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Craig Haubert, ESPN Staff Writer
Spring football is well in the rearview mirror and so is the spring transfer window. While there is still time for spring portal entries to commit before the start of preseason camp, most big names have already announced their new destinations and fall rosters have been shaped.
Whether it is established players seeking bigger opportunities or former prospects seeking fresh places, the portal continues to affect the landscape of college football in a major way. Quantifying the portal’s impact on various programs can be difficult. Schools take different approaches to building their rosters, with some leaning more heavily on the portal than others, so portal rankings alone often don’t tell the whole story.
Here’s a look at the 10 classes that made the biggest impact with spring transfers:
Miami hasn’t won a national title in over 20 years and its last 10-win season came in 2017. While recent on-field performance has fallen short of past success, coach Mario Cristobal is working the recruiting trail in an effort to change the on-field results. Miami signed a top-10 recruiting class for the 2024 cycle while also adding coveted transfer quarterback Cam Ward. Cristobal didn’t rest during the spring transfer period, adding two offensive players ranked in the top 10 of ESPN’s transfer player rankings.
The Hurricanes landed top transfer running back Damien Martinez after losing two of their top three leading rushers — and over 1,110 yards of production — from 2023. Martinez is an agile back with good power and speed. He was very productive at Oregon State and can reasonably be expected to carry the load in replacing the lost production. Martinez’s presence in the backfield should only help Ward by giving the offense good balance. Miami also added a proven receiving target, Samuel Brown, from Houston. Brown caught 62 passes last year and is a tall target that can win 50-50 balls.
The Hurricanes did lose several defensive linemen to the portal but also signed the best defensive line class for the 2024 cycle. Still, there’s no substitute for experience. So Miami returned to the portal to add defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. from Michigan State on top of several prior transfers earlier in the process. Barrow is a consistent performer and, at the very least, boosts depth at this spot. Miami should be able to rotate fresh bodies and maintain a stout, aggressive defensive line — a hallmark of its glory years.
We suggest using pencil, not pen, when covering all of Colorado’s transfers. The Buffaloes are as active as any team in the country in the portal. While recent departures made headlines, they’ve also successfully brought in new faces to try and elevate the four-win program. Colorado prioritized revamping the offensive line. It had several options on campus this spring but continued to try and strengthen that unit. That includes landing Michigan State transfer Ethan Boyd, who was an active contributor in 2023. Colorado also added Payton Kirkland, a 2023 high three-star recruit who brings raw tools to still develop.
The Buffaloes added more talent to their defensive front as well. They landed a pair of top-40 transfers, Dayon Hayes (No. 3) from Pittsburgh and Rayyan Buell (No. 39) from Ohio. Hayes was one of the most notable pickups of the recent transfer window. He’s an active, disruptive defense lineman and a needed plug-and-play addition.
Colorado lost its four top rushers from 2023. The loss of running back Dylan Edwards (to Kansas State) stings, but keep in mind only two Colorado backs even surpassed 300 yards in 2023. The Buffaloes added two of the top running backs available in Dallan Hayden and Rashad Amos. Hayden arrives from Ohio State where he flashed as a freshman (2022) and gives Colorado a quick, elusive runner. Amos is on his third school but is coming off a 1,000-yard season at Miami (Ohio) and complements Hayden as a bigger back who is more of a physical presence.
Colorado has made some strong upgrades, and it’s likely not done. The question is whether it has brought in enough to strengthen its overall depth, but the additions so far are notable.
The Knights struggled in their first season in the Big 12, but they’ve remained active in recruiting and made some key additions during this spring period. Former ESPN 300 defensive lineman Nyjalik Kelly leads the group. He arrives via Miami where he had four sacks as a true freshman. While injuries hampered him last season, when healthy, he gives UCF an explosive defender. He could quickly help replace the production lost with Tre’mon Morris-Brash, who tallied over 20 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks before moving on to the NFL. They also added Cedrick Hawkins Jr., who signed with Ohio State in 2023 but returns home to Florida with the physical tools and remaining eligibility to be a productive long-term fixture in their secondary.
Offensively, the Knights got great production from RJ Harvey, who rushed for over 1,400 yards with 16 touchdowns, but have bolstered their depths with the addition of Peny Boone, who also rushed for 1,400 yards last season with Toledo. Boone is a bigger downhill runner and forms a nice one-two punch with Harvey. The Knights have one of the most talented running back pairings in the country.
The Sooners are arriving in the SEC with an upgraded defensive front. Landing five-star defensive tackle David Stone was huge considering he’s a young player with impact potential. OU also added experience through the portal. TCU transfer Damonic Williams, the No. 4 prospect in the spring portal, was the most notable addition. The 320-pounder is a big body with good quickness and performed well for the Horned Frogs after arriving as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class. He’s a strong candidate to seize a starting role. Adding those two players helps Oklahoma offset the loss of several contributors.
The Sooners also added an experienced, sound interior offensive lineman in SMU transfer Branson Hickman. He has more than 30 career starts and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him assume a starting role this fall.
There’s a popular expression that if you love something, set it free, and if it comes back it was meant to be. That applies to offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. Alabama had to love the growth and improvement from the five-star freshman at left tackle last season and was likely heartbroken to see him decide to transfer home to Iowa after the season. Proctor is one of the most talented and promising young offensive linemen in the sport. But his homecoming was short-lived. Proctor returned to the portal and is poised to head back to Tuscaloosa, creating one of the big wins of this transfer period. He endured some growing pains in 2023, but Alabama can now field one of the most formidable guard-tackle pairs in the league as he lines up alongside NFL first-round prospect and fellow former five-star Tyler Booker.
Proctor is enough to get Alabama on this list, but the Tide also continued to address and rebuild the secondary with the addition of top-50 portal prospect Kameron Howard. A 2023 signee with Charlotte, he was a productive contributor in Year 1. He provides Alabama with a little bit of experience but, more importantly, a very good blend of speed and quickness. Time is on his side to keep developing within that unit. The transfer portal might be closed, but the Crimson Tide might not be done adding to their secondary which would further strengthen their success via this route.
Auburn identified a key need at receiver this offseason and improved the group with several excellent 2024 signings, led by five-star recruit Cameron Coleman. The Tigers further addressed the group by landing Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith, one of the top transfer receivers available. The 2020 ESPN 300 receiver never broke out as an explosive playmaker in Happy Valley but still brings that potential and has been productive, leading the Nittany Lions in receiving in 2023. The future undoubtedly lies with the dynamic incoming young receiver class, but Lambert-Smith provides high value as an experienced option who can immediately step in and elevate production while also helping groom the Tigers’ new notable signees.
History has proven teams need talented defensive fronts to compete in the SEC. Coach Hugh Freeze knows that. He used the portal to strengthen the trenches as well. Adding Indiana transfer Philip Blidi was a key addition. He’s been productive throughout his career, first at Texas Tech and then with the Hoosiers, and will bolster a Tigers run defense that finished near the bottom of the conference last season.
Cal improved throughout 2023 and finished strong by winning three of its last four games. Now, the Bears are working to strengthen their roster as they enter the ACC despite losing their fair share of talented players, including leading receiver Jeremiah Hunter to Washington. California made strides to replace him and potentially even upgrade its receiving corps.
Tight end Jack Endries returns, and he was a pleasant surprise coming off a strong redshirt freshman season. He’ll pair with top-30 portal prospect Corey Dyches. Cal flipped the Maryland transfer from a brief commitment to Charlotte and added a target with a wide catch radius who hauled in nearly 90 passes over the past two seasons. Dyches and Endries form a nice tandem that can further open up the passing attack and help players like Ohio State wide receiver transfer Kyion Grayes. The 2022 ESPN 300 prospect made little impact with the Buckeyes but still brings ability and three seasons of eligibility to realize that potential. Cal also added several defensive prospects including two young talented secondary players in Ryan Yaites and Jasiah Wagoner, both four-star prospects in the 2023 class.
Despite losing several of their own players, the Gophers landed multiple new additions, including a pair of top-50 portal prospects. Minnesota brought Jaxon Howard, the state’s top prospect in the 2023 cycle, back home after a brief stint with LSU. His upside is the key here, but getting an in-state player who can develop into an explosive edge rusher is a big win, even if it comes with slightly delayed gratification. Howard’s impact at first might be minimal, but he has the tools to become a key defender and a strong contributor at some point in 2024.
Wide receiver Tyler Williams was also a top 2023 prospect. His initial college production with Georgia was limited, but he arrives in Minnesota with time on his side and a wealth of ability. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound receiver blends size and speed, hitting 21 mph during game play in high school, to create big play potential. Howard and Williams won’t be the most immediately impactful of the Golden Gophers’ recent additions, but landing two young players with immense physical skill is big for P.J. Fleck and his program as they compete in the increasingly competitive Big Ten.
The Ducks are establishing themselves as a title contender in 2024 and beyond with their recruiting and portal acumen. While their additions this period have been minimal, it all adds to a strong recruiting class and several notable transfer additions from the winter period, including quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Freshman Peyton Woodyard returns west to join the Ducks after a short-lived tenure with Alabama. The St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) product was a leader by example according to his high school coaches and is a physical, instinctive safety. He’s more of an addition for the future.
Defensive lineman Derrick Harmon will more immediately bolster the Ducks’ 2024 playoff hopes. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Michigan State transfer is a big presence at a premium position in the portal and is coming off his most productive season. He’s a tough defender against the run and already has experience in the Big Ten.
The Huskies might be coming off an appearance in the national title game, but it is a new era with a new conference in the Big Ten and a new coach in Jedd Fisch. Despite their success last season, this roster has undergone quite a bit of change. Fisch, who did a nice job rebuilding Arizona, is staying active in the portal to avoid a major dip for the Huskies in 2024. They made key additions during the last transfer window with players like receiver Jeremiah Hunter (Cal) and freshman QB Demond Williams Jr. (Arizona). During this spring period they have remained very active adding more offensive talent, including receiver Kevin Green Jr. and running back Jordan Washington. A four-star prospect in the 2022 class, Green played for Fisch at Arizona and comes with three years of eligibility remaining, and Washington was an ESPN 300 prospect in the 2024 cycle who initially committed to Arizona. He is a runner with big play ability as he possesses home run speed with a 10.24 100m in track. He’s not only a dangerous runner but can also be utilized as a receiver out of the backfield with over 70 receptions in prep career.
Washington also used this period to improve offensive line depth in Enokk Vimahi (Ohio State) and Logan Sagapolu (Miami). Neither have been consistent starters, but they bring experience to the unit. The Huskies also added to their defense with edge defender Jayden Wayne. A Washington native who signed with Miami out of IMG in the 2023 class, he possesses a lengthy frame with fluid movement skills and still brings a high ceiling for development.