NCAAF · 1 month ago

Top 15 Players Who Entered the College Football Transfer Portal on Christmas Weekend

John Canady

Host · Writer

15) LT Xavier Chaplin, Auburn
Xavier Chaplin enters the transfer portal after serving as the starting left tackle at Auburn this past year. The offensive lineman is a solid run protector who can hold his own in pass protection, which alone should bode well for his market in the transfer portal. Expect Chaplin to find a new team quickly.
1) RB Caleb Hawkins, North Texas
Caleb Hawkins took the nation by storm as a freshman this past season at North Texas, rushing for 1,434 yards and 25 touchdowns in the Mean Green's offense. The six-foot-two running back not only proved to be a highlight waiting to happen, but he made it clear that he can be the bell cow in an explosive offense. With his intent to enter the transfer portal announced, Hawkins will immediately become a top target for several contending teams.
2) QB Anthony Colandrea, UNLV
Anthony Colandrea began his college career at Virginia, where he struggled to prove how dynamic he could be leading an offense. Transferring to UNLV, the Florida native hoped to use a fresh start and the chance to learn under an offensive-minded head coach, Dan Mullen, to his advantage. The quarterback looked poised for a breakout season in 2025. After winning the starting QB job, Colandrea showed just how dynamic he could be running an offense, totaling 33 total touchdowns (23 passing, 10 rushing) and only nine interceptions. Now, the rising senior enters the portal looking to use his breakout season to land with a top program in the P4.
3) RB Quintrevion Wisner, Texas
Quintrevion Wisner entered the 2025 season poised for a monster year after rushing for 1,064 yards and five touchdowns during his sophomore campaign in 2024. Unfortunately, those high expectations were met with an underwhelming year, rushing for only 597 yards and three touchdowns in a split backfield for the Longhorns. As a result, Wisner becomes yet another dynamic backfield option set to split from Texas this offseason, leaving head coach Steve Sarkisian with a significant hole to fill. As for Wisner, he'll become a priority target for teams looking to add explosive offensive weapons ahead of 2026.
4) WR Wayne Knight, JMU
Wayne Knight has spent the last four seasons at JMU, where he's patiently waited for his opportunity to take over the Dukes' backfield. In 2025, the undersized running back finally got the opportunity, and he didn't disappoint. Rushing for 1,373 yards and nine touchdowns, while adding 397 yards and a touchdown through the air, Knight proved just how impactful he can be when given a larger role. Now, with the head coaching change for JMU, Knight hits the portal, where he'll likely have several teams interested in his services.
5) WR Wyatt Young, North Texas
Wyatt Young emerged as not only one of the most reliable big-play weapons for North Texas this past season, but in the nation as a whole. The six-foot wideout finished the year with 70 receptions for 1,264 yards and 10 touchdowns, proving to be a go-to target for the Mean Green's explosive offense. Adding his name to the transfer portal, Young will have a robust market with several contending teams interested in adding him to their wide receiving room.
6) EDGE Sahir West, JMU
Sahir West proved to be one of the best freshmen in the country throughout the 2025 campaign, making a name for himself in the JMU defense. The six-foot-four edge rusher ended his first season with the Dukes, totaling 45 tackles, seven sacks, four pass defenses, and a forced fumble. The Maryland native will draw plenty of interest on the open market, and it wouldn't be a shock to see a top program lure him away from following former head coach Bob Chesney to UCLA.
7) QB Austin Novosad, Oregon
Austin Novosad has spent the last three seasons at Oregon, where he's patiently waited for his opportunity to run the Ducks' offense and allow for Dan Lanning to help him prove to be one of the best QB prospects in the nation. However, after yet another season serving as a backup, Novosad has finally pulled the plug on the waiting game, hoping that a fresh start in the transfer portal will allow him to see the field immediately in 2026.
8) WR Jayvan Boggs, Florida State
Jayvan Boggs didn't set the nation on fire this past year as a freshman at Florida State, but he did serve as a starting wideout in a talented Seminoles offense. Carving out a sizable role as a freshman is an impressive feat of its own. With his high upside, years of eligibility remaining, and great size for a pass catcher, Boggs will likely have a solid market in the transfer portal with a chance to prove why he should have been a priority to keep for FSU.
9) DB MJ Cannon, Bowling Green
MJ Cannon impressed this season at Bowling Green, where he totaled 57 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and a pass defense. The six-foot-three corner showcased his ability to be a difference-maker in coverage against larger receivers, and that alone could turn heads for interested teams in the transfer portal seeking a physical playmaker to add to their secondary.
10) OL Tyree Adams, LSU
Tyree Adams becomes yet another talented offensive lineman to enter the transfer portal following the end of LSU's season. Following the hiring of head coach Lane Kiffin, Adams opted to hit the transfer portal and reopen his recruitment, hoping to make the best decision for himself and his future. Considering the film he's put together at LSU against SEC competition, Adams should have plenty of interest.
11) WR Shazz Preston, Tulane
Shazz Preston emerged as a dynamic pass catcher for Tulane this past season, totaling 723 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a focal point of the Green Wave's offense. The Louisiana native hits the portal following the departure of head coach Jon Sumrall, and it wouldn't be a shock to see Preston follow his former head coach to the SEC, where he's hoping to build a contender at Florida.
12) OL DJ Chester, LSU
DJ Chester adds his name to the list of available offensive linemen in the transfer portal. After multiple impressive seasons at LSU, the versatile lineman will likely find a new home rather quickly, with the chance to slot into a starting lineup in 2026.
13) DB Sharif Denson, Florida
Sharif Denson has spent the last three seasons at Florida, where he's quietly developed into a reliable defender in the Gators' secondary. Putting together a career year in 2025, totaling 52 tackles and a pass defense, Denson has put together enough credible film that should allow him to interest several teams looking to bolster their defense.
14) QB Alonza Barnett III, JMU
Alonza Barnett III joins the wave of talented quarterback options to enter the transfer portal for what is expected to be a hectic offseason in college football. The dual-threat quarterback helped lead the Dukes to the College Football Playoff after a breakout season, passing for 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while adding 589 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Keep an eye on Barnett in the transfer portal to find a new home fairly quickly.
15) LT Xavier Chaplin, Auburn
Xavier Chaplin enters the transfer portal after serving as the starting left tackle at Auburn this past year. The offensive lineman is a solid run protector who can hold his own in pass protection, which alone should bode well for his market in the transfer portal. Expect Chaplin to find a new team quickly.
1) RB Caleb Hawkins, North Texas
Caleb Hawkins took the nation by storm as a freshman this past season at North Texas, rushing for 1,434 yards and 25 touchdowns in the Mean Green's offense. The six-foot-two running back not only proved to be a highlight waiting to happen, but he made it clear that he can be the bell cow in an explosive offense. With his intent to enter the transfer portal announced, Hawkins will immediately become a top target for several contending teams.