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 2025 college football season.
Atkinson improved over two seasons with North Carolina. After notching 3.5 sacks in 2023, he upped his game to rack up 7.5 sacks last season. He jumped into the portal late in the process, but has a chance to create a big impact going forward.
Ohio State lost a lot of their defensive talent to the NFL Draft, but do have some players who were able to get experience last season. Atkinson will bring starting experience and help give the Buckeyes depth with their pass rush. If he improves, he can reach double-digit sacks and help Ohio State make the CFP again this season.
Bailey showed progression during his three seasons at Stanford. He went from 2.5 sacks as a freshman to five sacks in 2023 and seven sacks last season. While he wasn’t able to help Stanford win many games while he was there, Bailey had great individual performances.
Texas Tech brought in a lot of transfers and Bailey is the one who can have the biggest impact. The Red Raiders are one of the favorites in the Big 12 and having an improved pass rush can help them possibly make a CFP. Bailey and another transfer, Romello Height, can change the dynamics of the Texas Tech defense.
Concepcion exploded onto the scene as a freshman for NC State with 71 catches for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns. His production dipped in 2024, as he registered 53 catches for 460 yards and six touchdowns. While he wasn’t as great in 2024, Concepcion should bounce back in the future.
Texas A&M had a solid first season under Mike Elko, winning eight games last season. Adding to the wide receiver room can help the development of Marcel Reed, who started some key games for the Aggies, but needs more consistency with his passing. Concepcion can really help the offense improve this season.
Davis was at Arizona for the first three seasons of his career. He didn’t play much as a freshman, but really showcased his skill as a sophomore with 15 passes defended and one interception. Last season, he had six passes defended for Arizona.
This offseason, Davis decided to join his former coach at Arizona, Jedd Fisch, at Washington. The Huskies have some great offensive pieces with quarterback Demond Williams, running back Jonah Coleman and wide receiver Denzel Boston all being dynamic players. If the offense can improve, Davis can help the defense as well, giving them a better season than last year when they won six games.
Singleton had two productive years at Georgia Tech. As a freshman, he had 48 catches for 714 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, he improved to post 56 catches for 754 yards and three touchdowns. The speedster didn’t have the most consistent quarterback play at Georgia Tech, but produced anyways.
At Auburn, Singleton will pair with Cam Coleman to create a potentially great wide receiver room. Former highly-rated recruit Jackson Arnold is in to play quarterback and with all three key players and Hugh Freeze calling plays, the offense can take a step forward. Auburn won five games last season and with Singleton, they may be able to do more in 2025.
Thieneman was one of the best safeties in the country over the last two seasons at Purdue. He totaled 106 tackles, six interceptions and two passes defended as a freshman. In 2024, Thieneman tallied 104 tackles and seven passes defended, but decided to leave Purdue for a bigger program following the season.
Oregon went undefeated up until the CFP last season and will now have a lot of new faces contributing. Thieneman gives them a solid presence at the back of their defense, which will help, as the unit returns just three starters. Oregon ranked 16th in scoring defensively last season and that is achievable again this season, which would help the Ducks compete again in the Big Ten.
World redshirted at Nevada in 2021, then started 10 games for the Wolf Pack in 2022. In 2023, he was All-Mountain West Honorable Mention for his play, which is something he repeated in 2024. His athleticism has been apparent on tape and got him the attention of plenty of suitors in the transfer portal.
Oregon only has one starter returning on its offensive line, so World can help fill a void. If he plays well, and cleans up his penalties, he can help Oregon return to the CFP and have a solid offense. World is expected to be an early 2026 NFL Draft pick and this season is his chance to show what he can do against good competition.
Nic Anderson, WR, LSU Tigers- Anderson showed some promise at Oklahoma in 2023 before getting injured last season. He’ll have the chance to rebound at LSU with a potentially potent offense.
Zach Branch, WR, Georgia Bulldogs- Branch hasn’t been as productive as expected so far in his career, but he has plenty of speed to provide Georgia after transferring from USC.
Barion Brown, WR, LSU Tigers- Brown is one of the fastest players in college football. The Kentucky transfer will be a productive receiver, but can also change the game with his kick returns.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Tigers- Delane saw some early success at Virginia Tech and now will be one of the transfers coming into LSU to help fix the defense and help them compete in the SEC.
Jack Endries, TE, Texas Longhorns- Endries was one of the more productive tight ends in college football and should be one of Arch Manning’s favorite targets.
Rahsul Faison, RB, South Carolina Gamecocks- With LaNorris Sellers’ rushing ability, Faison can help South Carolina have a good ground attack. He rushed for over 1,100 yards last season at Utah State.
Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame Fighting Irish- After two straight seasons of over 800 receiving yards at Virginia, Fields now joins Notre Dame as they try to get more passing production this season.
Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri Tigers- Hardy rushed for 1,351 yards as a true freshman last year at UL Monroe. He’ll help give Missouri more playmaking after they lost a ton to the NFL Draft.
Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan Wolverines- Haynes had a decent year for Alabama last year and now is going to Michigan, where he should create a good backfield tandem with Jordan Marshall.
Will Heldt, EDGE, Clemson Tigers- Clemson already had one of the best defensive lines in football and then added Heldt in the transfer portal. He had five sacks last year at Purdue and his production should increase with good pass rushers around him.
Roman Hemby, RB, Indiana Hoosiers- Hemby accounted for over 3,000 yards during his time at Maryland. Indiana should have a good offense and Hemby can upgrade what they had at the position last season.
Isaiah Horton, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide- Horton had 616 receiving yards in 2025 for Miami. Now he’ll join Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard to make a great receiving core for Alabama.
Dane Key, WR, Nebraska Cornhuskers- He had over 500 yards in each of his three seasons at Kentucky and now Key should be a favorite target for Dylan Raiola.
Max Klare, TE, Ohio State Buckeyes- Klare was highly productive at Purdue and gives Ohio State their best tight end in recent memory, as a player who has solid NFL Draft stock.
Eli Modozie, EDGE, Georgia Bulldogs- It isn’t often that a player transfers from Army to Georgia, but Modozie should help Georgia’s pass rush after totaling 6.5 sacks last season.
Jaydn Ott, RB, Oklahoma Sooners- Ott was a star for Cal in 2023, but struggled through injuries in 2024. There is a chance for a lot of production at Oklahoma if he can stay healthy.
Patrick Payton, EDGE, LSU Tigers- There was some draft hype around Payton after having seven sacks in 2023, but he took a step back last season. If he can rebound at LSU, his draft stock and the Tigers will benefit.
Trebor Pena, WR, Penn State Nittany Lions- Penn State desperately needed to improve their receiver room and got a late addition in Pena, who had 941 yards for Syracuse last season.
Eric Rivers, WR, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets- Rivers is a former defensive back who had over 1,100 yards for FIU last season. He will be tasked with replacing Eric Singleton in Georgia Tech’s offense.
Terion Stewart, RB, Virginia Tech Hokies- While Harold Fannin got a lot of love out of Bowling Green’s offense last season, Stewart also played well with over 850 rushing yards. He should improve Virginia Tech’s rushing attack.
De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss Rebels- Stribling was productive at both Washington State and Oklahoma State. He greatly helps an Ole Miss receiving room that lost several receivers to the NFL.
J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Florida Gators- Sturdivant’s production dipped at UCLA, but he has some production and experience. That will help Florida immensely, as they have talent at the receiver position, but will be happy to have Sturdivant’s experience.
Damon Wilson, LB, Missouri Tigers- Wilson had just 22 tackles and three sacks for Georgia last season. Now the former prized recruit will have a chance to play more and create an impact.
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