Transfer portal breakdown: On3 transfer power rankings after Week 7
Here is our seventh 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.
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker remains No. 1 in the transfer rankings. He threw for 385 yards and five TDs and rushed for another 56 yards in the Vols’ epic 52-49 win over Alabama. Among the big movers this week:
+ Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel: Gabriel returned after a week in concussion protocol and accounted for 440 yards of offense and three TDs in a 52-42 win over Kansas. Gabriel threw for 403 and two TDs and rushed for 37 and another score. It was the fifth 400-yard passing game of his career; the other four came in 2020, when he played for Josh Heupel at UCF.
+ Utah TE Dalton Kincaid: Kincaid, who began his career at FCS San Diego, had 15 receptions for 217 yards and a TD in Utah’s 43-42 win over previously unbeaten USC. Utah lost three-time All-Pac-12 TE Brant Kuithe to a season-ending knee injury on September 24 in a win over Arizona State. The Utes make heavy use of two-tight end sets, and Kincaid went from the No. 2 guy in those sets to the guy, and never was it more apparent than against the Trojans, who couldn’t cover him. Kincaid now leads all tight ends nationally with 39 receptions, with 558 yards and with six TD receptions.
+ Nebraska WR Trey Palmer: Palmer caught 41 passes in three seasons at LSU; he has 47 receptions this season after a giant performance in a 43-37 loss to Purdue. Palmer had seven receptions for 237 yards and two TDs in the shootout loss. (Purdue counterpart Charlie Jones, also a transfer, had 12 receptions for 132 yards and two TDs.) He’s on pace for 81 catches and 1,339 yards; both would be school single-season records.
+ Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.: Penix battled injury problems in his four seasons at Indiana – each ended early because of a season-ending injury – but continues to show off a strong left arm for the Huskies. He leads the nation in passing yards and had his best performance of the season in a 49-39 victory over Arizona. Penix threw for a school single-game record 516 yards (it was the first 500-yard game in school history) and four TDs against the Wildcats. As for his accuracy, he was 36-of-44 (81.6 percent). Both secondaries had long – like, really long – days. Arizona QB Jayden de Laura, also a transfer, threw for 416 yards and four TDs. And neither quarterback threw a pick.
+ Utah QB Cameron Rising: Rising outdueled Caleb Williams as the Utes edged USC. Rising ran for the winning two-point conversion with 48 seconds left to cap off a magnificent night. He accounted for 475 yards and five touchdowns. He threw for a career-high 415 yards and two TDs, and rushed for 60 and three more TDs, including a 1-yarder that preceded the winning two-point conversion. It was the second time Rising threw four TD passes this season and his fourth game with at least three TD passes. Rising began his career at Texas before transferring.
On to the rankings.
TOP 25 TRANSFERS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee | Virginia Tech (2020) |
| 2. QB Caleb Williams, USC | Oklahoma (left after 2021 season) |
| 3. RB Chase Brown, Illinois | Western Michigan (2018) |
| 4. RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA | Michigan (2020) |
| 5. QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington | Indiana (2021) |
| 6. WR Charlie Jones, Purdue | Iowa (2021) |
| 7. RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama | Georgia Tech (2021) |
| 8. C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan | Virginia (2021) |
| 9. WR Jacob Cowing, Arizona | UTEP (2021) |
| 10. QB Will Levis, Kentucky | Penn State (2020) |
| 11. WR Trey Palmer, Nebraska | LSU (2021) |
| 12. WR Jordan Addison, USC | Pitt (2021) |
| 13. QB Cameron Rising, Utah | Texas (2018) |
| 14. QB Quinn Ewers, Texas | Ohio State (2021) |
| 15. LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati | Miami of Ohio (2021) |
| 16. RB Travis Dye, USC | Oregon (2021) |
| 17. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma | UCF (2021) |
| 18. LB Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama | Tennessee (2020) |
| 19. TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah | San Diego (2019) |
| 20. G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida | Louisiana (2021) |
| 21. LB Eric Gentry, USC | Arizona State (2021) |
| 22. RB Khalan Laborn, Marshall | Florida State (2021) |
| 23. LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State | Nevada (2021) |
| 24. EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State | Albany (2021) |
| 25. QB Bo Nix, Oregon | Auburn (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. Will Levis, Kentucky | Penn State (2020) |
| 5. Cameron Rising, Utah | Texas (2018) |
| 6. Quinn Ewers, Texas | Ohio State (2021) |
| 7. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma | UCF (2021) |
| 8. Bo Nix, Oregon | Auburn (2021) |
| 9. Garrett Shrader, Syracuse | Mississippi State (2020) |
| 10. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland | Alabama (2019) |
| 11. Jayden de Laura, Arizona | Washington State (2021) |
| 12. Tanner Mordecai, SMU | Oklahoma (2020) |
| 13. John Rhys Plumlee, UCF | Ole Miss (2021) |
| 14. Todd Centeio, James Madison | Colorado State (2021) |
| 15. Jayden Daniels, LSU | Arizona State (2021) |
| 16. Jordan Travis, Florida State | Louisville (2018) |
| 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. Travis Dye, USC | Oregon (2021) |
| 5. Zach Evans, Ole Miss | TCU (2021) |
| 6. Khalan Laborn, Marshall | Florida State (2021) |
| 7. Xazavian Valladay, Arizona State | Wyoming (2021) |
| 8. Eric Gray, Oklahoma | Tennessee (2020) |
| 9. Montrell Johnson, Florida | Louisiana (2021) |
| 10. Tavion Thomas, Utah | Cincinnati (2019) |
| 11. Dae Dae Hunter, Liberty | Hawaii (2021) |
| 12. Re’Mahn Davis, Vanderbilt | Temple (2020) |
| 13. Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving, Oregon | Minnesota (2021) |
| 14. Samson Evans, Eastern Michigan | Iowa (2019) |
| 15. Calvin Tyler Jr., Utah State | Oregon State (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. Ali Jennings, Old Dominion | West Virginia (2020) |
| 6. Keytaon Thompson, Virginia | Mississippi State (2019) |
| 7. Jake Bobo, UCLA | Duke (2021) |
| 8. Isaiah Winstead, East Carolina | Toledo (2021) |
| 9. Daewood Davis, Western Kentucky | Oregon (2019) |
| 10. Tayvion Robinson, Kentucky | Virginia Tech (2021) |
| 11. Antwane Wells Jr., South Carolina | James Madison (2021) |
| 12. Grant Dubose, Charlotte | Miles College (2020) |
| 13. Kris Thornton, James Madison | VMI (2018) |
| 14. Tory Horton, Colorado State | Nevada (2021) |
| 15. Johnny Wilson, Florida State | Arizona State (2021) |
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 Mike Novitsky, Kansas | Buffalo (2020) |
| 8. C Alan Ali, TCU | SMU (2021) |
| 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. T Ryan Swoboda, UCF | Virginia (2021) |
| 15. T Cade Beresford, Boise State | Washington State (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. Lonnie Phelps, Kansas | Miami of Ohio (2021) |
| 5. Jeremiah Martin, Washington | Texas A&M (2020) |
| 6. Hunter Echols, Arizona | USC (2021) |
| 7. Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska | TCU (2021) |
| 8. Brenton Cox, Florida | Georgia (2018) |
| 9. Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan | Valdosta State (2019) |
| 10. Grayson Murphy, UCLA | North Texas (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. Akheem Mesidor, Miami | West Virginia (2021) |
| 5. Cory Durden, NC State | Florida State (2020) |
| 6. Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati | Virginia (2020) |
| 7. Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State | Miami (2021) |
| 8. Dennis Osagiede, Liberty | Stephen F. Austin (2021) |
| 9. Kyler Baugh, Minnesota | Houston Baptist (2021) |
| 10. Patrick Jenkins, Tulane | TCU (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. Troy Brown, Ole Miss | Central Michigan (2021) |
| 7. Ayinde Eley, Georgia Tech | Maryland (2020) |
| 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. Jerry Roberts, Arizona | Bowling Green (2020) |
DEFENSIVE BACKS
| Player, school | Former school |
| 1. S Jammie Robinson, Florida State | South Carolina (2020) |
| 2. CB Mekhi Blackmon, USC | Colorado (2021) |
| 3. S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame | Northwestern (2021) |
| 4. CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon | Colorado (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 Isheem Young, Ole Miss | Iowa State (2021) |
| 9. S Darius Joiner, Duke | Western Illinois (2021) |
| 10. CB Anthony Johnson, Virginia | Louisville (2020) |
| 11. CB Alex Hogan, Houston | Texas Tech (2020) |
| 12. S Jalen Green, Mississippi State | Texas (2020) |
| 13. S Greg Brooks Jr., LSU | Arkansas (2021) |
| 14. S Michael Dowell, Miami (Ohio) | Michigan State (2021) |
| 15. S Bentlee Sanders, Nevada | USF (2020) |