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Top 10 transfer portal impact players of Week 5

Nakos updated headshotby: Pete Nakos3 hours agoPeteNakos_
college football transfer portal impact players week 5

In the new age of college football, the transfer portal has become a major piece of roster construction. Throughout the college football season, On3 is breaking down the top 10 transfer portal impact players based on weekly performances. Here are the most impactful transfer portal players from Week 5:

1. Virginia QB Chandler Morris

Former Oklahoma, TCU and North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris delivered in primetime on Friday night. The Virginia quarterback was responsible for five total touchdowns, including the go-ahead score on a four-yard run in the second overtime in the Cavaliers’ upset of No. 8 Florida State. Morris finished 26 of 25 and threw for 229 yards. He became just the third quarterback since 1995 with two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and at least a 74 % completion percentage against a ranked team.

2. Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss

Making his first start in a top-25 matchup, Trinidad Chambliss was 23 of 39 for 385 yards of total offense as Ole Miss picked up a win over No. 4 LSU. The Ferris State transfer connected on his final five pass attempts of the game, including a 20-yard pass on fourth down with 1:46 to play that sealed the win. He’s the first SEC player with 300 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in three consecutive games over the last 30 years.

3. Duke QB Darian Mensah

After an up-and-down start of the season, Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah is starting to find his footing. The Duke quarterback was 22 of 28 for 268 yards and two touchdowns with a 78.6% completion percentage against Syracuse. Through five games, he’s thrown for 1,573 passing yards with 13 touchdowns to two interceptions and a 69.1% completion percentage. He now ranks first in the ACC in passing yards and third in the nation.

4. Kansas WR Emmanuel Henderson

In the first play from scrimmage for Kansas on Saturday against Cincinnati, Alabama transfer wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson got behind the defense, and quarterback Jalon Daniels found him for a 93-yard touchdown. Henderson continued to carve up the Bearcats’ defense, finishing with five catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. He has 23 catches for 435 yards in five games.

5. Virginia Tech RB Terion Stewart

The Hokies are now 2-0 since Brent Pry was fired and Philip Montgomery was appointed interim coach. Running back Terion Stewart led the way Saturday to the win over NC State. The Bowling Green transfer rushed for 174 yards on 15 carries, including an 85-yard run in the third quarter that set up a touchdown. He finished the day averaging 11.6 yards per run.

6. Alabama WR Isaiah Horton

With so many eyes on Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, it was Isaiah Horton who stepped up in the Alabama wide receiver room on Saturday at Georgia. The Miami transfer pulled in five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, averaging 13 yards per catch. It was his best performance yet in an Alabama uniform.

7. Oregon DL Bear Alexander

The former Georgia and USC transfer pieced together one of his better performances of his college career on Saturday night at Penn State. Defensive lineman Bear Alexander posted five tackles with a tackle for loss and two hurries in Oregon’s 30-24 double overtime win.

8. Penn State WR Devonte Ross

While the Penn State offense sputtered to establish a running game and quarterback Drew Allar finished with a 56% completion percentage, Devonte Ross was a bright spot in the loss to Oregon. The Troy transfer caught a 35-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and another 7-yard touchdown to force overtime. He finished with four catches for 48 yards and was unfazed by the top-10 matchup.

9. Virginia CB Ja’Son Prevard

Former Morgan State Ja’Son Prevard transfer picked of Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos twice in Friday night’s upset of the No. 8 Seminoles. That includes the game-sealing interception in overtime, delivering Virginia its first home victory over a top-10 team since also beating the Seminoles in 2005.

10. Auburn LB Xavier Atkins

Despite Auburn struggling to find success offensively on Saturday in College Station, the defense kept the Tigers in the game. Linebacker Xavier Atkins, who transferred in from LSU this offseason, posted 10 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and returned an interception 73 yards. He’s up to three sacks on the season.