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Cincinnati Bearcats Transfer Portal Tracker: Analyzing Every Player Coming In and Out This Winter

Transfer portal season is always interesting.
Russell Heltman|
Nov 29, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Caleb Goodie (10) runs with the ball during the game between the Horned Frogs and the Bearcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Nov 29, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Caleb Goodie (10) runs with the ball during the game between the Horned Frogs and the Bearcats at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Cincinnati Bearcats

CINCINNATI — The transfer portal news is hitting again for teams around college football as Cincinnati players exit the team for new opportunities and the program brings in fresh names.

Starting with this coming cycle, players can officially enter the transfer portal from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16. The change moves all transfer activity out of December and eliminates the spring period.

We have it all covered in the UC football transfer tracker that will get updated throughout the cycle with current Bearcats players entering the portal along with all the latest player additions, offers and visits.

The Bearcats aren't completely closing the door on transfer portal additions. Nilson Sports reported on Wednesday that the team is interested in Ball State transfer safety Michael Gravely Jr.

The 6'0, 200-pound defensive back posted 53 tackles, one interception, on force fumble, and one pass breakup this past season on 492 snaps.

It amounted to a 43.4 Pro Football Focus grade.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported UC is on the visit list for Colorado transfer quarterback Ryan Staub. He could be a backup for JC French IV, who just officially signed his NIL deal with Cincinnati on Thursday to lock in his time with UC.

Staub has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Staub started two games in his three seasons at Colorado and threw for 681 yards and five total touchdowns in his career. He is also visiting Ohio State and Kentucky, who have starting quarterbacks already in Julian Sayin and Kenny Minchey.

He posted a 45.7 PFF grade this past season on 113 snaps. The 6-1, 200-pound passer is not ranked on 247Sports' transfer portal rankings.

Cincinnati's lead running back from the 2026 Liberty Bowl is looking for other options. On3's Pete Nakos reported Manny Covey is entering the transfer portal.

The sophomore posted 28 carries for 198 yards and one touchdown this season. He said he wouldn't transfer after the loss to Navy, but UC has brought in two running backs from the transfer portal since then, in Cole Tabb and Gi'Bran Payne.

Zion Johnson figures to be the third back behind those two veterans this fall.

UC is in the final four schools for Youngstown State transfer wide receiver Ky Wilson as of Jan. 8.

The 5-9, 180-pound junior has one year of eligibility left after catching 64 passes for 652 yards and six touchdowns at the FCS level this past season.

He also had 31 kick returns for 883 yards and one score. Wilson played 424 snaps last season and rolled out a 75.1 PFF grade on offense and an 83.4 kickoff return grade.

The Bearcats offered Tulane wide receiver Shazz Preston in the transfer portal.

The 6-1, 205-pound playmaker totaled 43 receptions for 723 yards & four TDs this past season. His 16.8 yards per catch ranked 36th nationally last season.

Preston is a grad transfer who has one season left to play college football after posting a 71.8 PFF grade last season on 554 snaps.

The transfer news continues on into Wednesday, Jan. 7, with an offer for Tennessee transfer defensive tackle Jamal Wallace.

Wallace has three years of eligibility left after playing 108 defensive snaps for the Volunteers over the past two seasons. He notched seven total tackles in that time with a 54.3 PFF grade in 2024 and 59.3 in 2025.

247Sports has him ranked 616th among transfers and 37th among DTs.

The trench interest continued with an offer for Boston College transfer defensive tackle Sterling Sanders.

The former four-star 2024 prospect played in one game last season at BC and checks in at 6-4, 291 pounds.

He has four years of eligibility left. 247Sports ranked him as the 762nd-best transfer and 52nd defensive tackle.

We keep the focus on defensive tackle with a visit from North Texas DT Jayden Williams happening today.

The 6-2, 298-pound sophomore just posted 21 tackles this past season on 257 snaps to round out at 59.3 Pro Football Focus grade.

He has two years of eligibility left and is the 1,192nd-ranked transfer nationally, while being 81st among defensive tackles.

Antwan Peek Jr. officially confirmed he is playing at Cincinnati for his final season of college eligibility. It's a massive retention for the Bearcats to bring back their best defensive player from last season.

The safety led all UC defenders with an 85.1 overall Pro Football Focus grade, four points higher than any other player. He rolled out a traditional stat line of 60 tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles across 424 snaps at safety.

The 2025 Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist is a huge piece to retain from a secondary that's basically barren right now when it comes to upperclassmen. He and Mack Cannon are the only ones as of this writing.

UC defensive tackle Lendric Barber is exiting the program for the transfer portal.

He played seven snaps this past season as a redshirt freshman.

UC linebacker Cincear Lewis is entering the transfer portal.

He struggled with an injury early on in his career and played 51 snaps this past season. It was his first season playing more than one snap since entering the program in 2022.

UC is welcoming in South Alabama safety Ty Goodwill for a visit this week. 247Sports' Allan Trieu reported the news.

The 6-3, 200-pound safety totaled 43 Tackles, eight PBUs, two INTs, & four TFLs through two seasons. He has two years of eligibility left after posting a strong 80.1 coverage grade across 328 defensive snaps this past season.

UC has plenty of room in the secondary right now. MJ Cannon is the only upperclassman at safety or cornerback as of this writing.

One of the best kickers in the country is sticking with Cincinnati for his final year of college eligibility. Stephen Rusnak announcec on Monday he is returning to Cincinnati.

The accurate botter had one bad game this past season against BYU and was great besides that, going 13-17 overall and 4-8 on 40-plus-yard kicks. He went 47-47 on extra points.

This leaves one less position to worry about on a Bearcats team that's going to have a ton of new starters this fall.

The latest quarterback target popped up for Cincinnati entering this Jan. 3 week. UC is bringing in veteran Georgia Southern quarterback JC French for a visit.

He threw for 2,929 yards last year with 20 TDs and 8 INTs to round out a 58.1 overall ESPN QBR (78th nationally) and 67.3 Pro Football Focus grade on 842 snaps. French has 815 career attempts and was a two-year starter for the Eagles, throwing for 5,882 Yards & 38 TDs overall.

The 6-1, 200-pound grad transfer would be more of an Emory Jones-level player than a potential star to mold like Brendan Sorsby was. French is a dual-threat player with 264 career carries for 602 yards and eight touchdowns heading into his last year of eligibility.

247Sports has him ranked 455th among transfers and 39th among transfer passers.

UC cornerback Stanley Clyne is entering the transfer portal.

The redshirt sophomore has not played a snap at Cincinnati since entering the program in 2024.

UC wide receiver Noah Jennings is leaving the program and searching for a new home in the transfer portal. 

He was on track to be one of Cincinnati's lead wide receivers after notching 23 catches for 323 yards this past season. Now, no part of the Bearcats' main pass catcher rotation is returning; they at least had Joe Royer stick around last year.

Jennings posted a 66.7 Pro Football Focus grade on 414 snaps at UC.

UC is bringing Georgia State linebacker Damaine Wilson in for a visit on Jan. 7. 247Sports' Chris Hummer reported the news.

The 6-2, 215-pound thumper is heading into his true junior season with two years and a redshirt available. Wilson has 50 tackles, five pass deflections, and an interception so far in his career.

He struggled mightily with a 45.7 Pro Football Focus grade across 127 snaps this past season.

Cincinnati has South Dakota wide receiver Larenzo Fenner visiting soon this month. 247Sports' Chris Hummer reported the news.

The 6-foot, 185-pounder earned second-team All-MVFC honors this season with 1,001 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns — second-most in the FCS. He posted a nasty 87.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade across 685 snaps in 2025.

He is a three-star transfer on 247Sports, ranked 208th overall and 45th among wide receivers. Cincinnati does not have any starting players coming back to its WR room next season.

The long target is down to Baylor, Syracuse, Missouri, and Cincinnati.

Safety Christian Harrison is following former Cincinnati cornerbacks coach Eddie Hicks to Arkansas. 247Sports' Matt Zenitz reported Harrison is landing with the Razorbacks.

Harrison announced his decision to transfer on Instagram last month after notching 66 tackles (40 solo), with 7 pass breakups, 1 INT, & 2.5 TFL in 2025. He was one of the highest snap-count UC players en route to a 68.8 Pro Football Focus grade.

The veteran played 685 total snaps, second-most on the UC defense behind Matthew McDoom. He has one more year of eligibility remaining.

UPDATE: Chidera Otutu committed to Cincinnati on Jan. 3.

UC already had UTSA defensive tackle Chidera Otutu in for a visit this weekend. He posted about the trip on his Instagram story. Otutu just posted 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a 6-1, 305-pound true sophomore.

He has two more seasons of eligibility left and would be a boost to a shredded defensive line right now. Otutu played 287 snaps last season and notched a 62.4 Pro Football Focus grade.

Kent State transfer running back is visiting Cincinnati on Jan. 10-11. 247Sports' Chris Hummer reported the news about the four-star transfer who had 509 yards receiving and seven TDs on 26.8 yards per catch this year. 

Hs is 247Sports's No. 84 overall player in the portal and also added 12 carries for 96 yards and one score across 220 offensive snaps (80.3 Pro Football Focus grade).

Zebulin Kinsey is entering the transfer portal. The backup quarterback did not play during his one season at UC after being a three-star recruit in the 2025 class.

UC wide receiver Caleb Goodie is entering the transfer portal on Jan. 3 after one season with the program. The deep threat tallied 29 catches for 484 yards and two receiving touchdowns this past season after transferring from Colorado State. He was a sneaky important piece of the offense this season.

Cincinnati will now have to replace every top receiver outside Noah Jennings. Goodie played the most snaps of any wideout (536) and was a key factor in drawing safeties deep.

UPDATE: Goodie has committed to Missouri.

UC freshman defensive tackle Tim Griffin is hitting the portal. He played 19 total defensive snaps this past season in games against Northwestern State and Navy.

The Front Office News reported his entry.

A flurry of transfer news surrounding UC hit amidst the aftermath of the Bearcats 35-13 Liberty Bowl loss to Navy. We start with a visit on Jan. 9-10 from Troy wide receiver DJ Epps.

247Sports' Chris Hummer repiorted the news as Cincinnati has major needs in its wide receive room. The 6-1, 185-pound talent has one year of eligibility left after posting 47 catches for 512 yards and five touchdowns this past season.

He's a great returner candidate as well, notching 24.9 yards per kickoff return in 2025 (sixth-best nationally)

Sticking in the receiver room, Barry Jackson is transferring out of Cincinnati and entering the portal.

He played 67 offensive snaps in 2024 and 39 snaps this season after coming to Cincinnati in 2023 out of high school.

Louisiana RB transfer Zylan Perry is visiting the Cincinnati Bearcats today on Jan. 3. He amassed 689 rushing yards and eight TDs this past season, with two years of eligibility remaining.

He is another monster return candidate like Epps. Perry led the FBS in kickoff return yards as a redshirt freshman (862). He just followed it up with 423 KR yards as a redshirt sophomore.

The 5-11, 207-pound back averaged five yards per carry in 2025 and could be a nice new bruising back to complement Manny Covey, who is returning next season. Check out his highlights here.

UC also offered South Alabama freshman wide receiver Jeremy Scott.

The 6-3, 208-pound deep threat holds three more years of eligibility after taking in 24 catches for 417 yards and four touchdowns this past season.

Another running back is visiting along with Perry in Delaware State star rusher James Jones. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Jones ran for 958 yards and nine TDs this season on a whopping 9.8 yards per carry at the FCS level.

He spent the 2024 season at ULM and is visiting some time this month accoding to 247Sports' Chris Hummer.

Jones is also visiting Kentucky and Syracuse.

UPDATE: MJ Cannon committed to Cincinnati, read more here.

The Bearcats are welcoming in an All-MAC cornerback for a transfer visit on Jan. 3. 247Sports' Chris Hummer reported the Bowling Green cornerback Mark Cannon is visiting Cincinnati after a third-team All-MAC season.

He notched 57 tackles, 6 TFLs and two sacks for the Falcons this past season and matched up against Cincinnati. He had a 74.4 Pro Football Focus grade this season on 753 snaps at 6-3, 205 pounds. He would add some much-needed size to Cincinnati's secondary.

He did give up four catches for 55 yards and two scores against the Bearcats this past season in one of his worst games.

A flurry of portal news hit on Jan. 2 as things officially opened up. We start with UC offering UT-Rio Grande wide receiver Tony Diaz.

Diaz lit up the FCS level for UTRG this past season, posting 67 catches for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining.

He was the freshman of the year in the Southland Conference at 5-11, 176 pounds. Diaz could be a nice replacement for Cyrus Allen if the playmaker can't bank another season of eligibility.

Next, On3's Pete Nakos reports UC offered and set up a visit with Iowa State breakout cornerback Quentin Taylor.

Taylor posted 27 tackles and five pass breakups as a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining.

He is six feet, 205 pounds, and could be a nice option for the Bearcats on the outside after playing two shorter cornerbacks on the outside this season in Logan Wilson and Matthew McDoom.

Nakos reported he is visiting sometime this month.

UC is down both of its top running backs for the 2026 Liberty Bowl. On3's Hayes Fawcett reported on Tuesday, Dec. 30, that speedy running back Evan Pryor is entering the portal after two seasons at Cincinnati.

Pryor will not play in the bowl game after posting 1,128 yards and 11 scores in his time at UC. His 6.9 yards per carry ranked 13th in the country this season.

Cincinnati will roll with Zion Johnson and Manny Covey at that position for Friday's bowl game against Navy.

UPDATE: Pryor is transferring to Florida.

On3's Pete Nakos reported Cincinnati's interest in Michigan State transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles this past weekend. Chiles has one year of eligibility left as of this writing after posting 1,392 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions this past season for MSU.

He also ran 81 times for 227 yards and six touchdowns all on a 63.1% completion rate. Chiles fits the dual-threat mantra Scott Satterfield looks for in his passers and rolled all those numbers into the 40th-best ESPN QBR nationally (68.6) and a 63.4 Pro Football Focus grade.

Cincinnati cannot afford the top, top end of the quarterback transfer pool as they try to find another diamond in the rough like they did with Brendan Sorsby, but Chiles is still widely considered a top 10 transfer option at the position.

The Bearcats are retaining defensive tackle Cameron Roetherford for the 2026 season his agency announced on Dec. 21.

He did not play in 2025 due to injury but had 11 tackles in 2024 during his first run at UC across 133 snaps at 6-3, 300 pounds.

Cincinnati made another offer in the early transfer portal days this week. Division III Mt. St. Joseph's wide receiver Eli Aston may be sticking in the Queen City to continue his career.

MSJ is a short drive away from UC on the west side of Cincinnati, where Aston posted some video game numbers with 75 catches, 1,309 yards, and a school record 21 touchdown catches this past season. It was enough to earn him first-team DIII All-American status.

He set the school record for receiving yards last season, with 1,358 yards, checking in at 6-0, 185 pounds. Aston currently has one other offer D1 offer from FCS Youngstown State with two years of eligibility left.

Three major offensive line contributors are returning for the 2026 season. Starting UC guards Evan Tengesdahl and Taran Tyo are coming back alongside starting left tackle Joe Cotton.

Cincinnati will only have to fill the other two starting offensive line spots after the trio announced their decision together on Instagram. Tengesdahl just earned third-team AP All-American honors for this season after posting one of the best guard grades in the country on Pro Football Focus (85 overall across 675 snaps).

Tyo played solid ball on an even bigger snap diet this season and could fill in as the new starting center if Cincinnati needs him to. He posted a 70.2 PFF grade across 706 snaps.

Cotton played the most snaps of anyone on the Bearcats' offense this season (711) and is a major retention after how sought after he was in last year's cycle. He earned a 70 overall grade on PFF.

Cincinnati has its offensive line core for the next campaign.

Mikah Coleman is the latest Bearcats defensive piece to enter the transfer portal. Multiple reports noted the defensive end's intentions to find a new home with one year of eligibility left. Coleman missed all of 2024 with an injury but returned to play a full snap diet in 2025.

He posted 33 tackles and 2 sacks this season across 449 snaps (10th-most on UC's defense). It amounted to a low 58.2 Pro Football Focus grade. Cincinnati now needs to replace its starting nose tackle (Dontay Corleone) and a starting defensive end in Coleman.

Cincinnati is welcoming in a potential Dontay Corleone replacement for a visit next month.

247Sports's Chris Hummer reports that California University (in PA) NT Josh Hough is taking a January visit with UC.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder posted 58 tackles, 11 TFLs and 6 sacks in 2025. He has one season of eligibility left after playing his first three seasons at the Division II level.

Cincinnati offered a Division II wide receiver recently in Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania's Justin Popovich.

The sophomore just rattled off 55 Receptions to pair with 709 total yards this season, plus, six touchdowns, and holds two more years of eligibility.

The 6-4, 215-pound talent is UC's first tracked offer of this cycle.

A second UC defensive back has announced plans to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday. Willie Goodwyn is searching for a new college home after announcing the plans on Instagram.

The sophomore was recruited as a safety but played 10 total snaps over the last two seasons, including seven at cornerback in 2025.

UC cornerback Ormanie Arnold is entering the transfer portal. Arnold transferred to Cincinnati before last season and just wrapped up a 2025 campaign with 16 tackles and three pass breakups across 257 snaps. He played 372 snaps last season.

It amounted to a 55 Pro Football Focus grade after a 61 overall mark last season and leaves Cincinnati with no upperclassmen in the secondary at all.

That will be a big focus for the new personnel leadership under general manager Zach Grant.

UPDATE: Sanks has committed to rising elite program Indiana for his next college home.

Cincinnati defensive back Jiquan Sanks is entering the transfer portal after two seasons at Cincinnati. He struggled this season with a 59.1 Pro Football Focus grade (66.3 in 2024), but was a high-snap player, logging 506 on the season after 296 as a true freshman.

He was the go-to player for Tyson Veidt's STAR position on defense.

It's another loss in the secondary regarding a player that totaled 92 tackles, five pass breakups, & two forced fumbles at Cincinnati.

Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby is entering the portal according to Pete Thamel. Sorsby will either transfer to another school or enter the 2026 NFL Draft.

Sorsby made 24 starts for the Bearcats the past two seasons, passing for 5,613 yards, 45 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also ran for 1,027 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Losing him is expected, but it's a massive loss. Not only does it mean Sorsby will be elsewhere next season, but he won't be the quarterback for the Bearcats in the Liberty Bowl on Friday, Jan. 2 against Navy.

Another defensive back is entering the portal in UC safety Tayden Barnes.

The veteran safety transferred in from New Mexico State prior to last season and performed pretty poorly at Cincinnati in a decent role. He posted 25 tackles and a forced fumble last season to go with a 47.2 Pro Football Focus grade across 185 snaps at safety and cornerback

Cincinnati will have a different-looking backend of the secondary next season without him and Christian Harrison.

The Bearcats lost their first major starter to the transfer portal waters on Wednesday. Safety Christian Harrison is looking elsewhere after playing one season at Cincinnati following a transfer from Tennessee.

Harrison announced the decision on Instagram after notching 66 tackles (40 solo), with 7 pass breakups, 1 INT, & 2.5 TFL in 2025. He was one of the highest snap-count players en route to a 68.8 Pro Football Focus grade.

The veteran played 685 total snaps, second-most on the UC defense behind Matthew McDoom. He has one more year of eligibility remaining.

Cincinnati now has a massive hole in its secondary to replace.

Former transfer running back Chance Williams plans to enter the transfer portal, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Williams had 29 total carries for Cincinnati over the last two seasons, tallying 102 yards and one touchdown as a backup.

He did not take on a large role after transferring in from Grambling State.

Defensive back Kye Stokes is going to enter the transfer portal. He played 65 defensive snaps at cornerback for UC over the last two seasons after transferring in from Ohio State.

WR Kale Woodburn is entering the transfer portal after playing no snaps at Cincinnati and has full eligibility.

Freshman QB Zebulin Kinsey is entering the portal. He did not play any snaps during his time at UC and has full eligibility.

Bearcats DT Kamari Burns is entering the transfer portal. He turned into a key backup nose tackle behind Dontay Corleone over the past two seasons at 6-foot-3, 300-pound.

He notched 11 tackles and 0.5 sacks this season and played all 12 games with 174 snaps in 2025 and 130 in 2024.

Backup offensive tackle Ethan Green is entering the transfer portal but will play in the bowl game.

On3's Pete Nakos reported the entry.

Green played 82 snaps this past season at right tackle.

Things start with redshirt freshman wide receiver Dakari Anderson. He posted a goodbye message on social media after playing seven snaps for the team this season.

"First, wanna thank GOD for allowing me to come play at the division one level," Anderson wrote." Second / wanna thank all my teammates and people I've met in Cincinnati for the incredible experience!! / wanna give a special thanks to coach Satterfield and coach Stepp for recruiting me and giving me this opportunity, but with that being said, I will not be coming back for a third year, and I will be entering my name in the transfer portal!! Thank you, Cincinnati, for such an amazing experience."

He did not appear in any 2024 games.

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Russ Heltman
RUSSELL HELTMAN

Russ Heltman is a contributor for AllBearcats and AllBengals. He is the morning host and producer for 89.3 WMKV in Cincinnati, OH. Russ can be found on Twitter: @RussHeltman11 or you can reach him by email at Heltmandm@yahoo.com.

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