Transfer portal breakdown: On3 transfer power rankings after Week 8
Here is our eighth set of rankings of college football’s most impactful transfers. This considers all four-year transfers, not just those who changed teams this offseason.
This is not simply a list of the most talented players out of the transfer portal. Talent and potential certainly are considered. But so is past performance and, especially, current production.
First is an overall transfer ranking; following that are position-by-position breakdowns. These rankings fluctuate weekly.
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker remains No. 1 in the rankings. He threw for 276 yards and three TDs in the Vols’ it-was-sort-of-like-an-intrasquad-scrimmage 65-24 win over UT-Martin.
Among the big movers this week:
+ UCLA WR Jake Bobo: The Bruins lost to Oregon, their first setback of the season, but Bobo continued his strong play. He had eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in a 45-30 loss. Bobo has 17 catches, 265 yards and five TDs in the past three games. He led Duke with 74 receptions last season, but while he’s not going to match that total this fall, he already has doubled the number of TD receptions he had in four seasons at Duke (six to three).
+ LSU QB Jayden Daniels: After a somewhat inconsistent start to the season, Daniels has put up big numbers two weeks in a row. He threw for 248 yards and two TDs and rushed for 121 and three more scores as LSU pounded previously unbeaten Ole Miss 45-20. That’s 369 yards of offense and five TDs. The week before, he accounted for 393 yards and six TDs in a 45-35 win over Florida. He has had six games this season with at least 300 yards of total offense and now has rushed for nine touchdowns in eight games. In his three seasons at Arizona State, he had 13 total rushing TDs and accounted for 300 yards of offense nine times.
+ Marshall RB Khalan Laborn: Despite winning at Notre Dame in Game Two, Marshall has struggled this season. But Laborn keeps on producing. He rushed for 151 yards and two TDs as the Herd upset James Madison 26-12; it was Marshall’s first win over a FBS school since beating the Irish. It was his fourth 150-yard game of the season, and he has reached the 100-yard plateau in all seven. Saturday’s performance put him at 1,002 yards for the season; he’s one of only two players (Illinois’ Chase Brown is the other) who already has rushed for 1,000 yards. Laborn transferred from Florida State in the offseason after not playing at all last fall.
+ Oregon QB Bo Nix: Nix’s career renaissance has been startling. He and the Ducks’ offense basically were unstoppable in the 45-30 win over UCLA. Oregon scored on its first seven possessions and punted just once, on its final possession. Nix, who transferred from Auburn in the offseason, had 334 yards of total offense and accounted for five TDs. He finished 22-of-28 for 283 yards and five TDs, and also rushed for 51 yards. It was his second game this season with five TD passes and his fourth game in a row with 300 yards of total offense. He never had more than two games in a row with 300 yards of offense in his three seasons at Auburn. In addition, Nix has completed at least 72 percent of his passes in five of the Ducks’ seven games this season after not doing that in more than three games in any season at Auburn.
On to the rankings.
TOP 25 TRANSFERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee | Virginia Tech (left after 2020 season) |
| 2. QB Caleb Williams, USC | Oklahoma |
| 3. RB Chase Brown, Illinois | Western Michigan (2018) |
| 4. RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA | Michigan (2020) |
| 5. QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington | Indiana (2021) |
| 6. QB Bo Nix, Oregon | Auburn (2021) |
| 7. WR Charlie Jones, Purdue | Iowa (2021) |
| 8. RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama | Georgia Tech (2021) |
| 9. C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan | Virginia (2021) |
| 10. QB Jayden Daniels, LSU | Arizona State (2021) |
| 11. WR Jacob Cowing, Arizona | UTEP (2021) |
| 12. QB Will Levis, Kentucky | Penn State (2020) |
| 13. WR Trey Palmer, Nebraska | LSU (2021) |
| 14. WR Jordan Addison, USC | Pitt (2021) |
| 15. QB Cameron Rising, Utah | Texas (2018) |
| 16. QB Garrett Shrader, Syracuse | Mississippi State (2020) |
| 17. LB Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama | Tennessee (2020) |
| 18. LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati | Miami of Ohio (2021) |
| 19. RB Khalan Laborn, Marshall | Florida State (2021) |
| 20. RB Travis Dye, USC | Oregon (2021) |
| 21. TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah | San Diego (2019) |
| 22. G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida | Louisiana (2021) |
| 23. WR Jake Bobo, UCLA | Duke (2021) |
| 24. LB Eric Gentry, USC | Arizona State (2021) |
| 25. LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State | Nevada (2021) |
QUARTERBACKS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee | Virginia Tech (2020) |
| 2. Caleb Williams, USC | Oklahoma (2021) |
| 3. Michael Penix Jr., Washington | Indiana (2021) |
| 4. Bo Nix, Oregon | Auburn (2021) |
| 5. Jayden Daniels, LSU | Arizona State (2021) |
| 6. Will Levis, Kentucky | Penn State (2020) |
| 7. Cameron Rising, Utah | Texas (2018) |
| 8. Garrett Shrader, Syracuse | Mississippi State (2020) |
| 9. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma | UCF (2021) |
| 10. Quinn Ewers, Texas | Ohio State (2021) |
| 11. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland | Alabama (2019) |
| 12. Jayden de Laura, Arizona | Washington State (2021) |
| 13. Todd Centeio, James Madison | Colorado State (2021) |
| 14. Tanner Mordecai, SMU | Oklahoma (2020) |
| 15. Jordan Travis, Florida State | Louisville (2018) |
| 16. John Rhys Plumlee, UCF | Ole Miss (2021) |
| 17. Adrian Martinez, Kansas State | Nebraska (2021) |
| 18. Cameron Ward, Washington State | Incarnate Word (2021) |
| 19. Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern | Buffalo (2021) |
| 20. Austin Reed, Western Kentucky | West Florida (2021) |
RUNNING BACKS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Chase Brown, Illinois | Western Michigan (2018) |
| 2. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA | Michigan (2020) |
| 3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama | Georgia Tech (2021) |
| 4. Khalan Laborn, Marshall | Florida State (2021) |
| 5. Travis Dye, USC | Oregon (2021) |
| 6. Zach Evans, Ole Miss | TCU (2021) |
| 7. Xazavian Valladay, Arizona State | Wyoming (2021) |
| 8. Eric Gray, Oklahoma | Tennessee (2020) |
| 9. Dae Dae Hunter, Liberty | Hawaii (2021) |
| 10. Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving, Oregon | Minnesota (2021) |
| 11. Montrell Johnson, Florida | Louisiana (2021) |
| 12. Tavion Thomas, Utah | Cincinnati (2019) |
| 13. Samson Evans, Eastern Michigan | Iowa (2019) |
| 14. Calvin Tyler Jr., Utah State | Oregon State (2020) |
| 15. Re’Mahn Davis, Vanderbilt | Temple (2020) |
WIDE RECEIVERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Charlie Jones, Purdue | Iowa (2021) |
| 2. Jacob Cowing, Arizona | UTEP (2021) |
| 3. Trey Palmer, Nebraska | LSU (2021) |
| 4. Jordan Addison, USC | Pitt (2021) |
| 5. Jake Bobo, UCLA | Duke (2021) |
| 6. Ali Jennings, Old Dominion | West Virginia (2020) |
| 7. Isaiah Winstead, East Carolina | Toledo (2021) |
| 8. Keytaon Thompson, Virginia | Mississippi State (2019) |
| 9. Daewood Davis, Western Kentucky | Oregon (2019) |
| 10. Tayvion Robinson, Kentucky | Virginia Tech (2021) |
| 11. Antwane Wells Jr., South Carolina | James Madison (2021) |
| 12. Shocky Jacques-Louis, Akron | Pitt (2021) |
| 13. Kris Thornton, James Madison | VMI (2018) |
| 14. Jeremy Singleton, Georgia Southern | Houston (2021) |
| 15. Grant Dubose, Charlotte | Miles College (2020) |
TIGHT ENDS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Dalton Kincaid, Utah | San Diego (2019) |
| 2. Ryan Jones, East Carolina | Oklahoma (2019 – as LB) |
| 3. Tanner McLachlan, Arizona | Southern Utah (2021) |
| 4. George Takacs, Boston College | Notre Dame (2021) |
| 5. Caleb Phillips, Hawaii | Stanford (2020 – as LB) |
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan | Virginia (2021) |
| 2. G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida | Louisiana (2021) |
| 3. C Jacob Gall, Baylor | Buffalo (2020) |
| 4. T Raiqwon O’Neal, UCLA | Rutgers (2021) |
| 5. T Gerald Mincey, Tennessee | Florida (2021) |
| 6. T Tyler Steen, Alabama | Vanderbilt (2021) |
| 7. C Alan Ali, TCU | SMU (2021) |
| 8. C Mike Novitsky, Kansas | Buffalo (2020) |
| 9. G Marcus Minor, Pitt | Maryland (2020) |
| 10. G Chuck Filiaga, Minnesota | Michigan (2021) |
| 11. G Dillan Gibbons, Florida State | Notre Dame (2020) |
| 12. G Doug Nester, West Virginia | Virginia Tech (2020) |
| 13. G McKade Mettauer, Oklahoma | California (2021) |
| 14. C Bryan Hudson, Louisville | Virginia Tech (2020) |
| 15. T Ryan Swoboda, UCF | Virginia (2021) |
EDGE RUSHERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Jared Verse, Florida State | Albany (2021) |
| 2. Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State | UNLV (2021) |
| 3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA | Washington (2021) |
| 4. Jeremiah Martin, Washington | Texas A&M (2020) |
| 5. Lonnie Phelps, Kansas | Miami of Ohio (2021) |
| 6. Hunter Echols, Arizona | USC (2021) |
| 7. Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska | TCU (2021) |
| 8. Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan | Valdosta State (2019) |
| 9. Brenton Cox, Florida | Georgia (2018) |
| 10. George Tarlas, Boise State | Weber State (2021) |
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Siaki Ika, Baylor | LSU (2020) |
| 2. Kobie Turner, Wake Forest | Richmond (2021) |
| 3. Mekhi Wingo, LSU | Missouri (2021) |
| 4. Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati | Virginia (2020) |
| 5. Akheem Mesidor, Miami | West Virginia (2021) |
| 6. Cory Durden, NC State | Florida State (2020) |
| 7. Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State | Miami (2021) |
| 8. Kyler Baugh, Minnesota | Houston Baptist (2021) |
| 9. Ja’Mion Franklin, Duke | Notre Dame (2019) |
| 10. Dennis Osagiede, Liberty | Stephen F. Austin (2021) |
LINEBACKERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama | Tennessee (2020) |
| 2. Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati | Miami of Ohio (2021) |
| 3. Eric Gentry, USC | Arizona State (2021) |
| 4. Daiyan Henley, Washington State | Nevada (2021) |
| 5. Drew Sanders, Arkansas | Alabama (2021) |
| 6. Ayinde Eley, Georgia Tech | Maryland (2020) |
| 7. Troy Brown, Ole Miss | Central Michigan (2021) |
| 8. Shane Lee, USC | Alabama (2021) |
| 9. Tatum Bethune, Florida State | UCF (2021) |
| 10. Jackson Sirmon, California | Washington (2021) |
| 11. Darius Muasau, UCLA | Hawaii (2021) |
| 12. Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri | Florida (2021) |
| 13. Johnny Hodges, TCU | Navy (2021) |
| 14. Rich Miller, Kansas | Buffalo (2020) |
| 15. Dallas Gant, Toledo | Ohio State (2021) |
DEFENSIVE BACKS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. S Jammie Robinson, Florida State | South Carolina (2020) |
| 2. CB Mekhi Blackmon, USC | Colorado (2021) |
| 3. CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon | Colorado (2021) |
| 4. S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame | Northwestern (2021) |
| 5. CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas | LSU (2021) |
| 6. S Mark Perry, TCU | Colorado (2021) |
| 7. CB Keidron Smith, Kentucky | Ole Miss (2021) |
| 8. S Darius Joiner, Duke | Western Illinois (2021) |
| 9. CB Anthony Johnson, Virginia | Louisville (2020) |
| 10. S Michael Dowell, Miami (Ohio) | Michigan State (2021) |
| 11. CB Alex Hogan, Houston | Texas Tech (2020) |
| 12. S Greg Brooks Jr., LSU | Arkansas (2021) |
| 13. S Marquis Waters, Texas Tech | Duke (2020) |
| 14. S Bentlee Sanders, Nevada | USF (2020) |
| 15. S Kobe Hylton, UTEP | Louisiana (2021) |