The 2023-24 transfer portal cycle is on pace to set a new record, with 2,100 scholarship college football players already enrolled in the portal at the FBS level. Approximately 1,400 players have so far announced their signings for the 14-day spring transfer window from April 16th to 30th.
Who are the big names you need to know before the portal deadline? To help you keep track of who's going where and which top transfers are still on the market. The Athletic Rank the best players available within the portal.
Transfers are ranked based on experience, accomplishments, potential, interest generated and feedback from coaches across the country. This is a dynamic list and will be constantly updated based on player decisions, so be sure to bookmark it.
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Key takeaways from the first day of CFB's spring transfer portal window
1. RB Damian Martinez, Oregon State: Martinez has emerged as one of the best young backs in college football in 2022, earning Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America honors after rushing for 982 yards and seven touchdowns. The 6-foot, 232-pound rusher from Texas was even better his sophomore year, ranking second in the Pac-12 in rushing with 1,185 yards and nine scores and again being named first-team all-conference. won the honor of
Martinez is currently looking for a new field where he can prove himself as one of the top running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is scheduled to visit Miami, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Arizona over the next two weeks and will make an immediate impact in each area.
2. DT Damonic Williams, TCU: The former three-star prospect out of California has emerged as one of the Big 12's best young defensive tackles in his two seasons in Fort Worth. He started all 15 games up front as a true freshman on a Horned Frogs team that played for a national title in 2022 and earned Freshman All-America honors, and started every game in his second year. He was a starter and earned honorable mention in All-Big. 12 recognition. He has two more seasons of eligibility and many Power 5 prospects will likely be vying for him. Oklahoma is expected to be his first visit for this recruitment.
3. CB Tacario Davis, Arizona State: This is a situation not often seen in the portal era. Davis entered his name in the transfer portal in late January after Arizona's coaching change, but remained and is in spring practice with the team. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound corner led the Pac-12 with 15 pass breakups in his first season as a starter and received All-Conference recognition from the Associated Press.
Davis said he stayed put to see how it goes with his new coach, but hasn't officially exited the portal yet. Other schools can keep recruiting him until he takes that step. This is a day-to-day trade and it will be interesting to see if the Wildcats can hang on to him.
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4.Database Jacoby Matthews, Texas A&M: The former top-50 recruit from Louisiana was the No. 2 safety prospect in the 2022 class and one of the many gems in the Aggies' loaded No. 1 class. Matthews broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore and recorded 42 tackles, four pass breakups and one interception. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defender committed in February and is now officially on the market for his final two seasons of eligibility. Oregon is the state to watch in this race.
Five. WR Keandre Lambert-Smith, Penn State: The Big Ten's most experienced returning wideout will hit the market. Lambert Smith started 38 games in four years with the Nittany Lions and emerged as QB Drew Allard's clear No. 1 target in 2023 with 53 catches for 673 yards and four touchdowns. I left a mark. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound senior has one more season of eligibility and is looking to improve his NFL Draft status elsewhere, with many Power 5 schools vying for him. There is.
6. OL Jason Zandamera, University of Southern California: The 6-foot-3, 306-pound center is one of the highest-ranked members of the Trojans' 2024 recruiting class, with multiple services rating him the No. 1 interior prospect in the country. ing. Zandamera, who was born in Mozambique and played at Clearwater Academy International in Florida, enrolled at USC early, but is now considering moving closer to his home country. He is also reportedly considering Miami, Florida and Georgia.
7. DT CJ West, Kent State: The 6-foot-2, 315-pound senior has 110 tackles, 59 pressures, 19.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in his career, developing into a third-year starter for the Flashes. According to Pro Football Focus, West was named the top defensive tackle in the MAC last season and earned third-team All-MAC honors from the league's coaches. He quickly became one of the most popular players in the portal, and among a long list of Power 5 offers he included LSU, Miami, and Texas A&M.
8. OL Marcus Bryant, SMU: The 6-foot-8, 318-pound left tackle developed into starting 30 games for the Mustangs in his four years with the program and was named first-team All-AAC for the league championship in 2023. . He has one more thing for Bryant. It's a season of eligibility and interesting upside for someone looking for a plug-and-play starter with over 2,300 career snaps. Washington State, Mississippi State, and TCU are among the teams in contention.
9. OL Branson Hickman, SMU: Hickman was a three-year starter at SMU's center, earning All-AAC second-team honors last year and finishing as the fourth-best starting center in the country as graded by PFF. The 6-foot-3, 294-pound senior has two more seasons of eligibility and has taken official visits to TCU and Arkansas.
10.DE Dayon Hayes, Pitt: After leading the Panthers with 10.5 tackles in his first season as a starter, Hayes is looking to move forward into his final season of eligibility. The 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge defender had 45 tackles, 44 pressures, four sacks and four pass breakups in 2023, but was transferred because he doesn't believe Pitt can “win now.” Then he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Will he be able to find a candidate who will give him a chance to start and shine? USC and Colorado are expected to be his first visits.
(Photo: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
