By Tony Thomas
As the opening day of the Transfer Portal looms large on Monday, some of the best players in college football have made themselves available for other teams in need of serious roster upgrades.
Here is a look at the latest entries in the Transfer Portal Sweepstakes.
QB Cameron Ward
Washington State Cougars
6-2, 223
One of the top quarterbacks in college football, Cameron Ward leaves the Cougars after two seasons. In 2023, Ward ranked 4th in the FBS in passing with 311 yards per game. He passed for 3,376 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven INTs, and completed 66% of his passes. In addition, he scored eight rushing touchdowns.
https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1728531523580670093
Ward posted three games of 400+ yards passing, four games of 300+ yards and did not throw an INT until week 5 in a road loss at UCLA. During the first four weeks of the season, Ward passed for 1,394 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, that loss against the Bruins began a six-game losing streak during which time Ward threw just seven TD passes and recorded five INTs.
For his Washington State career, Ward threw for 6,697 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 16 INTs.
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Ward is a former FCS All-American at the University of Incarnate Word, where he set the school record for passing yards (6,908) and passing touchdowns (71) in just two seasons.
It is being reported that Ward has as many as ten offers worth $1 million each to transfer. Some of the schools that are interested in Ward’s services include Oregon, Washington, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Auburn.
Also, keep in mind that Ward is draft-eligible and has not ruled out declaring for the NFL Draft.
DB Upton Stout
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
5-9, 185
Stout is a two-time transfer, having started his college career at North Texas. A two-year starter, Stout played in 21 games for the Hilltoppers. This season, Stout made 29 tackles, one INT returned for a touchdown, one fumble returned for a touchdown, 1.5 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
https://twitter.com/ConferenceUSA/status/1728515972728779203
Stout has garnered interest from such schools as Cincinnati, Washington State, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Houston, Ole Miss, Tulsa, and Boston College.
OL Jonathan Mendoza
Yale Bulldogs
6-9, 308
Mendoza started all 10 games for Yale, allowing just one sack. As a result, he was named a 1st Team All-Ivy League. In 2022, he was an Honorable Mention All-Ivy League after helping the Bulldogs to the top of the league in rushing and total offense.
https://twitter.com/yalefootball/status/1727042122422055030
Mendoza has received power-five offers from Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Houston, Duke, and Louisville, among more G5 and FCS offers.
The transfer portal is a classic case of the haves and the have-nots. The “blue bloods” of college football can lure the top talent in the country to their programs with a Brinks truck full of NIL money, better facilities, and better national exposure. Unfortunately, the smaller schools do not stand a chance.
Come Monday, hundreds of players will enter the portal. It will be a sea of humanity unleashed that even Moses himself could not harness.
