One of the biggest changes to college football in recent years has been the transfer portal. The transfer portal acts like a free agent system in which, for many different reasons, players look to find a change of scenery.
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With the 2023 regular season over, a lot has already taken place. Some coaches have been fired, while others have left for new jobs. Only about seven teams are alive for the College Football Playoff, meaning a lot of players view their season as over. So, with these types of changes and your 2023 postseason already laid out, you as a player have decisions to make.
Names such as Caleb Williams, Shedeur Sanders and Sam Hartman have shown what the transfer portal can do to the landscape of college football. And despite being less than a week removed from the regular season, there are already some big names in the portal who are looking to make a splash wherever they land.
Non-Quarterbacks
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Zeke Correll, OL, Notre Dame
After starting 23 straight games for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, interior offensive lineman Zeke Correll has entered the transfer portal to find a new school to end his career with. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 306 pounds, Correll not only brings good size and experience to his new team but also versatility, as he can line up at either the guard position or as the team's center. Almost any team could land Correll, but one that sticks out is the Kentucky Wildcats, who will be looking to replace some holes on their offensive line. They also have ties to the Correll family, as both his father and grandfather played for the Wildcats.
Prediction: Kentucky Wildcats
Raymond Cottrell, WR, Texas A&M
With the departure of coach Jimbo Fisher, it comes as no surprise that a few players could be leaving the Texas A&M Aggies, and leading the way is wide receiver Raymond Cottrell. Cottrell was one of the top wide receivers out of Florida in the 2023 class, earning himself a four-star rating. Cottrell is 6 feet 3 and weighs 215 pounds, giving his future quarterback a big target to hit. Cottrell saw very little playing time his freshman year, catching just one pass that resulted in a 13-yard score. Cottrell had committed to two different schools, Georgia and Florida, before deciding on Texas A&M, so both of those schools could be landing spots for the receiver.
Prediction: Georgia Bulldogs
Joey Slackman, DL, Penn
The first of two very good Ivy League players in the transfer portal is Penn defensive lineman Joey Slackman. In the past two seasons, Slackman has recorded 97 tackles and eight sacks, reportedly earning him offers from Michigan, Duke, Illinois and Rutgers, to name a few. Slackman is the type of player who can wreak havoc and disrupt plays, as his two pass deflections resulted in interceptions this season. More offers should come in for the Ivy League stud, but it seems likely that he could be playing football in the Big Ten Conference in 2024.
Prediction: Michigan Wolverines
Thor Griffith, DL, Harvard
The second of the Ivy League standouts has one of the most fitting names for a college football player: Thor Griffith of Harvard. Griffith, just like Slackman, has already had a couple of offers, from Appalachian State and UCLA, showing interest in the defensive lineman. Griffith has recorded 103 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his three years with Harvard. Griffith could find himself as a starter for a new school or someone who provides depth to an already-stacked defensive line. If the right offer comes in, Griffith could be joining Slackman in the Big Ten but with a team located a little closer to Harvard.
Prediction: Penn State Nittany Lions
Eric McAlister, WR, Boise State
As a former three-star recruit, Boise State wide receiver Eric McAlister had a decent number of offers from schools including Nebraska, Wisconsin and Utah. After a decent freshman season in 2022, McAlister had a breakout season this year, totaling 47 receptions that went for 873 yards and five touchdowns. However, since the firing of Boise State's head coach, McAlister hasn't played and entered his name into the portal in early November. There is word that McAlister could be highly coveted by top programs such as Alabama and Ohio State; but there have yet to be any former offers from those schools, so it is tough to say where he could be in 2024.
Prediction: Utah Utes
The Quarterbacks
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Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
One of the top Group of Five quarterbacks has entered the transfer portal, as Grayson McCall of Coastal Carolina looks to finish his college career with a different team. McCall has been the starter for Coastal Carolina since 2020 and has thrown for over 10,000 yards and 88 touchdowns, completing 70% of his passes while throwing just 14 interceptions. And while those numbers have lowered over the years, McCall does have the ability to make plays with his feet, racking up over 1,100 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. Plenty of teams will want McCall as QB1 next season, but I think there is a good chance he replaces another quarterback who has entered the portal.
Prediction: Duke Blue Devils
Will Rogers, Mississippi State
With a new coach taking over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, quarterback Will Rogers has entered the transfer, looking for a fresh start with a new team. Rogers missed quite a few games this season but leaves the Bulldogs with over 12,300 passing yards and 94 touchdowns. Rogers had a stellar sophomore season but really broke out onto the scene in 2022, when he threw for over 4,700 yards and notched over 35 touchdowns for the second consecutive season. Rogers is a pure pocket passer who can improve any offense that he joins. Remaining in the Southeastern Conference is likely, with teams such as Auburn and South Carolina in the market; but I think there is a good possibility he leaves for a team farther south in a different conference.
Prediction: Miami Hurricanes
Will Howard, Kansas State
In 2022, Will Howard made his name known as he led the Kansas State Wildcats to a Big 12 Conference title while doing so in a relief effort. Originally the backup, Howard stepped in for the injured Adrian Martinez and got the job done. In 2023, his first season as a full-time starter, Howard totaled over 3,000 yards in the air and on the ground, and racked up 32 touchdowns. Coming in at 6 feet 5 and weighing almost 250 pounds, Howard is a big quarterback who uses his size to his advantage in both the passing and run game. The Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals reportedly are interested in the dual-threat quarterback, but I think there is a good chance he replaces a Hesiman candidate on the West Coast.
Prediction: Washington Huskies
Riley Leonard, Duke
The Duke Blue Devils got off to an impressive start in 2023, but their season started to spiral out of control at the same time quarterback Riley Leonard got hurt. Leonard started the first five games for Duke in 2023, posting a 4-1 record, before getting injured, and then he appeared in only two more games the rest of the season. Leonard broke out in 2022 when he threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns as well as ran for nearly 700 yards and another 13 scores. Duke is in the market for a new head coach; and rather than endure the trials and tribulations of that process, Leonard has entered the portal to find himself a new team to command and, hopefully, lead it to the College Football Playoff.
Prediction: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Cameron Ward, Washington State
The top player in the transfer portal is quarterback Cameron Ward of Washington State. Ward began his career at Incarnate Word, where he was an immediate starter and threw for nearly 7,000 yards and 71 touchdowns in his two years there. Ward then entered the transfer portal and landed with the Cougars. Since joining Washington State, Ward has continued to air it out, throwing once again for nearly 7,000 yards and 48 touchdowns. Ward has been the lone highlight of the Cougars, who fizzled out after a hot start in 2023. The most highly coveted quarterback should have an offer from almost every school in search of a new QB1, and he reportedly already has an offer from one of the top programs in the country.
Prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes
