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New York Times
07-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
College football's top 100 transfers: What we're hearing about 2025's hottest newcomers
By Bruce Feldman, Sam Khan Jr. and Manny Navarro The method in which college football teams are assembled has changed drastically over the last few years — and the number of players switching teams keeps growing by the year. It's not just coaches picking off the best players from other teams anymore, either. We're seeing assistants and coordinators getting hired at new places and bringing players with them. Advertisement Last offseason, quarterback Diego Pavia and offensive coordinator Tim Beck made the move from New Mexico State to Vanderbilt, sprung one of the biggest upsets of the year and altered the College Football Playoff race. Pavia was ranked No. 100 on our top-100 list last season. The player ranked just ahead of him — 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year Peny Boone — appeared in only six games for UCF and hardly made a dent for the Knights. So, yes, quantifying impact can be tricky. Not every transfer lives up to the hype. Which 2025 transfers do we think will make the biggest mark on their new teams this fall? We solicited feedback from dozens of FBS coaches and staffers this summer to find out which players have impressed and are on track to become impact players. Some staffers were granted anonymity because they aren't authorized to speak publicly about their rosters. Below, everything you need to know about The Athletic's 100 most impactful transfers of 2025. 1. QB John Mateer, Washington State → Oklahoma Mateer was electric at Washington State in 2024, throwing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores against a Mountain West-heavy schedule that included just two Power 4 teams. Opposing coaches are confident he will make an impact at OU, but 'it'll be interesting to see how (he) holds up over the course of an SEC schedule,' a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. 'He has so much juice. Worst case, he'll be a good player.' 2. QB Carson Beck, Georgia → Miami Beck went 24-3 as a starter at Georgia but is coming off elbow surgery and an underwhelming 2024 season in which he threw 12 interceptions. Miami staffers have praised his intellect and dedication to work with his new receivers. 'If he gets back to playing how he was two years ago, he'll be really good,' a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. 'The elbow surgery's gotta scare you a little bit (as well as) the turnovers last year. … But he's a very talented kid.' Advertisement 3. Edge David Bailey, Stanford → Texas Tech Bailey is the headliner of the Red Raiders' renowned transfer haul this offseason. The former Freshman All-American produced 22 1/2 tackles for loss and 14 1/2 sacks in three seasons at Stanford. He's got rare speed for his size (6 foot 3, 250 pounds), having hit 22.16 mph on the GPS. 'He's an absolute freak,' Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. My position-by-position previews for the 2026 NFL Draft begin next week – eager to share all the scouting buzz from the summer! I really like this EDGE group. Texas Tech's David Bailey (Stanford transfer) brings a ton of juice and could be a SR riser this season 🚀 — Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) July 10, 2025 4. DB Dillon Thieneman, Purdue → Oregon Thieneman was a consistent producer over two years (24 starts) at Purdue. In 2023, he picked off six passes en route to earning Freshman All-America honors, and last year he led all Big Ten defensive backs with 104 tackles while adding seven pass breakups. He has good range and a knack for finding the ball and is a physical tackler. A Power 4 GM called Thieneman his favorite player in the portal this cycle. 5. QB Fernando Mendoza, Cal → Indiana After taking Indiana to the College Football Playoff with Kurtis Rourke, Curt Cignetti is betting on another transfer QB to lift the Hoosiers. Mendoza is big (6-5, 225) and has a good arm. 'He was pretty impressive when we played against him,' a Power 4 personnel director said. 'A little stiff, but not a statue. Good, solid quarterback. I think he'll be pretty good there.' 6. DB A.J. Haulcy, Houston → LSU Haulcy was a Freshman All-American at New Mexico in 2022 (87 tackles, two interceptions), led Houston with 98 tackles in 2023 and led the Big 12 with five interceptions in 2024 en route to first-team all-conference honors. He's instinctive and physical. 'He's a really good player who packs a punch,' a Power 4 defensive coordinator said. 7. WR Eric Singleton Jr., Georgia Tech → Auburn Singleton is a small, shifty stick of dynamite who is lethal in space. He caught 104 passes for 1,468 yards and nine scores in two years at Georgia Tech and was also a weapon in the running game. He'll be a major asset in the slot for Auburn. 'He's the real deal,' a Power 4 general manager said. 'He was the best receiver in the portal.' Advertisement 8. Edge Damon Wilson II, Georgia → Missouri The Tigers had edge rushers drafted in 2023 and 2024 but saw the streak come to an end in April, even with Johnny Walker Jr. finishing fourth in the SEC with 9.5 sacks. Wilson, a former five-star recruit, is expected to be the next highly productive pass rusher in Corey Batoon's system. He had 26 pressures (second-most on the team) and three sacks while splitting reps on a loaded Georgia front last season. 9. RB Jaydn Ott, Cal → Oklahoma Ott was Oklahoma's second-biggest get in the portal after Mateer. He accounted for more than 3,300 yards from scrimmage and 30 touchdowns in three seasons at Cal. A lingering ankle injury slowed his production in 2024 after a breakout 2023. 'He's got impressive power and acceleration. He's a home run threat,' a Power 4 head coach said. 'I always thought he was very underrated because he was playing at Cal.' 10. OL Ethan Onianwa, Rice → Ohio State Onianwa was the top O-lineman on the board of several Power 4 programs. He allowed only one sack on 294 pass-blocking snaps last season, and his pressure rate of 2.4 percent ranked in the 92nd percentile of FBS offensive tackles. He dropped 20 pounds in his first semester at Ohio State and is now 6-6, 325, and The Athletic's Cameron Teague Robinson reported he looks 'right at home at left tackle' on the Buckeyes' projected starting line this month. 'He's really smart with a lot of athleticism for being so massive,' a Power 4 OC said. 'He has first-round talent.' 11. RB Makhi Hughes, Tulane → Oregon Hughes, a two-time first-team all-conference back at Tulane, should provide instant production for the Ducks. In his last two years at Tulane, he rushed for 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns while also serving as a receiving threat. 'He's got a lot of bulk and strength. He's a real downhill runner,' a P4 head coach said. 'Has a good burst and has good hands too.' 12. QB Darian Mensah, Tulane → Duke Mensah was a revelation as a redshirt freshman last year at Tulane and attractive enough to the Blue Devils to pivot away from Maalik Murphy (now at Oregon State). He's got room for growth, but there's a lot of optimism about how good Mensah could be. 'He has really good accuracy and awareness,' a Group of 5 head coach said. 'He is a good quarterback. His physical talent is just OK. His arm strength is decent, and he can run a little but isn't that willing of a runner.' 13. WR Dane Key, Kentucky → Nebraska Key brings good size (6-3, 210), production and a veteran presence to the Huskers passing attack. He has increased his catch and yardage totals each year and now rejoins his 2024 position coach, Daikiel Shorts, who also made the move from Lexington to Lincoln this offseason. Expect him to be a major target for sophomore QB Dylan Raiola. Something you'll likely see a lot this fall: Dylan Raiola ➡️ Dane Key 🏈 Fall camp is underway for the #Huskers!@WOWT6News — Mason Kern (@MasonKernMedia) July 28, 2025 14. QB Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee → UCLA Iamaleava, the subject of the year's wildest portal story, led Tennessee to a 10-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance in his first season as the starter. The former five-star recruit impressed with his big arm and athleticism, but he struggled at times finding open receivers. Since arriving in Westwood, Iamaleava has wasted little time impressing his new teammates and coaches with his talent and his temperament, but he doesn't have much time to learn a new offense. 15. OL Emmanuel Pregnon, USC → Oregon The 6-5, 320 Pregnon has great strength and length and should be a huge asset on Oregon's interior O-line. He was one of the most experienced players in the portal, with 36 career starts, including 25 at USC over the last two years. He considered going pro, accepting an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl before opting to return for one more year. 'I thought he was a top-10 player in the portal,' a Power 4 scouting director said. Advertisement 16. QB Devon Dampier, New Mexico → Utah Dampier could breathe new life into the Utah offense. He joined his former OC at New Mexico, Jason Beck, in Salt Lake City, so the transition should be seamless. He's an electric runner (fourth among FBS QBs with 1,166 rushing yards last year) and capable as a passer. 'I think they're going to be dangerous (with him),' a Power 4 general manager said. 'He's not going to win any combines from a throwing perspective, but with better people around him he's going to do a good job there.' 17. TE Max Klare, Purdue → Ohio State Klare was the most coveted tight end on the market after finishing eighth nationally at the position in receiving yards (685) in 2024. Ohio State staffers liken his skill set to that of veteran NFL tight end Zach Ertz, a three-time Pro Bowler and former second-round pick. 'He's an X-factor and he creates big-time mismatches for the defense,' a Power 4 GM said. 18. OL Howard Sampson, North Carolina → Texas Tech North Carolina's 2024 starting left tackle is a mountain of a man at 6-8, 340 pounds. 'He's just so big and hard to get around,' Texas Tech OC Mack Leftwich said. 'Dude doesn't even fit through the door frame.' The Red Raiders hope he can anchor an O-line that needs big-time improvement this year. They love the early returns since Sampson arrived. 'He's the real deal,' Leftwich said. 19. CB Tacario Davis, Arizona → Washington Davis tested the portal last offseason but withdrew and returned to Arizona for the 2024 season. He re-entered this winter to rejoin his former head coach, Jedd Fisch, in Seattle. He's a two-time all-conference pick with size (6-4) and length that's hard to find at his position. He has an impressive 21 pass breakups over the last two seasons. 20. DL Lee Hunter, UCF → Texas Tech Hunter provides the type of disruptive interior defensive line presence that Texas Tech needs. He was a second-team All-Big 12 pick in 2024 and compiled 20 1/2 tackles for loss in the last two seasons. He moves well for a 320-pounder and hit 16.5 mph on the GPS this spring, according to Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire. He was one of the first significant portal acquisitions in Texas Tech's big offseason. 'Lee Hunter changes this building,' McGuire said. 21. QB Gio Lopez, South Alabama → North Carolina Bill Belichick's first North Carolina quarterback is a southpaw with some moxie. Lopez impressed as a dual-threat playmaker for the Jaguars, and Power 4 coaches are excited about what he'll bring to Chapel Hill. 'A little bit of a gunslinger. He throws it really well,' a Power 4 OC said. 'He's really well put together. He's a pretty thick kid, so he can take a little bit of a beating. He's good.' 22. WR Nic Anderson, Oklahoma → LSU Anderson is a big-time talent who was sidelined most of 2024 with an injury. In his breakout redshirt freshman year in 2023, he caught 31 balls for 798 yards and an Oklahoma freshman record 10 touchdowns, one of which was the game-winner against Texas. He's a proven deep threat (his 19 yards per reception in 2023 ranked fourth nationally) who will allow Garrett Nussmeier to attack downfield more. 'He makes plays on the ball in the air that are unbelievable,' Nussmeier said at SEC media days. Advertisement 23. LB Amare Campbell, North Carolina → Penn State Campbell entered the portal after a productive 2024 season but opted to return and go through spring practice with Bill Belichick and the new staff. He re-entered in late April and landed at Penn State. 'He's a playmaking guy,' Penn State linebackers coach Dan Connor said in June. 'He can create. He can play in space. He can play in the box. He can blitz. He can cover. He can do a lot.' 24. WR Zachariah Branch, USC → Georgia Georgia had a problem with drops at receiver last season, and Kirby Smart addressed it by tapping into the portal to land 6-6, 200-pound Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Branch, a 5-10, 180-pound speedster and special teams ace. Branch is expected to make a huge impact in both phases of the game for the defending SEC champions. 'He's an explosive playmaker that we've got to find ways to get the ball,' Smart said. 25. Edge Beau Atkinson, North Carolina → Ohio State Two of the Tar Heels' best defensive players bolted after going through spring practice with Bill Belichick: Atkinson and linebacker Amare Campbell. Atkinson started only one game last season (the Fenway Bowl) but still produced 26 pressures, 12 tackles for loss and 7 1/2 sacks while playing roughly 30 snaps a game for Mack Brown. Imagine what he'll do with better talent around him in Columbus. 26. WR KC Concepcion, NC State → Texas A&M The 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year caught 124 passes for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons with the Wolfpack — no other wideout on Texas A&M's roster has more than 17 career receptions. When Marcel Reed decides to throw, Concepcion will be the most targeted receiver on the team. He lined up in the slot 77 percent of the time last season at NC State and figures to play a similar role with the Aggies. 27. QB Jake Retzlaff, BYU → Tulane Retzlaff was a late addition to the Green Wave, departing BYU in July because he was facing a suspension for violating the school's honor code. In 2024, Retzlaff led the Cougars to an 11-2 record and CFP contention. 'He's got plenty of arm talent. The guy can really spin it,' a G5 head coach said. 'His accuracy is pretty good — not great — and he can be reckless with the football. He can run and he really plays with a chip on his shoulder.' 28. WR Duce Robinson, USC → Florida State The 6-6, 223-pound former five-star recruit could be the next Johnny Wilson. Early indications from FSU are that he and slot receiver Squirrel White (Tennessee transfer) are going to seriously upgrade the offense, now run by Gus Malzahn. 'Super hard-working kid who is eager to make an impact. Big catch radius. He's a tough kid. He has a lot he wants to prove to himself. We need that attitude,' a Seminoles staffer said. 29. LB Elo Modozie, Army → Georgia Kirby Smart signed four of the Bulldogs' 10 incoming transfers following the spring, and Modozie was the one proven commodity among them. The 6-3, 248-pound outside linebacker produced 6 1/2 sacks and 37 quarterback pressures last season, and he has been a good fit in Athens. 'People are going to know that name before the year is over,' Smart said at SEC media days. Advertisement 30. WR Barion Brown, Kentucky → LSU Brown's pure speed will be an asset to the Tigers in multiple ways. He can stretch the defense on the outside, but he's also a dynamite return specialist, having returned five kickoffs for touchdowns in three seasons at Kentucky and twice earning All-SEC honors as a returner or all-purpose player. 31. QB Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma → Auburn Arnold was supposed to be the next star QB for Oklahoma but endured a messy 2024 season. His supporting cast was ravaged by injuries, he went through a coordinator change, and he was briefly benched midseason. Auburn is banking on Arnold turning into what the Sooners thought he would be. 'I think he's really talented,' a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. 'He still has a chance to be a really good player.' 32. TE Tanner Koziol, Ball State → Wisconsin → Houston The 6-7, 240-pound Koziol was one of the most coveted tight ends in the portal after catching 94 passes last year, third-most nationally at the position. His 26 contested catches led all tight ends, per PFF. Houston pursued him in the winter, but he initially chose Wisconsin. He re-entered the portal in the spring, and the Cougars got their guy. 'Fantastic movement skills. … I think he's going to be an outstanding player for us,' Cougars coach Willie Fritz said. 33. QB Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State → Iowa Expectations are sky-high for the two-time FCS national champion. He was considered a draftable prospect but chose to transfer into the Big Ten for one more college run. 'He's better than most of the FBS starting QBs that went in the portal,' a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. 'Makes some good throws but he misses some layups. Powerful runner. Really tough kid. Winner.' 34. Edge Patrick Payton, Florida State → LSU The Tigers signed five defensive linemen in the portal, including four from Power 4 programs. Payton, the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, is by far the most experienced with nearly 1,600 career snaps, 31 1/2 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and 90 QB pressures. Payton now needs to prove that he can be an alpha. He had his best season in 2023 while playing opposite eventual first-round pick Jared Verse and looked ordinary on a 2-10 FSU team in 2024. 35. RB Ahmad Hardy, Louisiana-Monroe → Missouri The 5-10, 205-pound Mississippi native became a hot commodity after he ran for 1,351 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry as a true freshman. It made sense that Hardy ended up at Missouri. The Tigers have had the leading rusher in the SEC two of the last four seasons, running mostly outside zone. 'He has great burst, understands the scheme and how to run it,' Eli Drinkwitz said of his new back at SEC media days. 36. TE Terrance Carter, Louisiana → Texas Tech Carter (6-2, 245) is not as big as Jalin Conyers (6-4, 265) — the former Texas Tech transfer tight end who caught five touchdowns for the Red Raiders last year — but he could have an even bigger impact. Carter was seventh among tight ends nationally with 689 receiving yards last year and has impressed this offseason. 'He has some of the best body control and route-running ability that I've seen in my career,' Texas Tech OC Mack Leftwich said. 'He's really good in the pass game, and he's a better blocker than people give him credit for.' Advertisement 37. WR Trebor Pena, Syracuse → Penn State James Franklin wants to spread the ball around a little more this season with first-round pick Tyler Warren off to the NFL and Harrison Wallace now at Ole Miss. Pena had an ACC-leading 84 catches for 941 yards and nine touchdowns last season and will be a primary target for senior QB Drew Allar. 'He's a stud,' an ACC personnel director said. 38. QB Beau Pribula, Penn State → Missouri Pribula spent the last two seasons backing up Drew Allar but showed enough to have QB-needy programs intrigued this offseason. Penn State used his mobility situationally, but he's also a capable, accurate passer who produced when called upon. When Allar returned for one more year, Pribula departed to seek a starting opportunity. 'He could be a real sleeper at Mizzou,' a Power 4 scouting director said. 39. OL Xavier Chaplin, Virginia Tech → Auburn The Tigers have six offensive linemen who have started at least 13 games, but Chaplin's arrival gives Hugh Freeze a legitimate starting left tackle and allows 37-game starter Dillon Wade to move back inside to left guard. Chaplin, a 6-7, 348-pound junior, gave up only two sacks in 2024, his second full season as Virginia Tech's starting left tackle. 'The length and footwork he has, it changes us,' Freeze said this spring. 'I think he's an All-SEC performer when I watch him move around.' 40. TE Jack Endries, Cal → Texas After losing Gunnar Helm to the NFL, the Longhorns acquired a tight end who produced at a similar clip. Endries tied for sixth nationally — one spot behind Helm — in catches among tight ends in 2024 (56). He caught 91 passes for 1,030 yards in the last two seasons and is a good route runner with good hands. He'll be an asset for Arch Manning and the Texas passing game. 41. OL Isaiah World, Nevada → Oregon World's frame (6-8, 310) and traits are elite. His great feet and movement skills have NFL scouts intrigued, but first he will team with USC transfer Emmanuel Pregnon to give the Ducks a formidable left side of the O-line. But there's still room for growth. A Group of 5 offensive coordinator called him 'inconsistent' in 2024, citing struggles in the screen game, and he was among the 25 most penalized tackles in the FBS last year, per PFF. But if he can put it all together, he could be dominant. 42. DB Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech → LSU LSU improved from 104th in pass efficiency defense to 68th last season, Blake Baker's first as coordinator. The Tigers should take a bigger leap forward this fall after upgrading in several spots. Delane, a 6-0, 190-pound cornerback, earned third-team All-ACC honors last season after finishing third in the league with four interceptions and sixth with 11 passes defended. 'He's a defensive weapon,' Baker said. 43. Edge Will Heldt, Purdue → Clemson The Tigers have two potential first-round picks in T.J. Parker and Peter Woods. Heldt provides new defensive coordinator Tom Allen with another high-quality pass rusher who could see a lot of one-on-one matchups. The 6-6, 260-pound junior produced 28 pressures, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks while receiving most of the attention last season as a sophomore. 'His growth the last few years has been impressive,' Allen said this spring. Advertisement 44. DB Raion Strader, Miami (Ohio) → Auburn Strader was one of several key winter portal pickups for the Tigers. A first-team All-MAC selection in 2024 with 22 career starts, Strader is an active defender who makes a ton of plays on the ball. He led the FBS with 18 pass breakups last year and has 31 combined in the last two seasons. He's a fluid athlete with the skill set to play inside or outside corner. 45. DB Xavier Lucas, Wisconsin → Miami Luke Fickell had big plans for the South Florida native and wasn't happy when the 6-2 corner decided to leave for a bigger NIL payday back home. Miami's secondary problems last season were well documented. There's little doubt internally that Lucas will play a huge role at cornerback alongside returning Freshman All-American O.J. Frederique. 46. Edge Williams Nwaneri, Missouri → Nebraska The 6-7, 255-pound redshirt freshman and former five-star recruit was Nebraska's first commitment during the winter portal window. He played a total of 38 snaps and had three pressures and one sack in his debut at Missouri. He may not be ready to make a big impact right away, but he has the highest ceiling of Nebraska's roster additions. 47. CB Jeremiah Wilson, Houston → Florida State The 5-10, 185-pound senior started eight games last season and tied for third in the Big 12 with four interceptions. FSU landed the Florida native following the spring to help fill the void left behind by third-round pick Azareye'h Thomas. Wilson's late addition is a sign that some of the younger players on the roster might not be ready to contribute right away. 48. RB Justice Haynes, Alabama → Michigan The 5-11, 205-pound junior from Georgia began the 2024 season as Alabama's starting running back but lost the job after six games to Jam Miller. Haynes averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns. At Michigan, it looks like he'll split carries with sophomore Jordan Marshall. He feels like the perfect fit in Chip Lindsey's offense. 49. WR Reggie Virgil, Miami (Ohio) → Texas Tech Virgil was one of the most explosive receivers in the country last year, averaging 19.9 yards per catch, best among players with at least 40 receptions. He'll give Texas Tech QB Behren Morton a legitimate deep threat to complement the rest of the receivers. 'He's gonna catch five or six 50- or 60-yard bombs this year and be a huge big-play guy,' Texas Tech OC Mack Leftwich said. 50. QB Miller Moss, USC → Louisville Under Jeff Brohm, the Cardinals have had success with transfer QBs the last two years (Jack Plummer, Tyler Shough). Could Moss be next? His traits don't jump off the page, and he got benched at the end of last season, but he was productive at times and has shown he can play good football. 'I'm a big fan of his game,' a Power 4 personnel director said. 'He can make all the throws. I think he'll be really good there.' 51. RB Fluff Bothwell, South Alabama → Mississippi State 52. WR Malachi Fields, Virginia → Notre Dame 53. Edge Romello Height, Georgia Tech → Texas Tech 54. DL Jehiem Oatis, Alabama → Colorado 55. OL Fa'alili Fa'amoe, Washington State → Wake Forest 56. LB Nikhai Hill-Green, Colorado → Alabama 57. RB Rahsul Faison, Utah State → South Carolina 58. LB Josiah Trotter, West Virginia → Missouri 59. Edge Jimmori Robinson, UTSA → West Virginia 60. DL Maraad Watson, Syracuse → Texas Bothwell (832 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and Faison (1,109 yards, 8 TDs) both put up good numbers at G5 schools last year but are stepping into Power 4 programs. Faison, who has spent time at two junior colleges and two FBS schools, has yet to be cleared for the 2025 season. The three incoming Big 12 defensive linemen are intriguing. Height is at his fourth school and didn't start until last season, but he was solid at Georgia Tech in 2024 (6 1/2 tackles for loss). Oatis decided to redshirt after four games last year but has starting experience and a frame (6-5, 325) that's hard to find. Robinson was the American Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with 10 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Advertisement 61. TE Bauer Sharp, Oklahoma → LSU 62. OL Patrick Kutas, Arkansas → Ole Miss 63. WR Chase Sowell, East Carolina → Iowa State 64. RB CJ Donaldson, West Virginia → Ohio State 65. QB Braylon Braxton, Marshall → Southern Miss 66. LB Khmori House, Washington → North Carolina 67. WR Kevin Coleman, Mississippi State → Missouri 68. DB Julian Neal, Stanford → Arkansas 69. DL Santana Hopper, Appalachian State → Tulane 70. QB Chandler Morris, North Texas → Virginia Braxton headlined a group of 19 scholarship transfers who followed coach Charles Huff from Marshall to Southern Miss. Braxton went 8-0 as a starter to lead the Herd to a Sun Belt title. 'He can run, he's big, physical, has a big arm and makes good decisions,' a G5 scouting director said. Hopper is another quality G5-to-G5 transfer and has the Green Wave staff excited. He was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection and had the highest PFF grade in the league among defensive linemen in 2024. 71. Edge Princewill Umanmielen, Nebraska → Ole Miss 72. RB Jaivian Thomas, Cal → UCLA 73. DB Julian Humphrey, Georgia → Texas A&M 74. QB Maalik Murphy, Duke → Oregon State 75. WR Emmett Mosley, Stanford → Texas 76. DB Zechariah Poyser, Jacksonville State → Miami 77. TE Luke Hasz, Arkansas → Ole Miss 78. QB Conner Weigman, Texas A&M → Houston 79. DB Brice Pollock, Mississippi State → Texas Tech 80. QB Maverick McIvor, Abilene Christian → Western Kentucky The QBs here are in fascinating situations. Murphy had a solid 2024 at Duke, but the Blue Devils pivoted to Darian Mensah. Still, Murphy should upgrade an Oregon State passing attack that struggled last year. Weigman, a former five-star recruit, battled injuries in his three-year Texas A&M career and is looking to lift what was one of the nation's worst offenses last year at Houston. McIvor, who put up big numbers at ACU, followed his offensive coordinator, Rick Bowie, to Western Kentucky in much the same way former Hilltopper Bailey Zappe did with Zach Kittley (now the head coach at FAU). 81. DB Matthew McDoom, Coastal Carolina → Cincinnati 82. DL David Gusta, Washington State → Kentucky 83. OL Braelin Moore, Virginia Tech → LSU 84. OL Conner Moore, Montana State → Michigan State 85. WR De'Zhaun Stribling, Oklahoma State → Ole Miss 86. WR Jordan Dwyer, Idaho → TCU 87. OL Josh Thompson, Northwestern → LSU 88. QB Tommy Castellanos, Boston College → Florida State 89. WR Noah Thomas, Texas A&M → Georgia 90. OL Hunter Zambrano, Illinois State → Texas Tech LSU lost four NFL Draft picks on the offensive line, so rebuilding up front was a top priority. Thompson started 21 games over the last two seasons on the right side of the O-line, while Braelin Moore started 24 over the last two years on the interior. Conner Moore and Zambrano are both stepping up from the FCS ranks and have received high praise from their new staffs since arriving. 91. RB Wayshawn Parker, Washington State → Utah 92. OL Pat Coogan, Notre Dame → Indiana 93. OL Elijah Pritchett, Alabama → Nebraska 94. LB Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern → Nebraska 95. DB Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State → Texas Tech 96. OL Joe Cotton, South Dakota → Cincinnati 97. LB Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma State → Oklahoma 98. QB Steve Angeli, Notre Dame → Syracuse 99. WR Eric Rivers, FIU → Georgia Tech 100. QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty → Colorado Cotton, a 6-6, 317-pound tackle, was a big win for Cincinnati. He started 27 games in the last two seasons and was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection. 'I thought he was one of the best linemen in the country,' a Power 4 personnel director said. Advertisement Angeli was impressive when he saw the field for Notre Dame. Could he have the type of impact at Syracuse that Kyle McCord did a year ago? 'Limited sample size, but this kid's got it,' a former Power 4 scouting director said. Salter will be fascinating to watch. True freshman Julian Lewis is also in the mix, but Salter has talent and is proven, though he was much better in 2023 than 2024. (Top illustration photos: Nathan Giese / Avalanche-Journal; Doug Hoke / The Oklahoman / USA Today Network via Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
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17-07-2025
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Notre Dame Impact Players For 2025: No. 47 Guerby Lambert
Notre Dame Impact Players For 2025: No. 47 Guerby Lambert originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Notre Dame is now 47 days away from kicking off the 2025 season against the Hurricanes down in Hard Rock Stadium. The Irish will be relying on some impact players to get them through the home opener as well as getting them back to another run at the National Championship. I broke down who I believe will be the top 50 impactful players for Notre Dame this season. Let's continue this countdown to kickoff with my No. 47 most impactful player, offensive lineman Guerby Lambert. The Fighting Irish offensive line is in an interesting position heading into fall camp. There are several options to replace injured right guard Charles Jagusah and there are still some players returning from injury. Lambert, a highly touted offensive line recruit from the 2024 class is one of those players. He's yet to see the field in any meaningful minutes and only played in three games offensively last season for Notre Dame, but Lambert's return to health and emergence in fall camp may shake some things up for offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. What He Brings To The Table First and foremost, Lambert has elite size for the collegiate level that has yet to be utilized in the Irish offense. The Boston native measures in at 6-7 341 pounds and is one of the biggest players on the roster. He has a massive frame and his on the field strength doesn't take away from his athleticism as a pass protector. Lambert has extremely long arms which allows him to anchor multiple styles of edge rushers. He drives through contact well and plays with powerful leg drive. Coming out of high school, he was still a work in progress technically but his physical tools have allowed him to grow in his first year in South Bend. Lambert has good lateral quickness, exceptional size and is very athletic. Lambert's biggest question is his return to health. He was held off the field last year to retain his redshirt heading into the 2025 season. This past spring, he was expected to make some noise along the offensive line but an injury sidelined him for the second part of spring ball. According to head coach Marcus Freeman, Lambert is expected back in fall camp. What Is His Impact? At the absolute bare minimum, Lambert provides some much needed depth along the offensive line. Last season, Notre Dame had to replace it's left tackle, left guard, center and right guard and moments throughout the season. Ideally, that doesn't happen again this fall, but this is football and whoever the No. 2 or No. 3 guy is on the depth chart has to be ready when his name is called. Rudolph did a spectacular job last season of preparing his entire room for Saturdays, not just the first team. Depending on Lambert's health when he returns, he might make a push to enter the starting lineup in a few different scenarios. First, he could compete with Sullivan Absher who is expected to begin taking first team reps when fall camp begins. Second, left tackle Anthonie Knapp could move inside to right guard, where many believe he projects the best, and start Lambert out at left tackle. Lambert had a lot of hype coming into South Bend and was expected to be the next stellar offensive lineman produced by 'O Line U'. He saw limited action as a true freshman, and it was mostly in mop up minutes. However, based on his athletic ability, size and potential, Lambert has the opportunity to force his way onto the field with a strong fall camp. At the bare minimum, he's an extremely valuable and extremely talent depth piece who could very well see some meaningful minutes on Saturdays this fall. That's why Lambert is my No. 47 most impactful player for Notre Dame this Breakdown Content 2025 Commit Rankings - Offense2025 Commit Rankings - Defense——————— Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Join the Irish Breakdown community!Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunesFollow me on Twitter: Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Notre Dame Impact Players For 2025: No. 45 James Flanigan
Notre Dame Impact Players For 2025: No. 45 James Flanigan originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Notre Dame is now 45 days away from kicking off the 2025 season against the Hurricanes down in Hard Rock Stadium. The Irish will be relying on some impact players to get them through the home opener as well as getting them back to another run at the National Championship. I broke down who I believe will be the top 50 impactful players for Notre Dame this season. Let's continue this countdown to kickoff with my No. 45 most impactful player, true freshman tight end James Flanigan. A true freshman making an impact his first season in South Bend has been relatively consistent under head coach Marcus Freeman. In back to back seasons in 2022 and 2023, we saw two cornerbacks in Benjamin Morrison and Christian Gray cement themselves as impact talents. In 2024, true freshman Anthonie Knapp got the start at left tackle and proceeded to start for 14 more games until his injury late in the playoffs. Flanigan could be the next player on that list based on his skillset and the team's need. What He Brings To The Table Flanigan is a 6-6, 240-pound tight end hailing from Green Bay, Wisconsin. He's considered to be a more 'old school' tight end as he does his best work attached to the offensive line and is a tenacious blocker. Flanigan is very long and athletic, but his background in playing high school defensive end and hockey allows him to be an aggressive and powerful blocker at the point of attack, something the Irish desperately need out of the position. He's also a more than capable pass catcher. Flanigan caught 11 touchdowns as a senior in high school and also finished with 13.0 sacks as a defensive end. The former consensus four-star is a very athletic player who will make it difficult on the coaching staff to keep him off the field, despite having three to four more experienced players in front of him on the depth chart. lanigan has showcased his abilities to work vertically down the field and work the seams, something that offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will be pushing to do with this unit in 2025. What Is His Impact? Barring injury, it's unlikely Flanigan will dethrone senior tight end Eli Raridon as the No. 1 tight end in this offense. However, his arrival in South Bend this summer immediately gives the room some much needed depth it has lacked so far this offseason. Because of his versatile skillset, Flanigan presents some unique traits to the offense that the other tight ends don't possess. They lost their best run blocking tight end in Cooper Flanagan late in the playoffs last season with an achilles injury and his timeline to return remains uncertain. We've seen how Raridon will likely be used in this offense; when you combine Raridon's skillset with Jack Larsen's and Arkansas transfer Ty Washington's skillset, the Irish offense is in need of a solid blocker at tight end. Sixth year senior Kevin Bauman could potentially fit that role, but given his injury history, it's unclear how much will be put on his plate. Flanigan can come in a provide immediate assistance to the Notre Dame run blocking scheme, and with a backfield that features Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price and a host of other, run blocking becomes a top-of-the-list priority. Flanigan can also impact the pass game as well, but his path to on the field success is as a primary run blocker. His diverse skillset, athletic ability, health and size gives him a path to seeing the field as a true freshman which is why I have him ranked as the No. 45 impactful player for Notre Dame this season. PAST TOP 50 BREAKDOWNS No. 46 - Noah BurnetteNo. 47 - Guerby LambertNo. 48 - Sullivan AbsherNo. 49 - Jordan BotelhoNo. 50 - Charles JagusahIrish Breakdown Content 2025 Commit Rankings - Offense2025 Commit Rankings - Defense——————— Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Join the Irish Breakdown community!Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunesFollow me on Twitter: Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Notre Dame Impact Players for 2025: No. 49 Jordan Botelho
Notre Dame Impact Players for 2025: No. 49 Jordan Botelho originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Notre Dame is now 49 days away from kicking off the 2025 season against the Hurricanes down in Hard Rock Stadium. The Irish will be relying on some impact players to get them through the home opener as well as getting them back to another run at the National Championship. I broke down who I believe will be the top 50 impactful players for Notre Dame this season. Let's continue this countdown to kickoff with my No. 49 most impactful player, defensive end Jordan Botelho. Advertisement Botelho is another player who was injured this offseason in June in an off campus workout. The Honolulu, Hawaii native is going on his sixth season in South Bend and was off to his best start in an Irish uniform last season before suffering a season ending knee injury in week three. Botelho has, once again, been set back by another injury on his road to recovery, but the skillset he has and the experience he's racked up makes him a valuable asset to this 2025 Fighting Irish defense. What He Brings To The Table Botelho has yet to live up to his recruiting hype when he stepped foot on campus as a freshman in 2020. The 6-3 260 pound edge rusher has shown flashes of his raw athleticism and will be looking to put that all together when he returns, hopefully in October or November. He's twitchy off the edge and has shown his abilities as a more than capable pass rusher and an edge setter against the run. Botelho brings a lot of experience in big games along with him and has played against USC, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Ohio State and Clemson just to name a few. His 794 career snaps rivals any returning player along the defensive line. The biggest question for Botelho is the level of athleticism he retained after suffered a lower body and upper body injury within a calendar year. Advertisement What Is His Impact? As of right now, his timeline to return will be at some point towards the end of the regular season, but with another playoff run expected from this unit, Botelho will have his opportunity to work his way back into the rotation and potentially the starting lineup. Notre Dame's defensive line was decimated by injuries last season, and the edge players are relatively inexperienced heading into this season. While he's working on his return to the field, Botelho's impact will be felt as a mentor to players like Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas and Cole Mullins who is expected to take on a bigger role this season. He is one of only two sixth year seniors on this team and the only one of defense. Defensive line coach Al Washington will be relying on him to be an extension of himself throughout fall camp, on the practice field and on Saturdays. When he returns, Botelho will give you an immediate boost in depth and experience. He will have to replicate his performance against Texas A&M from the 2024 season opener as a pass rusher in critical moments down the stretch. Notre Dame's defensive ends also struggled setting the edge against the run at times last season; Botelho will have to own that role as well pending his return. His injury history has been unfortunate, but his experience, talent and potential is what makes Botelho my No. 49 most impactful player for Notre Dame in 2025. Advertisement Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge Irish Breakdown Content 2025 Depth Chart 2025 Football Schedule Notre Dame 2026 Scholarship Offers 2025 Commit Rankings - Offense 2025 Commit Rankings - Defense 2024 Recruiting Class 2023 Recruiting Class 2022 Recruiting Class ——————— Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Join the Irish Breakdown community! Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Follow me on Twitter: @TTrow5 Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Free-Agent Big Board: The market is starting to take shape
The NBA free-agency negotiating window opens at 6 p.m. ET Monday, and while this class is a little lackluster, there could still potentially be some impact players on the market. Here you'll find our list of the top 25 overall possible free agents, which bakes in contractual expectations — meaning value for the money — potential for younger players, risk of decline for older players, a premium on long-range shooters (hey, teams want them!) and injury history. To use an example, you'll find both Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon in the 20s, primarily due to their general lack of availability in recent years. Had they played more, they would have been higher on the list. Without further ado, let's get to it. Free-agent position rankings: Point guards | Shooting guards | Small Forwards | Power forwards | Centers
