With the college football season wrapped up for another year, CFB fans have now turned their attention to the transfer portal.
The college football transfer portal opened on December 5th and allows CFB players to transfer from one school to another and there have already been 2,500 players to enter the portal since it opened last month.
Last year 3,000 players entered the portal and plenty had a huge impact in the 2022 season with their new teams. That includes USC acquiring quarterback Caleb Williams, who was able to secure the Heisman Trophy.
The likes of Spencer Rattler, Bo Nix and Michael Penix. Jr. also transferred and were able to revitalise their careers. It also allows hot players at small colleges to move on to bigger and better things.
Let’s assess the biggest moves in the college football transfer portal so far, and which moves have gone under the radar and could wind up having a major impact in the sport.
Who are the biggest transfers?
One of the biggest transfers so far has been Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman moving to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Hartman is coming off a tremendous season where he threw 38 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.
Notre Dame are lacking options at QB and Hartman should provide the perfect relief as they look to fight their way back into contention next season - they are 28/1 to win the NCAAF Championship.
Fentress Cypress II has been an interesting addition to Florida State, moving from Virginia. Cornerback Cypress II was superb last season and proved himself to be one of the best defensive backs in all of college football.
The Seminoles were hot last season and are now putting pieces together to push for the College Football Playoff. Cypress II should help them in their quest to make that a reality and they are 20/1 to claim the NCAAF Championship.
Ex-NC State quarterback Devin Leary has also moved to Kentucky, with the Wildcats looking to fill the void that will be left as signal-caller Will Levis heads off to the NFL Draft.
Leary posted 35 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 2021 and was injured for most of 2022. Expect him to come out fighting for Kentucky in the 2023 season.
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Under-the-radar college football transfers
While those named above have made plenty of headlines with their moves, there are also a large number of players who should quietly give a great improvement to their new teams.
Among those on the list is running back Brian Battie, who heads to Auburn from South Florida. Battie posted solid numbers for South Florida despite them winning just three times in the past two seasons.
However, now playing alongside an Auburn team boasting plenty of talent, Battie has the potential to seriously break out for the Tigers, who are 150/1 to win the NCAAF Championship.
Another player to keep an eye on is Carson Steele, who leaves Ball State for UCLA. Steele posted the ninth-most rushing yards in the nation last season and was a talisman for the Cardinals.
With nearly 2,500 rushing yards in his first two seasons playing in college, the best could yet be to come for Steele as he moves to the Pac-12, with UCLA 100/1 to be crowned NCAAF champions next season.
