Transfer Portal Quarterback Rankings: Top 10 QBs to enter the portal in 2022
The transfer portal provided the opportunity for many teams to add an automatic upgrade at many positions this offseason but none any better than quarterback. While the coaching carousel proved to turn at an unprecedented rate, the competition to land a quarterback out of the transfer portal was unheard of.
None was more highly anticipated or watched than the courting of former Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams. The former five-star recruit and top-10 player in the class of 2021, per the On3 Consensus, he shortly entered his name into the portal after Brent Venables was named as Lincoln Riley’s successor in Norman.
Ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and top overall player in On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings, he did not rush to a decision. Instead, he weighed his options. And while USC seemed to be the team-to-beat for the entirety of his transfer portal recruitment, some surprises popped up. LSU was in the mix, and Wisconsin emerged as a real possibility.
Reuniting with his former head coach won out, however, as Williams and Riley just completed their first spring practice together in Los Angeles. Williams was just of many talented quarterbacks on the move. Jaxson Dart traveled across the country, moving to Ole Miss and partnering with Lane Kiffin. Bo Nix headed to Oregon. And JT Daniels will be singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” this fall at West Virginia.
Here are the top 10 quarterbacks per On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings:
1. Caleb Williams | Oklahoma to USC
After coming in to the Red River Shootout and delivering the Sooners a win, Williams has not looked back. He’s with his old coach now at USC, helping smooth the transition to the West Coast. On top of being the leader of USC’s new-look offense, he has also taken advantage of the NIL market with deals with Beats by Dre and Hawkins Way Capital.
2. Quinn Ewers | Ohio State to Texas
The Quinn Ewers Project never took off in Columbus. After arriving to fall camp late and seeing nearly no game action, he transferred to his home state. While Steve Sarkisian has yet to announce a starting quarterback, all eyes will be on Ewers this fall.
3. Spencer Rattler | Oklahoma to South Carolina
After Lincoln Riley left for USC and not seeing a clear future in Norman, Rattler re-connected with former Oklahoma assistant Shane Beamer. Reunited in the SEC, Rattler brings immediate legitimacy to a South Carolina team that suddenly has major momentum entering the summer.
4. Jaxson Dart | USC to Ole Miss
With a new head coach at USC, Dart thought it best to look for a fresh start. He couldn’t of landed in a better spot as he gets to team up with offensive guru Lane Kiffin and try to be the successor to Matt Corral. The only problem? He is entrenched in a quarterback competition that will carry over to the fall.
5. Cameron Ward | Incarnate Word to Washington State
An FCS All-American Second Team member and finalist for the Payton Award this past season, he threw for 47 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. Now he heads to Washington State where he joins Jake Dickert’s first roster. Ward was a four-star prospect per the On3 College Rating.
After only one season at Auburn under head coach Bryan Harsin, Nix headed for the portal. With three years of starting experience under his belt, the former five-star recruit held his own cards. He ultimately chose Oregon, where he is able to reunite with Kenny Dillingham.
7. Kedon Slovis | USC to Pitt
Similar to Dart, Slovis headed to the portal following the conclusion of USC’s season. With Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett headed for the NFL, Pitt emerged as the landing spot for the former three-star recruit. He will now try to bring stability to an offense that lost its coordinator and recently lost receiver Jordan Addison to the portal.
8. Connor Bazelak | Missouri to Indiana
Connor Bazelak threw for more than 2,000 yards the last two seasons and transferred from Mizzou to Indiana this offseason. He headed to Columbia as a four-star prospect and stayed at that level in two full years with the Tigers.
9. Max Johnson | LSU to Texas A&M
Johnson left a crowded quarterback competition in Baton Rouge for another one in College Station. The former four-star recruit is competing with Haynes King and Conner Weigman. Jimbo Fisher is expected to make a decision at some point this summer.
10. JT Daniels | Georgia to West Virginia
The one-time Georgia starting quarterback lost his job when he was injured early this past season. With the surging Stetson Bennett as their starter, the Bulldogs captured their first national title since 1980. Daniels now lands in Morgantown, where he will try to help Neal Brown find his footing in the Big 12.