Top 20 Players Who Committed in the CFB Transfer Portal in January

20) WR Jaren Hamilton (Alabama -> Arizona State)

Jaren Hamilton is another Alabama wideout who struggled to find playing time despite being a top recruit. After entering the portal, the talented pass catcher quickly found a home at Arizona State.

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2) WR Zachariah Branch (USC -> Georgia)

Zachariah Branch quickly became a top receiver in the portal when he announced his decision to leave USC. The former five-star had plenty of suitors to choose from, but Kirby Smart and Georgia ultimately won the sweepstakes for the talented pass catcher.

3) EDGE Damon Wilson II (Georgia -> Missouri)

Damon Wilson II is another Georgia transfer that found a new home within the transfer portal The talented edge rusher was rumored to be a lock to land at Ohio State, but the Missouri Tigers came out of nowhere and struck a deal to land the former Bulldog.

4) RB Makhi Hughes (Tulane -> Oregon)

Makhi Hughes entered the portal after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons for Tulane. The running back was a top target for multiple teams, but Dan Lanning and Oregon managed to snag the top running back on the market.

5) CB Tacario Davis (Arizona -> Washington)

Tacario Davis entered the portal last offseason but opted to stand pat at Arizona for one more season. However, the cornerback re-entered the portal this offseason and found a fit with his former head coach, Jedd Fisch, at Washington in January.

6) WR Noah Thomas (Texas A&M -> Georgia)

Noah Thomas quickly became a top wideout in the portal, announcing his decision to leave Texas A&M. The receiver gained plenty of interest from top teams before landing at Georgia to add to a talented wide receiver room.

7) QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (Oregon -> Cal)

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele entered the portal earlier this month, adding his name to the open market. After originally flipping his commitment from Cal to Oregon, the quarterback undoubtedly had a change of heart again, which led to him landing with the Golden Bears ahead of the 2025 season.

8) CB Brandon Cisse (NC State -> South Carolina)

Brandon Cisse was the top-rated defender in NC State's secondary this past season. The NC State corner opted to enter the portal hoping to find a spot with a contending team ahead of next season. His search led him back to his home state team, where he plans to suit up for the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2025. 

9) IOL Emmanuel Pregnon (USC -> Oregon)

Emmanuel Pregnon made headlines with his decision to enter the portal after a lackluster season for USC. The lineman seemingly came down to Texas and Oregon, but Dan Lanning and the Ducks came out on top of the sweepstakes for Pregnon.

10) S Tamarcus Cooley (NC State -> LSU)

Talented safety Tamarcus Cooley was among the wave of transfers to enter the portal from the NC State secondary. The talented safety had multiple options to choose from, but Brian Kelly's pitch to join LSU ultimately led to Cooley joining the Tigers.

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11) CB Ethan O'Connor (Washington State -> Miami)

Ethan O'Connor entered the portal and immediately became a top defender on the market. Miami struck quickly and brought in the talented corner to fix the Hurricanes' worrisome secondary in 2025.

12) IOL James Brockermeyer (TCU -> Miami)

After announcing his decision to leave TCU, James Brockermeyer became a top offensive lineman in the portal. The lineman had many options, but the fit at Miami persuaded him to join the Hurricanes. Now, he'll protect transfer quarterback Carson Beck next season.

13) DL David Gusta (Washington State -> Kentucky)

David Gusta is another Washington State defender who entered the transfer portal following the Cougars season. The versatile lineman showed out at WSU, which warranted plenty of interest in the portal. Ultimately, Gusta landed at Kentucky.

14) CB Marcellus Barnes Jr. (Syracuse -> SMU)

Marcellus Barnes Jr. was a top-ranked corner in the transfer portal. After minimal opportunities at Syracuse, the former top recruit sought a more prominent role. After mulling over all options, the defender's search ended at SMU.

15) OT Elijah Pritchett (Alabama -> Nebraska)

Elijah Pritchett joined the fun of the transfer portal when he announced his decision to leave Alabama. In no time, Matt Rhule and Nebraska convinced the versatile lineman to become a Cornhusker.

16) WR Harrison "Trey" Wallace (Penn State -> Ole Miss)

Harrison "Trey" Wallace entered the portal following Penn State's semifinal loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoffs. The talented wideout quickly became a top target for many teams, but Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss didn't let the wideout leave before joining the Rebels during his visit.

17) EDGE Jeremiah Alexander (Alabama -> Clemson)

Jeremiah Alexander entered the portal after one season under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. Unsurprisingly, the former five-star recruit had plenty of options to choose from. Ultimately, he landed in the ACC to join Clemson.

18) DB King Mack (Alabama -> Penn State)

King Mack transferred to Alabama from Penn State, seeking a more prominent role. However, after discovering the grass is not greener on the other side, the talented defender opted to re-enter the portal and join the Nittany Lions.

19) WR Amari Jefferson (Alabama -> Tennessee)

Amari Jefferson committed to Alabama as a top recruit out of high school. After struggling to see the field during his time with the Crimson Tide, the wideout entered the portal. He's set to suit up for an SEC rival with Tennessee next year.

20) WR Jaren Hamilton (Alabama -> Arizona State)

Jaren Hamilton is another Alabama wideout who struggled to find playing time despite being a top recruit. After entering the portal, the talented pass catcher quickly found a home at Arizona State.

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