 |
| Josh Hoover, TCU |
The 2025-26 college football season may not yet be officially done, but the transfer portal has created an early offseason full of activity in recent weeks. Quarterbacks who have fallen out of favor at their most recent stops, or see an opportunity to land significant NIL money elsewhere have entered the portal and begun a recruitment process that is going to have a huge impact on the National Title race. More dominoes will fall in the coming weeks but with most of the big names already in the portal, these are the ten to keep a close eye on as the offseason marches on.
1. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State to TBD
(2025 Stats: 1,628 passing yards, 306 rushing yards, 15 total TD, 3 INT)
The 2025 campaign wasn't quite the encore Arizona State was hoping for after breaking through and reaching the College Football Playoff in 2024. Yet, the Sun Devils still managed to go 8-4 overall and 6-3 in a vastly improved Big 12, despite suffering through injuries all season long. Among those injuries was quarterback Sam Leavitt, who was shut down for the season in early November for foot surgery. Even with the lingering health questions, which are likely to keep him sidelined through the spring, Leavitt has drawn the attention of some of the sport's top programs, including several currently in the College Football Playoff. Originally beginning his career at Michigan State, Leavitt took off in the Sun Devil offense last fall, throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns, along with five more on the ground. His numbers understandably took a dip this past season with how much time he missed, but he's proven he can make pro-ready throws and command a top offense. The expectation is that the 2026 season will be his last, as he hopes to play for a National Title contender before heading off to the NFL. Being an Oregon native and with the Ducks likely shopping for a Dante Moore replacement, they appear to be the early frontrunner. However, teams like Miami, LSU, and Texas Tech are also likely to be in the mix in his recruitment process.
Transfer Prediction: Oregon
2. Josh Hoover, TCU to TBD
(2025 Stats: 3,472 passing yards, 31 total touchdowns, 13 INT)
Few quarterbacks available in this portal class are as accomplished as Josh Hoover, who made 31 starts over four seasons for TCU, and now hits the portal aiming for a major payday. Hoover has played in a wide open Horned Frog offense the last several seasons and is the very definition of a gunslinger. He has 1,183 career passing attempts and has racked up some eye-popping numbers - along with a whole lot of turnovers. His 13 interceptions this season were not an aberration, as he threw 11 in 2024, and nine the year prior. Whoever lands him is going to have to live with the good and bad when it comes to Hoover, and the streakiness that comes with it. Naturally, there's a risk there, but his experience and prolific production are sure to have schools across the country lined up. There appeared to be a chance Hoover would follow his play-caller, Kendal Briles, to his new post at South Carolina, but the Gamecocks spent big money to retain starter LaNorris Sellers. That leaves Indiana as the clear favorite as things stand today, with the Hoosiers looking for their own replacement for Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.
Transfer Prediction: Indiana
3. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati to TBD
(2025 Stats: 2,800 passing yards, 580 rushing yards, 36 total touchdowns, 5 INT)
It's the third time in the portal for Brendan Sorsby, who started his career at Indiana before spending the last two with Cincinnati. Although it hasn't always translated to wins, Sorsby has put together a pair of impressive seasons for the Bearcats, including a 2025 in which he eclipsed 3,300 total yards and 36 total touchdowns. His dual threat ability makes him a factor to bust open big games at any moment, but Sorsby doesn't necessarily do it with athleticism or speed. He's a bruising runner at 6'3", 235 pounds that makes him a real pain for defenders to bring down, particularly when you consider that he can beat them over the top with his arm at any moment. Yet, the most important trait with Sorsby is the fact he does so well taking care of the ball. He threw just five interceptions on 336 attempts this fall, including seven straight games without one this fall. Add to that fact his next stop is almost sure to have more skill position talent around him, 2026 could be the year Sorsby emerges as a household name in our sport.
Transfer Prediction: Texas Tech
4. Drew Mestemaker, North Texas to TBD
(2025 Stats: 4,379 passing yards, 39 total touchdowns, 9 INT)
Drew Mestemaker is a prime example of how quickly things can change in the world of college football. A year ago, he was a zero star recruit coming out of Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas, who decided to walk on at North Texas. After a monster season leading a Mean Green team that won ten games, Mestemaker is one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the portal, and almost sure to cash in on his success with a huge NIL bag somewhere. Mestemaker doesn't have the cleanest mechanics you'll find at this level, but he's remarkably accurate. He completed nearly 69% of his throws in his lone season at North Texas, and his ball placement was incredibly impressive for a QB playing his first season of college ball. There's a good chance Mestemaker could follow his head coach, Eric Morris, from North Texas to Oklahoma State, but other big programs are reportedly in the hunt for him. Whoever does land him is getting a QB with accuracy, touch, and limitless potential with three years of college eligibility remaining.
Transfer Prediction: Oklahoma State
5. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska to TBD
(2025 Stats: 2,000 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, 6 INT)
Coming out of high school, Dylan Raiola was supposed to be the savior of Nebraska football. The consensus five-star recruit had originally committed to Georgia before flipping his pledge to the Cornhuskers, a move that looked like it would finally jolt one of the sport's storied programs back into national relevance. After two seasons in Lincoln, Raiola put together a pair of solid seasons, but wasn't quite able to deliver the on-field success Nebraska fans craved. A season-ending injury in November ended an era that was full of potential, but disappointing in result. Now, Raiola will be playing in a new home for 2026, with Louisville emerging as the favorite in the early offseason. No matter whether he lands with the Cardinals or elsewhere, whoever gets Raiola will be getting a QB with a strong arm and the physical gifts to be a star at this level. However, injuries and poor offensive line play proved to be a devastating combo while in Lincoln. He'll need the right system to thrive and to stay healthy to fulfill his pedigree coming out of the high school ranks.
Transfer Prediction: Louisville
6. Rocco Becht, Iowa State to TBD
(2025 Stats: 2,584 passing yards, 24 total touchdowns, 9 INT)
The Big 12 has already seen several big-name transfers hit the portal, with Rocco Becht joining the group after Matt Campbell announced he was moving on to take the head coaching position at Penn State. The expectation is that Becht will follow his coach, but he'd be silly not to test out the market given the millions of dollars being thrown at quarterbacks across the country. Becht isn't a particularly flashy signal-caller, but he's highly effective, with 64 passing touchdowns over his last three seasons and leading Iowa State to their best three-season stretch in school history. His numbers dipped this season, as he clearly missed Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel at receiver for the Cyclones, but he has the experience, feel for the position, and arm that every college coach would love to have. Teams like Miami, Florida, and Virginia Tech are expected to be heavily in the hunt for him if he doesn't end up heading to Happy Valley to reconnect with Campbell.
Transfer Prediction: Penn State
7. D.J. Lagway, Florida to TBD
(2025 Stats: 2,264 passing yards, 17 total touchdowns, 14 INT)
Much like Dylan Raiola, D.J. Lagway is a former prized recruit hoping a change of scenery can get his career back on track after a frustrating few seasons in Gainesville. The story is very similar to that of Raiola's, but with even worse results. Lagway was a five-star prospect out of Willis, Texas, who was supposed to be the player who would save Billy Napier's job and put the Gators back on the path towards a National Title. And, Lagway did show plenty of potential as a true freshman in 2024, with 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns after starter Graham Mertz went down with a season-ending injury. Instead of building on that this fall, Lagway had pronounced struggles, finishing with 14 interceptions on a Florida team that went 4-8. To be fair to Lagway, he never seemed 100 percent healthy on the season, and the pieces around him on this Gator team never felt quite right. A new school offers him the fresh start he desperately needs, and he still has the physical gifts to potentially evolve into a real difference-maker if he lands at the right spot.
Transfer Prediction: LSU
8. Byrum Brown, South Florida to TBD
(2025 Stats: 3,158 passing yards, 1,008 rushing yards, 42 total TD, 7 INT)
Alex Golesh had quite the gift given to him when he arrived on campus at South Florida to become head coach. As much as Jeff Scott and the previous staff struggled to win games on the field, landing quarterback Byrum Brown provided Golesh the athletic, rocket-armed QB he needed for immediate success in Tampa. Brown spent two of the last three seasons as the starter for USF, with his 2024 season derailed by injury, and put together a monster season this past fall. He's an ideal quarterback for the Golesh system, a dual threat who may not be supremely accurate, but benefits tremendously from the wide open passing windows he's afforded in this scheme. The expectation is that Brown will follow his previous coach to his new post at Auburn, which should mark an interesting transition. The pair clearly had plenty of success in the American, but the SEC is a whole different animal, and the offense is likely to be gutted by the portal. Whether Brown can make the transition to power conference ball will be a fascinating storyline to keep an eye on through the offseason and into next fall.
Transfer Prediction: Auburn
9. Anthony Colandrea, UNLV to TBD
(2025 Stats: 3,549 passing yards, 649 rushing yards, 33 total touchdowns, 9 INT)
After a one-season pit stop at UNLV, Anthony Colandrea is back in the portal and likely to make his return to power conference football. Colandrea spent two seasons at Virginia and earned a reputation as one of the most entertaining quarterbacks in all of the land. He'll follow up an incredible play or two with an ugly interception or turnover, and you can never quite be sure what you're getting from him on any given play. Playing under Dan Mullen seemed to curve some of his worst impulses, and it resulted in his best season yet at the college level. Yet it's likely Colandrea saw an opportunity to earn more in the portal, likely ensuring he'll land at his third program of his career. Florida State and Tennessee are two schools that have been linked to him through the early offseason, and both would make sense. Both will be breaking in new starting quarterbacks no matter what, with Tommy Castellanos going pro and Joey Aguilar exhausting his eligibility.
Transfer Prediction: Florida State
10. Kenny Minchey, Notre Dame to TBD
(2025 Stats: 196 passing yards, 84 rushing yards, 1 total touchdown)
As opposed to the other names on this list, Kenny Minchey did not spend the 2025 season as starter, instead backing up C.J. Carr in South Bend. Despite that, several other power conference programs have shown interest in him, believing he has the potential to be a breakout candidate in 2026. The reports out of South Bend last camp were certainly encouraging - most seemed to believe Minchey actually outplayed Carr in the lead up to the regular season. Considering Carr would go on to throw for throw for over 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns, that's a good sign for Minchey next fall. Sitting behind Carr and learning from offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock was likely a great thing for Minchey, and his dual threat and playmaking abilities make him a fit for a variety of offenses. Despite the lack of experience, he has a chance to really surprise heading into next fall.
Transfer Prediction: Wisconsin
Just Missed the Cut
Beau Pribula, Missouri to TBD -- After sitting behind Drew Allar at Penn State, Beau Pribula finally got his chance to run his own offense at Missouri, and flashed ample playmaking potential on the year. He's not 100 percent healthy after missing time late in the year, but is still likely to land at another power conference destination.
Colton Joseph, Old Dominion to TBD -- Somebody is going to get a stud in Old Dominion's Colton Joseph. The rising junior is not the most efficient quarterback in the country, and he'll turn the ball over often, but his ability to bust open games was on full display this past fall. The Monarchs quietly won 10 games under his leadership, with an offense that was among the most balanced in all of FBS football.
Air Noland, South Carolina to TBD -- I'm still a believer in Air Noland, but the former blue-chip prospect hasn't had an ideal start to his college career. Originally landing at Ohio State, he quickly moved out of a crowded QB room but made the interesting decision to transfer to a place with an established starter. With Sellers now officially back for 2026, Noland is again searching for a new home. You have to wonder whether he'll drop down to Group of Five, or stay at the power conference level.
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State to TBD -- Aidan Chiles is yet another former big-name high school prospect aiming to get his career back on track. Chiles followed his head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to Michigan State, but had a pair of frustrating seasons in East Lansing. We've seen flashes, but it has yet to come together - could he be another player where a change of scenery is all he needs for a breakthrough?
T.J. Finley, Georgia State to TBD -- A tradition unlike any other. T.J. Finley is back in the portal and set to embark on his sixth school after previous stops at LSU, Auburn, Texas State, Western Kentucky, and Georgia State most recently. Since going for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns at Texas State in 2023, he's struggled in his most recent stops. Some Group of Five team is still going to deploy his services this upcoming fall, and we've seen him put up prolific numbers before.
No comments:
Post a Comment