is concerned for Billy Napier and co. Etienne was arguably underutilized in 2023 for the level of talent he brings, finishing out the year with 131 carries for 753 yards with 8 touchdowns.
8. Juice Wells, WR, South Carolina.
Pete Thamel said he considered Wells "at or near the top of the portal market" for wide receivers on Monday. Wells missed much of the 2023 season with a foot injury and totals 965 yards and seven touchdowns over his career.
9. Jalen Catalon, DB, Texas.
Catalon, formerly of Arkansas, will be highly sought-after following a season in which he had 17 tackles and forced one fumble.
10. A.J. Harris, CB, Georgia.
Georgia has a host of talented players from across the roster leaving for a new destination at an alarming rate and Harris is part of that as the 16th Bulldog to enter the portal. Harris was the No. 39 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class and the team's top-ranked defensive back signee. He saw action in a total of 7 games this season with eight tackles.
11. Caullin Lacy, WR, South Alabama.
Lacy is one of the best offensive players in the nation and one of the strongest representatives of the Sun Belt Conference in the portal, earning first-team honors after the season.
12. Mikey Matthews, WR, Utah.
Matthews saw the field for the Utes in all 12 games with six starts in 2023. He tallied 29 catches for 261 yards, one rush for four yards, 15 kick returns for 309 yards and 17 punt returns for 75 yards.
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13. Donaven McCulley, WR, Indiana.
McCulley will look to maintain a high level of production for a new offense after leading the Hoosiers with 644 yards and six touchdowns on the 2023 season.
14. Joey Slackman, DL, Pennsylvania.
Slackman has received offers from multiple different schools since his entrance to the portal. Slackman totaled 50 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, one pass breakup and one blocked kick as a senior.
15. Kamari Ramsey, S, UCLA.
The former UCLA safety is set for multiple visits since entering the portal, including to Ohio State and UW. Ramsey finished out the 2023 season with 40 combined tackles (27 solo), four passes defended and one interception.
16. DJ Uiagalelei, QB, Oregon State.
Uiagalelei was expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation when he took the field for Clemson before heading over to Oregon State. It was with the Beavers that Uiagalelei was able to get back to what he was projected to be and he can bolster his resume by doing that at a higher level.
17. Monroe Mills, OT, Texas Tech.
Mills projects as one of the best offensive line prospects in the portal after a solid performance with the Red Raiders.
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18. Nyland Green, CB, Georgia.
Green was a part of the 2021 signing class and spent the majority of his time in Athens at the cornerback position, but was never able to cement a starting role. He finished out the season with 7 combined tackles (5 solo) and 1 pass defended.
19. Marvin Jones Jr., EDGE, Georgia.
Jones is expected to be highly sought after in the portal after he finished the 2023 season with 12 combined tackles (7 solo), 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
20. Walter Nolen, DL, Texas A&M.
Nolen, the former No. 2 overall recruit for the Class of 2022, will take the field elsewhere as the Aggies enter a new era with Jimbo Fisher fired and former Duke coach Mike Elko in.
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Transfer portal rankings 2024 by position
Quarterbacks
- Cam Ward, Washington State
- Will Howard, Kansas State
- Dante Moore, UCLA
- D.J. Uiagalelei, Oregon State
- KJ Jefferson, Arkansas
Wide receivers
- LaJohntay Wester, FAU
- Juice Wells, South Carolina
- Caullin Lacy, South Alabama
- Donaven McCulley, Indiana
- Mikey Matthews, Utah
Running backs
- Trevor Etienne, Florida
- Jo'quavious Marks, Mississippi State
- Jordan Waters, Duke
- Tawee Walker, Oklahoma
- George Pettaway, UNC
Tight ends
- Corey Dyches, Maryland
- Jake Johnson, Texas A&M
- Drake Dabney, Baylor
- Jack Velling, Oregon State
- Holden Staes, Notre Dame
Offensive tackles
- Monroe Mills, Texas Tech
- Bless Harris, Florida State
- Makylan Pounders, Memphis
- Luke Newman, Holy Cross
- Carter Smith, Indiana
Interior offensive linemen
- Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
- Fernando Carmona, San Jose State
- Quantavious Leslie, WKU
- Pete Nygra, NIU
- Addison Nichols, Tennessee
Defensive linemen
- Joey Slackman, Pennsylvania
- Walter Nolen, Texas A&M
- Thor Griffith, Harvard
- Marley Cook, Middle Tennessee
- Aeneas Peebles, Duke
EDGE rushers
- B.J. Green II, Arizona State
- Trey Moore, UTSA
- Marvin Jones Jr., Georgia
- Tyler Baron, Tennessee
- Quency Wiggins, LSU
Linebackers
- Darris Smith, Georgia
- Corey Flagg Jr., Miami
- Jaishawn Barham, Maryland
- Bangally Kamara, Pitt
- Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State
Defensive backs
- Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
- AJ Harris, Georgia.
- Nyland Green, Georgia
- Upton Stout, WKU
- Jaylen Stinson, Duke
Kickers/punters
- Parker Lewis, Ohio State
- Jackson Kennedy, Cornell
- Michael O'Shaughnessy, Michigan State
- Ethan Duane, Old Dominion
- Cooper Hamilton, Houston
