Most impactful transfer portal additions for 2026 season

The college football transfer portal has reshaped the sport in recent years, with four consecutive transfers now winning the Heisman Trophy. But it’s not just at the quarterback position.

On3 is breaking down the most impactful college football transfer portal additions of the 2026 January window. Here’s the breakdown:

Auburn QB Byrum Brown

Quarterback play was a constant headline of the Hugh Freeze era at Auburn. New Auburn head coach Alex Golesh didn’t want those concerns to linger, bringing in a quarterback he trusted in USF transfer Byrum Brown. The 2026 season will be the fourth season Golesh and Brown work together, and it could give the Tigers their best quarterback situation in five years. Brown has started 32 career games with a 18–14 record, including 9-3 in 2025.

Texas WR Cam Coleman

Texas wanted to go out and land a game-changing wide receiver for Arch Manning in the transfer portal. The Longhorns accomplished that, beating out Alabama, Texas A&M and Texas Tech for Auburn transfer Cam Coleman. Ranked as On3’s No. 1 player in the transfer portal, Coleman has 93 career catches for 1,306 yards. He constantly made jaw-dropping catches for the Tigers. Now he teams up with Manning, giving Texas a top-tier receiver to pair with Ryan Wingo.

Michigan EDGE John Henry Daley

Michigan is losing sack leaders Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham to the NFL draft, leaving a gaping hole in the pass rusher. Kyle Whittingham immediately addressed the need in the portal, landing an instant-impact player in Utah’s John Henry Daley. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound EDGE posted 48 total tackles, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2025. The All-American will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and be fully recovered by the spring of 2026 from a foot injury.

Georgia Tech RB Justice Haynes

With Georgia Tech losing starting quarterback Haynes King, head coach Brent Key knew he wanted to double down on the run game. The Yellow Jackets return running back Malachi Hosley, and they’ve now added one of the top backs in the nation. Michigan running back transfer Justice Haynes entered the portal earlier this month and committed to Georgia Tech, giving Key’s offense another layer to pair with Hosley. The former Alabama transfer rushed for 857 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry, in just seven games.

LSU QB Sam Leavitt

Lane Kiffin prioritized Sam Leavitt as his top quarterback option in the portal, despite multiple twists and turns. The Arizona State transfer visited LSU but still went on to take trips to Tennessee and Miami. Kiffin continued the full-court press on Leavitt, even flying to Knoxville for a face-to-face meeting with the QB before he left for his Miami visit. The efforts paid off with a commitment from Leavitt, who is coming off a season-ending injury. It’s unclear what his availability will look like in spring practice, but if Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. can develop Leavitt and take him to the next level, it will be a significant pickup for the Tigers. He’s thrown for 4,652 career yards with 46 total touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth in 2024.

Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker

Quarterback play struggled in the final years of the Mike Gundy era at Oklahoma State. New head coach Eric Morris plans on changing that quickly. He landed his North Texas quarterback, Drew Mestemaker, out of the portal, holding off a slew of top-25 programs expressing interest. Mestemaker is coming off a breakout redshirt freshman season, where he threw for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns. He’s expected to elevate the Oklahoma State offense in Year 1 under Morris.

Indiana WR Nick Marsh

Indiana will not have quarterback Fernando Mendoza in 2026, but the Hoosiers are elevating their wide receiver room. Curt Cignetti’s program landed one of the top wideouts in the portal in Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Marsh gives new Indiana transfer quarterback commit Josh Hoover a big target in the passing game. He’s posted 100 career catches for 1,311 yards, and gives the Hoosiers an ideal replacement with Elijah Sarratt departing for the NFL draft.

South Carolina OT Jacarrius Peak

The South Carolina offensive line issues were well-documented in 2025, with quarterback LaNorris Sellers sacked 42 times. Shane Beamer’s program worked to revamp the offensive line in the portal, landing a key piece in NC State offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak. The 6-foot-4, 298-pound offensive tackle has played over 2,200 career snaps and allowed three sacks in 2025.

LSU OT Jordan Seaton

The sweepstakes to land Jordan Seaton ended on Friday night, as LSU beat out Miami, Mississippi State and Oregon. The Colorado transfer is widely regarded as one of the top offensive tackles in the sport. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive tackle earned All-Big 12 second-team honors in 2025. He started the first nine games of the 2025 season before missing the final three games due to injury, allowing only one sack and five pressures with zero quarterback hits. Seaton adds elite talent to the LSU offensive line and will be charged with protecting Leavitt.

Miami EDGE Damon Wilson

Despite taking visits to LSU and Texas Tech, Miami was the constant school to watch in this recruitment. The Hurricanes got Damon Wilson on campus this week and landed a commitment in short order. The former Georgia transfer finished third in the SEC in 2025 with nine sacks and led the Tigers with 12 quarterback hurries. He’s viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft. Wilson fills a major gap on the Miami roster, too, with EDGEs Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor off to the NFL.