Ranking college football's 10 best transfer portal players for 2024

The very best players on the move in the college football transfer portal after the close of the 2024 winter transfer window

Another offseason has resulted in another tidal wave of several thousand players entering their name into the college football transfer portal after the opening of the first winter transfer window.

The winter transfer portal window opened up on the day following College Football Playoff selection, and remained open for the next 30 days, allowing players time to make their decisions. But the bombshell retirement of Nick Saban at Alabama, along with other coaching changes, allowed players another 30 days to transfer.

Under the current transfer policy, when a student informs his school that he wants to transfer, his school has two business days to enter his name into the national transfer portal. Once his name is in the database, other coaches can contact him. Who are the best transfer players on the move this offseason?

10. Nic Scourton

Where he was: Purdue

Where he went: Texas A&M

The No. 1 ranked edge rusher in the college football transfer portal this offseason led the Big Ten in sacks last season, bringing down QBs 10 times while adding 15 tackles for loss and 42 quarterback pressures, and now figures to be first-year head coach Mike Elko's most important pickup.

9. Julian Sayin

Where he was: Alabama

Where he went: Ohio State

Although he's yet to take a collegiate snap at quarterback, the former five-star prospect boasts incredible potential, with pocket poise, accuracy across the board, and what recruiting analysts call a "high football IQ." He'll likely sit behind Will Howard in 2024, but Sayin should compete with Air Noland for the starting job in 2025.

8. Cameron Ward

Where he was: Washington State

Where he went: Miami

After initially declaring for the NFL Draft, the grad transfer changed his mind and landed with the Hurricanes, boosting their offense with almost 14,000 career passing yards and 119 touchdowns, providing an instant upgrade for Mario Cristobal to build around.

7. Dillon Gabriel

Where he was: Oklahoma

Where he went: Oregon

The senior transfer quarterback has 14,685 total passing yards and 125 touchdowns across five seasons and steps into an offense that already projects to be one of the best nationally.

6. Isaiah Bond

Where he was: Alabama

Where he went: Texas

"100 percent" motivated by Nick Saban's retirement, according to the wide receiver, Bond is an important pickup for the Longhorns after losing key receivers and he'll provide a quality target for quarterback Quinn Ewers, playing in the slot and out wide.

5. Evan Stewart

Where he was: Texas A&M

Where he went: Oregon

The former 5-star prospect can play out of the slot or on the perimeter with equal production and pairs well with other returning Oregon receivers like Tex Johnson and Traeshon Holden, a group that could be called the best total offense in the Big Ten right now.

4. Quinshon Judkins

Where he was: Ole Miss

Where he went: Ohio State

Judkins became the first player in SEC football history to score 15-plus touchdowns in each of his first two seasons with a school. He accounted for 50.4 percent of Ole Miss' rushing yards and 52 percent of the team's rushing touchdowns. In total, Judkins ran for 2,725 yards with 34 total touchdowns the last two seasons, and led the SEC in rushing yardage production in each of those years. Now he pairs with returning back TreVeyon Henderson in the Big Ten's best 1-2 punch at RB.

3. Kadyn Proctor

Where he was: Alabama

Where he went: Iowa

The Iowa native originally committed to the Hawkeyes before flipping to the Crimson Tide, playing 13 games as a starter at left tackle and earning All-SEC Freshman Team honors. Now he returns home to anchor a line for an offense that needs an overhaul in all phases in 2024.

2. Walter Nolen

Where he was: Texas A&M

Where he went: Ole Miss

The defensive tackle was the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, playing 10 games as a freshman with 29 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and a sack. Last season, Nolen had 4 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 37 combined stops. He has two years left to give the Rebels solid play in the front seven.

1. Caleb Downs

Where he was: Alabama

Where he went: Ohio State

The most impactful transfer in college football this offseason saw the freshman defensive back leave the SEC for the Big Ten. Downs has the physicality of a linebacker, boasts remarkable versatility at either safety position in the deep field, improved his pass coverage over his initial season, and is a credible threat in the run game, as well. A vital pickup for Ohio State's secondary.

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