These programs strengthened their rosters with sizable additions in the transfer portal.
Brad Crawford
The dust from the 2024 transfer portal recruiting cycle has settled this summer with24 teams falling under the clear winnerscategory in terms of offseason talent acquisition. Many title contenders went after elite talent, while others pursued strength in numbers and completely revamped their rosters with proven commodities over incoming freshmen.
The likelihood of teams adding impact transfers this late in the game ahead of fall camp is slmi with most only looking for depth options with two-deeps penciled out before practice begins. Few difference-makers on the open market remain uncommitted as thecap on quality quarterbacks, offensive linemen and edge rushers has already been met.
Nearing the media days circuit, Ole Miss and Miami aretwo programs garnering considerable steamthat addressed specific needs in a big way with multiple high-end additions including prized pass rusher Walter Nolen to the Rebels and quarterback signee Cam Ward to the Hurricanes.
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Here's a look at 24 teams who crushed the 2024 recruiting cycle through the transfer portal and where 247Sports has slotted each team in its portal rankings:
24.Arkansas Razorbacks
Total transfers: 22
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 26
23.California Golden Bears
Total transfers: 23
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 17
22. Syracuse Orange
Total transfers: 19
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 25
21.Kentucky Wildcats
Total transfers: 13
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 21
20. UCF Knights
Total transfers: 27
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 22
Five Power-conference teams hoping to garner a spot inside the national rankings at some point during the 2024 season, several of these squads landed top-end quarterbacks in the portal tasked with helping out offensively. UCF grabbed KJ Jefferson from Arkansas, the Razorbacks signed Taylen Green from Boise State to direct Bobby Petrino's scheme and first-year Syracuse coach Fran Brown plucked Ohio State's Kyle McCord to lead. At Kentucky, the Wildcats picked up Georgia's Brock Vandagriff, who was set to back up Carson Beck.
19. Oklahoma Sooners
Total transfers: 16
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 20
The Sooners made noise in the second portal window this spring after signing the top defensive tackle available with TCU'sDamonic Williams. Oklahoma won his recruitment over LSU and Williams will play a pivotal role in this team's run-stopping force during Year 1 in the SEC. Former Purdue wideout Deion Burks was a top-end playmaker during the spring for the Sooners and showcased his ability during the final scrimmage. He has 1,000 yards and several touchdowns written all over him if he stays healthy.
18. USC Trojans
Total transfers: 17
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 19
USC has five four-star transfers in this group, all with a chance to play sizable roles this season. Ex-Mississippi State running back Woody Marks is a great fit for Lincoln Riley's offense while USC's retooled secondary will include a pair of former UCLA starters — cornerbackJohn Humphrey and safety Kamari Ramsey. Former Oregon State safety Akili Arnold and linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold are two others the Trojans' defensive staff is happy to have in the fold.
17. Louisville Cardinals
Total transfers: 31
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 13
Jeff Brohm continues to take the transfer-first approach with the Cardinals and reshaped his two-deep with a bevy of new additions. South Alabama'sCaullin Lacy and Alabama's Ja'Corey Brooks are new faces within the wide receiver group while Miami transfer Donald Chaney Jr. and Texas Tech's Tyler Shough are expected to man the first-team running back and quarterback spots. Louisville reached the ACC Championship Game last fall and that's the program's goal once again.
16. South Carolina Gameco*cks
Total transfers: 22
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 16
In dire need of backfield aid and assistance at wide receiver, nearly half of South Carolina's transfer class this spring came from those two positions. The Gameco*cks signed three ballcarriers, including former Arkansas star Raheim Sanders, and a wealth of pass-catchers who all showed flashes at times during camp. Nevada'sDalevon Campbell and Florida State's Vandrevius Jacobs were post-spring additions. There's a couple linebackers and edge rushers who arrived in time for spring from other Power-conference programs who will crack the two-deep, too.
15. Georgia Bulldogs
Total transfers: 11
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 15
Like most elite programs without great depth concerns, Georgia was selective this portal cycle and signed a potential gem after spring camp with Arizona State's Jaden Rashada. Kirby Smart said the team needed another scholarship option to fight for second-team honors behind Beck and landed a talented player. Miami wideout Colbie Young is a big-play threat and Georgia's defensive staff liked what they saw out ofSouth Carolina pass-rush transfer Xzavier McLeod in April.
14. NC State Wolfpack
Total transfers:15
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 18
Give credit to the Wolfpack's collective this offseason for opening their checkbooks and making sure NC State improves on last fall's nine-win season under Dave Doeren. The roster reload is real in Raleigh and this team is a legitimate ACC title contender. To pair with former Coastal Carolina star quarterback Grayson McCall, NC State signed Ohio State wide receiverNoah Rogers, Duke playmaker Jordan Waters and Oklahoma tailback Hollywood Smothers. Former UConn tight endJustin Joly is another instant-impact addition on offense. This team will score points, but will their defense be as good as it was last season after losing its leading star Payton Wilson?
13. Washington Huskies
Total transfers: 22
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 28
First-year Washington coach Jedd Fisch signed seven four-stars ahead of his first season at the helm in the Big Ten and has a new quarterback in former Mississippi State star Will Rogers who leaves the SEC as one of the league's all-time leading passers. Given Fisch's throw-it-around-the-yard scheme, Rogers appears to be a perfect fit. The Huskies are going to need solid play up front with several new additions to be a top-end finisher in the Big Ten after reaching the national title game last season with a completely different lineup.
12. Michigan State Spartans
Total transfers: 24
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 12
One of the most important transfers during the 2024 cycle was former Oregon State quarterback Aidan Chiles following Jonathan Smith to East Lansing. He was an absolute must-get for the Spartans and is the type of cornerstone talent that Smith and his offensive staff can build for the next several years. The rest of Michigan State's two-dozen transfer class was primarly defensive players within the front seven given the mass exodus of talent that followed the coaching transition.
11. Missouri Tigers
Total transfers: 15
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 14
Coming off 11 wins under Eli Drinkwitz, many are doubting the Tigers' ability to repeat last year's success, but this portal class should assist in a big way. Not only did Missouri grab Cayden Green for one of its offensive line openings from Oklahoma, but the Tigers also managed to sign Toriano Pride from Clemson to headline a secondary in transition and they're tappingMarcus Carroll, a former Georgia State star, as the new featured running back following the departure of all-everything ballcarrier Cody Schrader.
10. Florida State Seminoles
Total transfers: 17
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 7
One of the topACC transfer hauls belongs to the Seminoles, who once again took the portal approach to reloading its roster under Mike Norvell. FSU used Alabama as its talent-factory thanks to five former Crimson Tide players making it official with the Seminoles. Norvell also signed his 2024 starting quarterback out of the portal with the acquisition of former Clemson and Oregon State star DJ Uiagalelei. A commitment from former Alabama wideout Malik Benson gives Uiagalelei a potentially-feared target on the outside following several draft departures at the position in Tallahassee. The Seminoles signed Marvin Jones Jr. as well, a top-rated edge from Georgia to make up for Jared Verse and Braden Fiske leaving for the NFL in the middle of the defense.
9. Colorado Buffaloes
Total transfers:42
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 8
It's "addition by subtraction" according to Deion Sanders, at least that's how he put it after seeing more than a dozen of his players leave the Buffaloes in the spring window.Sanders said the exits are all part of the plan for mass roster revision. He secured commitments from severaltransfer portalplayers to fill holes, including running back Dallan Hayden (Ohio State) and reiterated recently that there'sno panic buttons being pressed ahead of his second season despite widespread roster turnover. His roster is once againtransfer-heavy again and features added weaponry at the skill positions. FAU speedster LaJohntay Webster is a dynamic wideout who could become an instant preferred target for Shedeur Sanders.
8. Texas Longhorns
Total transfers: 11
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 6
Arizona defensive lineman Bill Norton, Louisville defensive linemanJermayne Lole and San Jose State cornerback Jay'Vion Coleare the post-spring additions to this portal haul for Steve Sarkisian, whosebeen highly-selective and has an elite class. Most signees are of the four-star variety, including an overhaul of his wide receiver room. Alabama's Isaiah Bond, Oregon State's Silas Bolden and Houston's Matthew Golden are all committed to catch passes from Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Bond is thethird Alabama transfer for the Longhorns, joining linebacker Kendrick Blackshire and tight end Amari Niblack. Blackshire since left the program after spring in search for playing time elsewhere.
7. Florida Gators
Total transfers:15
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 5
Billy Napier represents college football's most-notable surge after spring practice. Florida moved inside the top 5 of 247Sports' team portal rankings after previously being just outside of the top 10 thanks to the acquisition of three high-end players in recent weeks — Arizona State wideout Elijhah Badger, Colorado cornerback Cormani McClain and former USC offensive lineman Jason Zandemala. All have a chance to play significant reps on this season's team once fall camp begins.Pairing Badger with rising superstar Eugene Wilson III gives Graham Mertz another weapon in the passing game.
6. Texas A&M Aggies
Total transfers: 28
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 4
Texas A&M's two-deep is portal-rich in Mike Elko's first season with theSEC's third highest-rated class. With eight four-star transfers, the Aggies did everything they could toabsorb the mass exodus of players to the portal that followed Jimbo Fisher's firing. Texas A&M'smost notable adds include Alabama cornerback Dezz Ricks, Washington tight end Tre Watson, Florida linebacker Scooby Williams, UAB cornerback B.J. Mayes and FAU offensive lineman Dorian Hinton. Elko also convinced Purdue edge Nic Scourton, this portal cycle's sacks leader, that College Station was the spot for him after Christmas. He was an absolute star during the spring at his new program.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
Total transfers: 15
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 3
Two mammoth additionsrecently for the Crimson Tide were Kadyn Proctor, who left Tuscaloosa for Iowa after his freshman season before deciding to come back after spring practice and top kicker transferGraham Nicholson from Miami University, the reigning Lou Groza winner.Much of Alabama's portal class is from Washington, where first-year coach Kalen DeBoer led the Huskies each of the past two seasons. He knows those players well and a couple should be thrust into starting jobs with the Crimson Tide. One of the more interesting signees from the portal is former Huskies quarterback Austin Mack.
4. Oregon Ducks
Total transfers: 14
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 2
Oregon moved into the top 10 back in January with the additionof Texas A&M wideout Evan Stewart, one of the best-available pass-catchers in 2024, and has now risen to No. 2 after a pair of notable post-spring signings. Michigan State pass rusher Derrick Harmon and Alabama safetyPeyton Woodyard have joined elite personnel on defense. Houston defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell is another big-time acquisition along with the future stability of Oregon's quarterback room with Oklahoma's Dillon Gabriel and UCLA's Dante Moore.
3. Miami Hurricanes
Total transfers: 15
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 10
One of the nation's most active teams in the spring portal window, the Hurricanes added quite a few elite pieces to the 2024 puzzle in recent weeks, including the top-rated running back available in former Oregon State star Damien Martinez. Houston wideout Sam Brown should help the offense withstand the loss of Colbie Young to Georgia and of course, the mega gem, was convincing Washington State's Cam Ward to avoid the 2024 NFL Draft as Miami's next QB1. A couple defensive signees are going to start, too. No excuses here. Mario Cristobal hashis best roster since his arrival.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Total transfers: 7
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 9
Ohio State lost 23 players to the portal, including recent departure Ja'Had Carter at safety, but the Buckeyes are confident of their ability to win it all in 2024 with the players who arrived in time for spring practice. The Buckeyes landedseveral immediate-impact starters after they were tied with Clemson with zero portal additions around Christmas. Much has changed since for Ryan Day, who convinced a pair of Alabama five-stars, a multi-year starting quarterback from Kansas State and Quinshon Judkins, one of the SEC's top playmakers from Ole Miss, to join him in 2024, among other.Ohio State owns one of themost-talented roster in college footballahead offall camp.
1. Ole Miss Rebels
Total transfers: 24
247Sports' portal class team ranking: No. 1
Ole Miss has held the nation's top portal class since January thanks to headliners like Walter Nolen, Princely Umanmielen and Juice Wells. The star list grew after spring with four more players moving to Oxford, including Miami running back Henry Parrish. Lane Kiffin has an absolutely loaded roster. The only significant loss for the Rebels this cycle in the other direction was running back Quinshon Judkins, who entered the portal after the team's bowl win over Penn State. He committed to Ohio State seconds after Michigan won the national championship. With a new-look backfield thanks to the portal, the Rebels feel good about their chances on the ground even without Judkins.
