Every year, transfers flood the college football offseason news. This is especially true for quarterbacks, but there are other talented players who will be on new teams this season too. Here are the top non-quarterback transfers for the 2024 college football season.
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas Longhorns
Bond made some big catches in the first two seasons of his college career, while playing at Alabama. That includes the game-winner against Auburn last season. In his career, he has caught 65 passes for 888 yards and four touchdowns.
Texas went to the College Football Playoff last season, but they lost a lot of talent from their receiver room. They’ll need a true number one receiver to step up and Bond can be that player. If he and quarterback Quinn Ewers can get on the same page, a return to the CFP ban possibly more could be on the table.
Parker Brailsford, IOL, Alabama Crimson Tide
Brailsford played two seasons at Washington before making the move to Alabama. He redshirted his first season with the Huskies. Last season, he was a Freshman All-American and a Second Team Pac-12 selection. His play helped Washington make the National Championship Game.
There were players who entered the transfer portal after Nick Saban retired, so Alabama needed to restock some talent. Brailsford decided to follow head coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama. While he is a little undersized, Brailsford is a very good center who can make Alabama’s one of the best units in the SEC.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Buckeyes
Downs has played just one season of college football, but already impressed. He started at Alabama as a true freshman and drew a lot of praise from Saban. In one season, he had 107 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended. He was a Freshman All-American for his play.
In 2024, Downs is joining the Ohio State Buckeyes, as he goes from one title contender to another. Ohio State’s defense gave up less than 12 points per game last season and returns a lot of talent. Downs improves a defense that was already one of the best statistically over the last few seasons. If they play well in 2024, Downs could help Ohio State win the CFP.
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes
Judkins is one of the most productive running backs over the last two seasons. In his two seasons at Ole Miss, Judkins rushed for 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns. He has added 37 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
This season, Judkins will make up half of a great running back duo. He and TreVeyon Henderson are both supremely talented and have produced when healthy. With Chip Kelly calling the plays, the offense can be one of the most exciting in the country and Judkins is a large reason why.
Damien Martinez, RB, Miami Hurricanes
Martinez was just a three-star prospect, but vastly outplayed his recruiting profile in just two seasons at Oregon State. He was able to rush for 2,167 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also has 15 catches for 187 yards. Without the greatest quarterback play, it was impressive that Martinez was able to be that productive, as defenses would stack the box against him.
In Miami, Martinez will have a better passing game, which should open up things for him on the ground. If Cam Ward can find his footing at quarterback, the offense can be one of the best in the country. There is a chance that Miami can compete for the ACC and possibly a CFP spot.
Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss Rebels
Nolen was a highly-rated recruit who started his career at Texas A&M as one of Jimbo Fisher’s great recruiting classes. After a decent freshman season, Nolen really broke out last season. He finished his Aggie career with 66 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Following the season, Nolen decided to join Ole Miss, who generally does well with their transfer portal recruiting. The Rebels won 11 games last season and there is hope that they can match that and make the CFP, in large thanks to their transfer class. Lane Kiffin will have the offense rolling, but Nolen can really help the defense’s chances as well.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama Crimson Tide
Proctor is technically a transfer, even if he did go back to the same school. Proctor was one of the best freshmen offensive linemen in the country. After Saban’s retirement, he transferred to Iowa, his home-state school. After the spring semester was up, he decided to transfer back to Alabama.
Proctor joins an offensive line that features Xavier Booker and Parker Brailsford, who are some of the best players at their position in the sport. He has true pro potential and will be tasked with protecting quarterback Jalen Milroe. A good offensive line gives DeBoer’s offense a great chance to be successful in year one.
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M Aggies
After a mundane freshman season at Purdue, Scourton proved to be one of the best pass rushers in the country last season. In his two seasons, he has 72 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Doing this while getting so much attention from opposing offenses is very impressive.
Texas A&M lost a lot of talent in the transfer portal, but Scourton helps ease some of the losses. He can show his pass rushing effectiveness in Mike Elko’s first year at the helm in College Station. If Scourton can play well, it can help Texas A&M have a better season than most programs do in a coach’s first season.
Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon Ducks
Stewart was one of the players who transferred out of Texas A&M this offseason. He is a former top recruit, who has had to deal with inconsistent quarterback play and usage during his time with the Aggies. He still had 91 catches for 1,163 yards and six touchdowns in his two seasons.
This offseason, Stewart decided to join Oregon. The Ducks have hopes of winning a national championship this season. Dillon Gabriel comes in at quarterback after playing for Oregon and UCF. He seems like a perfect fit for Oregon’s offense. If he can utilize Stewart and another talented receiver in Tez Johnson, the offense can be very hard to stop.
Other Notable Non-Quarterback Transfers
Malik Benson, WR, Florida State Seminoles– Benson has gone from JUCO to Alabama and now to Florida State. While he hasn’t produced much in his career, his talent may shine with the Seminoles.
Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma Sooners– Burks was highly productive at Purdue and now will pair with Jackson Arnold as he takes over the reins of the offense while the Sooners join the SEC.
Fadil Diggs, EDGE, Syracuse Orange– Last season, Diggs had 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. His play could help Syracuse start the season well.
Julian Flemming, WR, Penn State Nittany Lions– Ohio State’s wide receiver room was crowded, but now Flemming joins Penn State. He will be tasked with giving Drew Allar a reliable target.
Cayden Green, OT, Missouri Tigers– Green started his career at Oklahoma and now joins Missouri after they had a big season and are looking for more.
Jeremiah Hunter, WR, Washington Huskies– Hunter already has over 2,000 receiving yards from his time at Cal. He can now help open up Jedd Fisch’s offense at Washington.
Trey Moore, EDGE, Texas Longhorns– Texas will have a few pass rushers to make their defense impactful. Moore had 17.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks for UTSA last season.
Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon Ducks– Muhammad went from Oklahoma State to Washington, where he was a good defensive back on a team that made the National Championship Game. Now, he’ll look to return with his new team, Oregon.
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana Hoosiers– Sarratt was productive at James Madison and followed head coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana. If he plays well, Sarratt can help a turnaround happen at Indiana quicker than expected.
Dorian Singer, WR, Utah Utes– Singer had a great season in 2022 at Arizona, but didn’t do much at USC last season. Now he heads to Utah where he has a chance to get things back on track.
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss Rebels– Umanmielen can give Ole Miss a pass rusher that they have been lacking over the last few seasons after totaling seven sacks with Florida las season.
Make sure to check out our college football page for more content like top non-quarterback transfers for the 2024 college football season!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!