Transfer portal breakdown: On3 transfer power rankings after Week 4
Here is our fourth 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 current production.
First is an overall transfer ranking; following that are position-by-position breakdowns. These rankings fluctuate weekly.
USC quarterback Caleb Williams remains atop the list. And his go-to receiver, Jordan Addison, remains second.
Among the big movers this week:
+ Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker: Hooker, a fifth-year senior, set a career-high in total offense with 461 yards in the Vols’ 38-33 victory over Florida; it was just their second win over the Gators in 18 seasons. Hooker threw for 349 yards and two TDs, and added 112 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He leads the SEC in total offense at 342.0 yards per game.
+ Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.: Penix continued his high-level play, throwing for 309 yards and two touchdowns as the Huskies blasted Stanford 40-22. Penix transferred from Indiana in the offseason and has helped the Huskies start 4-0, matching their win total from last season. He has thrown for 300 yards and at least two touchdowns in all four games.
+ Purdue WR Charlie Jones: Jones had 21 catches in his Iowa career; he already has 41 for the Boilermakers (2-2), including nine for 59 yards and two scores in a 28-26 win over FAU. Purdue was without starting QB Aidan O’Connell, so sixth-year senior Austin Burton made just the second start of his career and tossed three TD passes. Jones has had at least nine receptions in all four games, with a TD catch in each. He had three TD catches as a Hawkeye. Jones leads the nation in receptions, is tied for the lead with seven TD catches and is third in receiving yards per game (133.3).
+ USC RB Travis Dye: Williams and Addison have gotten most (all?) of the USC transfer attention, but Dye now has had three 100-yard games in a row. He had his best game as a Trojan in the 17-14 slugfest win over Oregon State, with 19 carries for 133 yards and a TD. He now is fourth in the Pac-12 in rushing at 90.0 yards per game and is averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Dye is an Oregon transfer and he loves playing against the Beavers: In five games against Oregon State, Dye has rushed for 615 yards and five TDs. He has gained at least 91 yards in all five games.
On to the rankings.
TOP 25 TRANSFERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. QB Caleb Williams, USC | Oklahoma (left after 2021 season) |
| 2. WR Jordan Addison, USC | Pitt (2021) |
| 3. QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee | Virginia Tech (2020) |
| 4. RB Chase Brown, Illinois | Western Michigan (2018) |
| 5. QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington | Indiana (2021) |
| 6. WR Charlie Jones, Purdue | Iowa (2021) |
| 7. LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas | Alabama (2021) |
| 8. QB Will Levis, Kentucky | Penn State (2020) |
| 9. C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan | Virginia (2021) |
| 10. WR Jacob Cowing, Arizona | UTEP (2021) |
| 11. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma | UCF (2021) |
| 12. QB Garrett Shrader, Syracuse | Mississippi State (2020) |
| 13. RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA | Michigan (2020) |
| 14. LB Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama | Tennessee (2020) |
| 15. G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida | Louisiana (2021) |
| 16. WR Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State | Western Kentucky (2021) |
| 17. QB Tanner Mordecai, SMU | Oklahoma (2020) |
| 18. RB Travis Dye, USC | Oregon (2021) |
| 19. EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State | Albany (2021) |
| 20. DT Siaki Ika, Baylor | LSU (2020) |
| 21. LB Eric Gentry, USC | Arizona State (2021) |
| 22. S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame | Northwestern (2021) |
| 23. LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State | Nevada (2021) |
| 24. S Jammie Robinson, Florida State | South Carolina (2020) |
| 25. EDGE Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State | UNLV (2021) |
QUARTERBACKS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Caleb Williams, USC | Oklahoma (left after 2021 season) |
| 2. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee | Virginia Tech (2020) |
| 3. Michael Penix Jr., Washington | Indiana (2021) |
| 4. Will Levis, Kentucky | Penn State (2020) |
| 5. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma | UCF (2021) |
| 6. Garrett Shrader, Syracuse | Mississippi State (2020) |
| 7. Tanner Mordecai, SMU | Oklahoma (2020) |
| 8. Cameron Rising, Utah | Texas (2018) |
| 9. Jayden Daniels, LSU | Arizona State (2021) |
| 10. Jordan Travis, Florida State | Louisville (2018) |
| 11. Jake Haener, Fresno State | Washington (2019) |
| 12. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland | Alabama (2019) |
| 13. Quinn Ewers, Texas | Ohio State (2021) |
| 14. Bo Nix, Oregon | Auburn (2021) |
| 15. Cameron Ward, Washington State | Incarnate Word (2021) |
RUNNING BACKS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Chase Brown, Illinois | Western Michigan (2018) |
| 2. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA | Michigan (2020) |
| 3. Travis Dye, USC | Oregon (2021) |
| 4. Zach Evans, Ole Miss | TCU (2021) |
| 5. Eric Gray, Oklahoma | Tennessee (2020) |
| 6. Xazavian Valladay, Arizona State | Wyoming (2021) |
| 7. Khalan Laborn, Marshall | Florida State (2021) |
| 8. Tavion Thomas, Utah | Cincinnati (2019) |
| 9. Montrell Johnson, Florida | Louisiana (2021) |
| 10. Henry Parrish, Miami | Ole Miss (2021) |
| 11. Dae Dae Hunter, Liberty | Hawaii (2021) |
| 12. Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving, Oregon | Minnesota (2021) |
| 13. Tiyon Evans, Louisville | Tennessee (2021) |
| 14. Aidan Robbins, UNLV | Louisville (2021) |
| 15. Re’Mahn Davis, Vanderbilt | Temple (2020) |
WIDE RECEIVERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Jordan Addison, USC | Pitt (2021) |
| 2. Charlie Jones, Purdue | Iowa (2021) |
| 3. Jacob Cowing, Arizona | UTEP (2021) |
| 4. Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State | Western Kentucky (2021) |
| 5. Keytaon Thompson, Virginia | Mississippi State (2019) |
| 6. Antwane Wells Jr., South Carolina | James Madison (2021) |
| 7. Tayvion Robinson, Kentucky | Virginia Tech (2021) |
| 8. Johnny Wilson, Florida State | Arizona State (2021) |
| 9. Ali Jennings, Old Dominion | West Virginia (2020) |
| 10. Trey Palmer, Nebraska | LSU (2021) |
| 11. Tory Horton, Colorado State | Nevada (2021) |
| 12. Tyler Hudson, Louisville | Central Arkansas (2021) |
| 13. Daewood Davis, Western Kentucky | Oregon (2019) |
| 14. Grant Dubose, Charlotte | Miles College (2020) |
| 15. Javon Baker, UCF | Alabama (2021) |
TIGHT ENDS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Dalton Kincaid, Utah | San Diego (2019) |
| 2. George Takacs, Boston College | Notre Dame (2021) |
| 3. Zack Kuntz, Old Dominion | Penn State (2019) |
| 4. Michael Trigg, Ole Miss | USC (2021) |
| 5. Ryan Jones, East Carolina | Oklahoma (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. G Doug Nester, West Virginia | Virginia Tech (2020) |
| 5. T Raiqwon O’Neal, UCLA | Rutgers (2021) |
| 6. C Mike Novitsky, Kansas | Buffalo (2020) |
| 7. T Quinn Carroll, Minnesota | Notre Dame (2021) |
| 8. T Tyler Steen, Alabama | Vanderbilt (2021) |
| 9. G Dillan Gibbons, Florida State | Notre Dame (2020) |
| 10. G McKade Mettauer, Oklahoma | California (2021) |
EDGE RUSHERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Jared Verse, Florida State | Albany (2021) |
| 2. Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State | UNLV (2021) |
| 3. Brenton Cox, Florida | Georgia (2018) |
| 4. Eku Leota, Auburn | Northwestern (2020) |
| 5. Hunter Echols, Arizona | USC (2021) |
| 6. Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska | TCU (2021) |
| 7. Lonnie Phelps, Kansas | Miami of Ohio (2021) |
| 8. Solomon Byrd, USC | Wyoming (2021) |
| 9. Grayson Murphy, UCLA | North Texas (2021) |
| 10. Laiatu Latu, UCLA | Washington (2021) |
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Siaki Ika, Baylor | LSU (2020) |
| 2. Mekhi Wingo, LSU | Missouri (2021) |
| 3. Cory Durden, NC State | Florida State (2020) |
| 4. Jeffery Johnson, Oklahoma | Tulane (2021) |
| 5. Akheem Mesidor, Miami | West Virginia (2021) |
| 6. Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati | Virginia (2020) |
| 7. Kobie Turner, Wake Forest | Richmond (2021) |
| 8. Landon Jackson, Arkansas | LSU (2021) |
| 9. JH Tevis, Indiana | California (2021) |
| 10. Kyler Baugh, Minnesota | Houston Baptist (2021) |
LINEBACKERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. Drew Sanders, Arkansas | Alabama (2021) |
| 2. Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama | Tennessee (2020) |
| 3. Eric Gentry, USC | Arizona State (2021) |
| 4. Daiyan Henley, Washington State | Nevada (2021) |
| 5. Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati | Miami of Ohio (2021) |
| 6. Troy Brown, Ole Miss | Central Michigan (2021) |
| 7. Jacquez Jones, Kentucky | Ole Miss (2020) |
| 8. Shane Lee, USC | Alabama (2021) |
| 9. Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri | Florida (2021) |
| 10. Jackson Sirmon, California | Washington (2021) |
| 11. Tatum Bethune, Florida State | UCF (2021) |
| 12. Ayinde Eley, Georgia Tech | Maryland (2020) |
| 13. Colby Reeder, Iowa State | Delaware (2021) |
| 14. Darius Muasau, UCLA | Hawaii (2021) |
| 15. James Miller, South Alabama | Indiana (2021) |
DEFENSIVE BACKS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame | Northwestern (2021) |
| 2. S Jammie Robinson, Florida State | South Carolina (2020) |
| 3. NB Tanner McCalister, Ohio State | Oklahoma State (2021) |
| 4. CB Mekhi Blackmon, USC | Colorado (2021) |
| 5. CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas | LSU (2021) |
| 6. S Isheem Young, Ole Miss | Iowa State (2021) |
| 7. CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon | Colorado (2021) |
| 8. CB Mekhi Garner, LSU | Louisiana (2021) |
| 9. CB Keidron Smith, Kentucky | Ole Miss (2021) |
| 10. S Greg Brooks Jr., LSU | Arkansas (2021) |
| 11. S Mark Perry, TCU | Colorado (2021) |
| 12. S Chris Jefferson, Purdue | Findlay (2020) |
| 13. CB Jay Shaw, Wisconsin | UCLA (2021) |
| 14. S Bentlee Sanders, Nevada | USF (2020) |
| 15. S Jalen Green, Mississippi State | Texas (2020) |