Updated Top 10 Quarterbacks in the NCAA Transfer Portal
A few days into the transfer portal window, the quarterback market is taking shape. Some more big names have entered over the last few days, with Oregon State’s Aidan Chiles as the biggest name.
The quarterbacks have all been assigned new On3 Industry Rankings based on their collegiate performance to date, so we have a good idea what teams will be getting if they take in a transfer quarterback.
Let’s dive into the list of the Top 10 quarterbacks currently in the transfer portal.
1. Cam Ward, Washington State
Ward spent the last two seasons on The Palouse after transferring to Washington State from Division II Incarnate Word. He started 25 games for the Cougars, throwing for more than 6,400 yards and 43 touchdowns while adding 11 more scores on the ground.
The Texas native immediately shoots to the top of the rankings, not just at quarterback, but as the No. 1 player overall in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. The competition to land Ward is expected to be fierce.
2. Dante Moore, UCLA
The former blue-chip prospect threw 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions for the Bruins in 2023 while throwing for 1,610 yards. As a member of the Class of 2023, Moore was a five-star recruit out of Detroit (Mich.) Martin Luther King, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 2 quarterback in the class and the No. 3 overall prospect in the class. Moore originally committed to Oregon before flipping to UCLA.
3. Will Howard, Kansas State
Howard spent the last four years with Kansas State, emerging as a top-notch option. He is coming off his best year with 2,643 yards passing, to go with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 364 yards and nine touchdowns.
That production will make him a coveted option in the transfer portal, especially because of how versatile he’s been. Howard has thrown for 5,786 career yards with 48 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. He has also run for 934 yards and 19 touchdowns.
4. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
Gabriel played two seasons with the Sooners after transferring from Central Florida following the 2021 season. In five seasons at the college level, Gabriel has thrown for more than 14,000 yards while completing better than 63 percent of his passes.
As a recruit, Gabriel was the No. 680 overall prospect in the 2019 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranked as the nation’s No. 44 quarterback and the No. 7 recruit in Hawaii.
5. Aidan Chiles, Oregon State
During his freshman season at Oregon State, Chiles sat behind DJ Uiagalelei — who also entered the portal after the season — and put up decent numbers in his nine appearances. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns after just missing out on the starting quarterback job and, ultimately, entered the transfer portal.
Chiles also got some work in the running game, totaling three rushing touchdowns. He arrived in Corvallis as a four-star recruit and the No. 160 overall prospect from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
6. Riley Leonard, Duke
The Duke quarterback didn’t have the kind of year he wanted in 2023, with his campaign cut short due to injuries. He managed to throw for 1,102 yards and three touchdowns before he was lost for the year, while he also ran for 352 yards and four touchdowns.
Leonard is an excellent dual-threat quarterback, having run for 1,224 yards and 19 touchdowns in his three-year Duke career. Leonard’s season-high in passing came in 2022, when he threw for 2,947 yards and 20 touchdowns, against just six interceptions.
7. Brock Vandagriff, committed to Kentucky
After losing the starting quarterback job last year, it was worth wondering if Vandagriff would enter the transfer portal. Ultimately, he decided to stay in Athens, but ultimately decided to transfer this year as Carson Beck cemented himself as Georgia’s quarterback.
Shortly after entering the portal, Vandagriff announced his commitment to Kentucky. He brings 13 games of experience with him, totaling 165 yards and two touchdowns during his time at Georgia.
8. Kyle McCord, Ohio State
In his first year as a starter, McCord led Ohio State to an 11-1 record, but the lone loss came at Michigan on the final drive. He beat out Devin Brown to take over for CJ Stroud this season. In 12 games this season, McCord had 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 65.8% completion percentage.
As a member of the Class of 2021, McCord was a five-star recruit out of Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 2 overall prospect in the state, the No. 5 quarterback in the class and the No. 25 overall prospect in the class.
9. Dequan Finn, Toledo
A first team All-MAC selection this year, Finn helped lead Toledo to the conference championship as part of his impressive 2023 season. He led the league in passing yards as a redshirt junior, but he’ll now use his last year of eligibility elsewhere.
Finn totaled 2,657 passing yards and 22 touchdowns for Toledo while also doing work in the running game with 563 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Over the last three years, Finn threw for nearly 7,000 yards and 63 touchdowns.
10. DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State
After transferring to Oregon State from Clemson, Uiagalelei put together his most impressive season to date. He managed to throw for 2,638 yards and 21 touchdowns, against just seven interceptions. That was just shy of his 2022 touchdown total.
Uiagalelei will provide whatever team that picks him up with a real bonus. He’s already been through a transfer and has proven he can adapt quickly. Moreover, he’s responsible for 8,319 yards passing and 57 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,132 yards and 21 scores.