Top 25 players in the transfer portal
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Top 25 players in the transfer portal

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

• Dillon Thieneman leads the way: OregonThe newest safety from is our highest-ranked player in the transfer portal.

• Miller Moss is our highest ranked quarterback: LouisvilleThe next signal caller is second on this list and has been unfairly blamed for some of it USC‘s problems this season.

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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The transfer portal has become just as important as college recruiting when it comes to building a college roster. Each year, over 2,000 players enter the portal and essentially become free agents in college football. Six of the last eight Heisman winners have been transfers, including last year Travis Hunter.

So who are the best players in the portal? Here’s a look at our top 25 using several of PFF’s advanced metrics.

1. S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon Ducks (Purdue Boilermakers)

  • Snapshots 2024: 751
  • PFF grade 2024: 68.4 (202nd out of 407)
  • WAA 2024: -0.005 (265th of 495)

Even after a poor sophomore season, Thieneman is still our highest-ranked player in the portal as he was outstanding as a true freshman. Last year his grade of 89.5 was the second best Tyler Nubin among FBS safeties, while his six interceptions also ranked second. Thieneman’s poor sophomore year can largely be attributed to him playing out of position. In 2022, he played 88% of his snaps at free safety, with his range allowing him to shine. This year, Thieneman played just 58% of his snaps at free safety and far more in the penalty box. Dan Lanning would be wise to allow Thieneman to go deep next season where he can be one of the best safeties in America.

2nd QB Miller Moss, Louisville Cardinals (USC Trojans)

  • Snapshots 2024: 605
  • PFF grade 2024: 79.6 (51st of 144)
  • WAA 2024: 0.341 (28th of 164)

Even though Moss was on the bench late in the season, he was far from it USCThe biggest problem. His passing grade of 77.4 was still a top-40 mark among FBS signal-callers this season. He’s a smart, fast processor that could be successful in Jeff Brohm’s offense.

3. CB Tacario DavisUndecided (Arizona Wildcats)

  • Snapshots 2024: 684
  • PFF grade 2024: 61.0 (320th out of 394)
  • WAA 2024: -0.043 (327th of 472)

Davis was a projected first-round pick this season, but like most others Arizona‘s team had a very disappointing season. Nonetheless, he deserves a spot at the top of this list because of how elite he was last year. In 2023, Davis ranked fifth among power four corners with a forced incompletion rate of 27.8%. At 6-foot-3, he’s an incredibly tall cornerback with length that can trouble receivers in both press coverage and at the catch point.

4. WR Eric Singleton Jr., Undecided (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)

  • Snapshots 2024: 642
  • PFF grade 2024: 73.9 (93rd out of 448)
  • WAA 2024: 0.106 (96th of 583)

Singleton had more than 700 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. He is an outstanding athlete for the position and ranks above the 99th percentile on PFF’s Game Athleticism Score. Singleton is strong after the catch, his 545 yards after the catch over the last two years ranking eighth among ACC receivers.

5. WR Kevin Concepcion, Undecided (NC State Wolfpack)

  • Snapshots 2024: 568
  • PFF grade 2024: 60.6 (333rd out of 448)
  • WAA 2024: -0.172 (567th of 583)

Like Davis, Concepcion had a disappointing 2024 season after a strong season last year. He had a problem with drops, losing 11.5% of his catchable targets this year. Singleton is still an elite separator, catching 80.6% of his targets against single coverage (96th percentile among FBS wide receivers). He’s also fantastic with the ball in his hands, leading all FBS receivers in 2023 with 341 rushing yards.

6. WR Dane Key, Undecided (Kentucky Wildcats)

  • Snapshots 2024: 626
  • PFF grade 2024: 79.5 (28th out of 448)
  • WAA 2024: 0.158 (50th of 583)

At 1.90 meters tall, Key is a big target and can grab 50-50 balls with the best of them. His 13 contested catches this year led all SEC wide receivers. He is very good at finding the weak spots in zone coverage and is in the 91st percentile of FBS wideouts when it comes to receiving a grade against zone/under/top coverages.

7. WR Duce RobinsonUndecided (USC Trojans)

  • Snapshots 2024: 332
  • PFF grade 2024: 74.4 (87th out of 448)
  • WAA 2024: 0.167 (40th of 583)

Robinson is an even taller wide receiver, standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 220 pounds, and he has very strong hands. He dropped just one of his 25 catchable targets this season. The former five-star recruit is a very strong athlete and can be a nightmare for defenses.

8. LB Amare CampbellUndecided (North Carolina Tar Heels)

  • Snapshots 2024: 713
  • PFF grade 2024: 75.5 (62nd out of 355)
  • 2024 WAA: 0.073 (81st of 428)

Campbell is very strong downhill and ranked second among ACC linebackers with an 85.5 pass-rushing grade last season. The sophomore’s three sacks were also a top-20 mark among Power Four linebackers this year. His run defense grade of 75.0 was also a top-15 grade in the conference.

9. WR Zachariah Branch, undecided (USC Trojans)

  • Snapshots 2024: 490
  • PFF grade 2024: 67.6 (198th out of 448)
  • 2024 WAA: 0.029 (210th of 583)

Branch had a quiet sophomore year, recording 503 receiving yards last season. He is electric after the catch, ranking fourth among Big Ten wideouts with 390 yards after the catch. As a true freshman, he was the only player in the country with a kick return touchdown and a punt return touchdown. The former five-star recruit has a ton of untapped potential and could explode in his next home.

10. EDGE Ben Bell, Undecided (Texas State Bobcats)

  • Snapshots 2024: 206
  • PFF grade 2024: 81.0 (N/A)
  • 2024 WAA: 0.012 (199th of 513)

Bell has been one of the most productive pass rushers in the country over the past few seasons. His pass rushing grade of 93.8 since 2023 was second best in the country Laiatu Latu while leading the FBS with a 30.1% pass rush win rate. His pressure rate of 22.4% during that span was unmatched James Pearce Jr.

11. TE Tanner Koziol, Wisconsin Badger (Ball State Cardinals)

12. CB Brice Pollock, Texas Tech Red Raiders (Mississippi State Bulldogs)

13. DI Lee Hunter, Texas Tech Red Raiders (UCF Knights)

14. QB Preston Stone, undecided (SMU Mustangs)

15. QB Fernando Mendoza, undecided (California Golden Bears)

16. WR Micah Hudson, Texas A&M Aggies (Texas Tech Red Raiders)

17. WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss Rebels (Oklahoma State Cowboys)

18. TE Max Klare, Undecided (Louisville Cardinals)

19. CB Theran Johnson, Oregon Ducks (Northwest Wildcats)

20. CB Josh Moten, Undecided (Marshall thundering flock)

21. OT Xavier Chaplin, Auburn Tigers (Virginia Tech Hokies)

22nd floor Joshua Braun, Kentucky Wildcats (Arkansas Razorbacks)

23. DI Santana Hopper, Undecided (Appalachian State Mountaineers)

24. QB Maalik Murphy, undecided (Duke Blue Devils)

25th floor Jordan White, Vanderbilt Commodores (Freedom flames)

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