Transfer Portal: Top 10 Best Available Wide Receivers
Since the advent of the NCAA Transfer Portal, one of the most commonly sought-after positions among the top teams in college football has been the studs at wide receiver.
A game-changing pass catcher can take a team from good to great. Just look at some of the impact transfers we’ve seen at the position in the past, with players like Jameson Williams and his epic season at Alabama coming to mind.
At the moment, there’s currently a bevy of impact receivers looking for a new home. Here’s the Top 10 wide receivers in the transfer portal at the moment, ranked utilizing the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average, based on their collegiate performance to date
1) Juice Wells, South Carolina Gamecocks
The top wide receiver in the transfer portal at the moment is the former South Carolina wide receiver. He began his career at then-FCS powerhouse James Madison, spending two years with the Dukes before both he and the school jumped the FBS level, except Wells landed at South Carolina.
In his first year with the Gamecocks, Juice Wells produced big time and emerged as the team’s leading receiver by over 400 yards with 928 total along with six touchdowns as Spencer Rattler’s favorite target. However, injuries marred his 2023 season, leading to a meager three catches all year for Wells and he’ll now look at transfer options once again.
2) Caullin Lacy, South Alabama Jaguars
At South Alabama last season, Lacy put up some big numbers. The wide receiver ranked No. 5 in the nation this year in receptions (91) and yards (1,316). The 5-foot-10, 190-pound receiver had seven touchdown catches, too.
Now, he’ll be looking to move on to a bigger brand in 2024. There’s no shortage of suitors for the electrifying wide receiver, but we’ll see which team catches his eye more than the others.
3) Mikey Matthews, Utah Utes
Matthews is transferring out of Utah after spending just one season with the program. However, he did play in all 12 games this season, grabbing 29 receptions for 261 yards. In the process, he flashed a lot of exciting potential.
As a recruit, Matthews was a four-star recruit in the 2023 cycle. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Matthews was the 235th best player and 34th best wide receiver overall. A California native, he’s currently undecided on where he’s going to transfer.
4) Donaven McCulley, Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana wide receiver is one of the best wide receivers to have entered the transfer portal. He did so following the firing of head coach Tom Allen. McCulley racked up 644 yards and six touchdowns during the 2023 season.
McCulley played high school football at Lawrence North in Indianapolis (IN). where he was a four-star recruit in the 2021 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He was also rated as the No. 211 overall player and No. 2 player in the state of Indiana for his cycle.
5) Deion Burks, Purdue Boilermakers
Burks is quickly becoming one of the most sought after recruits in the transfer portal. He stands at 5’10 and 185 lbs. He will have two years of eligibility remaining after starting all 12 games for the Boilermakers this season, scoring a total of 7 touchdowns.
He could enter the NFL draft, but Texas, Miami, USC, Auburn, Utah, Washington, and Oregon all expressed interest and reportedly offered scholarships. We’ll see where the former Boilermakers star decides to spend 2024.
6) Josh Kelly, Washington State Cougars
Kelly just wrapped up his fifth season of college football and will be looking for a new home to finish out his career after entering the transfer portal. Plenty of options should be out there for Kelly, who would be attending his third school after beginning his career at Fresno State. During the 2023 season, the wide receiver caught 61 passes for 923 yards and eight touchdowns.
Kelly played high school football at Fresno (CA) San Joaquin Memorial, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1,997 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
7) Rico Flores Jr, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Flores finished third on the Notre Dame roster in receiving, hauling in 27 receptions for 392 yards and a touchdown as one of Sam Hartman’s top targets. His biggest game came against Wake Forest when he had eight catches for 108 yards in the Fighting Irish’s resounding 45-7 victory.
Flores played high school football at Folsom (CA) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 240 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
8) Julian Fleming, Ohio State Buckeyes
Fleming has spent the last four seasons with the Buckeyes, where he’s amassed 76 receptions for 905 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. His best season came in 2022, when he caught six touchdowns over the course of the season.
The former Buckeyes star played high school football at Southern Columbia (PA), where he was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s currently undecided about his next stop.
9) London Humphreys, Vanderbilt Commodores
Last season, Humphreys finished second on the team in receiving yards for the Commodores. Evidently, Georgia is a team to watch for the former Vanderbilt pass catcher. Humphreys had a solid freshman season, hauling in 22 receptions for 439 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.
Humphreys played high school football at Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 449 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
10) Raleek Brown, USC Trojans
Brown played in one game in 2023, recording one catch for 14 yards. After a lingering hamstring injury, he redshirted the season. As a freshman in 2022, Brown totaled 402 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns on 58 touches for the Trojans.
As a recruit, Brown was the No. 69 overall prospect in the 2022 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. 8 wide receiver and the No. 5 player in California.
As you can see, there’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the wide receiver position in the transfer portal at the moment. We’ll see where the best of the best among pass catchers end up as time goes on.