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Top Five Transfer Portal Studs

JC Nevils breaks down his list of the top five studs from this year’s transfer portal cycle.

Avatar photoJC Nevils| May 30, 2023 (Updated: July 9, 2025)
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The transfer portal has changed the game of college football in a major way. Coaches can restock a whole team while players can basically be free agents. This year may be the biggest turnaround yet with the turnover of whole teams and major players deciding to leave. In this article, we dig into my top five studs transferring in for the 2023 season. 


 1. CB Travis Hunter, Jackson State -> Colorado 

  • Portal Ranking: Five-Star ranked first via the 247 Sports Transfer Player Rankings
  • This one was a no-brainer as we all knew the top-rated player coming out of high school while also being the top player in the portal was going with Coach Prime to Colorado. He is a supreme athlete who plays both ways. While he is electrifying as a WR on the offensive side of the ball, his main position will be CB where he has the most potential. I expect QBs to stay away from his side as much as possible. 

Travis Hunter summer training ! #WeComing #SkoBuffs ? https://t.co/UT5t1mVffi pic.twitter.com/Qu85e04Mst

— We Coming ? (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) May 28, 2023


 2. QB Devin Leary, NC State -> Kentucky

  • Portal Ranking: Four-Star ranked sixth overall in the 247 Sports Transfer Player Rankings
  • Before Sam Hartman entered his name in the portal and ultimately chose Notre Dame leaving Wake Forest, the top QB in the portal was Devin Leary. All he did at NC State was put on a show(when healthy). As his only full season starting in 2021, he threw for 3,433 yds and 35 TDS which led the ACC and broke Phillip Rivers‘s record. Coming into Kentucky he will be the most decorated QB in a while. With Will Levis gone to the NFL, I expect him to pick right back up where he left off, barring any setbacks. 

Devin Leary thread ? pic.twitter.com/4k0dvjpNYS

— Cody Couch (@Couch_29) December 12, 2022


 3. WR Adonai Mitchell, Georgia -> Texas 

  • Portal Ranking: Four-Star ranked 14th in the 247 Sports Transfer Player Rankings 
  • It was kind of a surprise when Adonai Mitchell entered his name in the portal, but after finding out the reasoning everything made sense. Wanting to be back home he chose Texas, which fits perfectly. As a Georgia Bulldog, all he seemingly did was make big plays on the biggest of stages. For insight out of his seven career touchdowns at Georgia, four of them were in the CFB. Safe to say he will thrive at Texas beside his counterpart Xavier Worthy. 

ADONAI MITCHELL ONE-HANDED CATCH ?#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/EPLMfBGNlX

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 10, 2023

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 4. WR Keon Coleman, Michigan State -> Florida State 

  • Portal Ranking: Four-Star ranked 23rd in the 247 Sports Transfer Player Rankings 
  • With the mass exodus of players leaving Michigan State including their starting QB, it was only a matter of time before the best WR and arguably player on the team left also. This will be a major blow to Mel Tucker as he looks to salvage his roster. On the other hand, Florida State couldn’t be happier. As a two-sport star coming out of high school, he will be a mismatch nightmare alongside the 6’6 Johnny Wilson, who is one himself. Expect fireworks in Tallahassee this season. 

Watching WMU vs. MSU for a piece I'm doing on Braden Fiske, and oh hey, there's Keon Coleman.

What a luxury. QB can confidently throw off-platform to a place and feel good that Coleman is going to make a play when 1-on-1.

50/50 balls are more like 65/35 for Coleman. pic.twitter.com/U5dMnygCqT

— Brendan Sonnone (@BSonnone) May 21, 2023


5. RB Treshaun Ward, Florida State -> Kansas State 

  • Portal Ranking: Four-Star ranked 62nd in the 247 Sports Transfer Player Rankings
  • You might be wondering why I have Mr. Ward on this list, but one look at the film and you will most certainly understand. Although he got his spot taken midway through the season by former Oregon transfer Trey Benson, I expect him to take the job in Manhattan and run with it. (No pun intended) Kansas State seems to always have a dynamite smaller back in the fold and I expect this year to be no different with Treshaun in the backfield. 

TRESHAUN WARD! TIE GAME?

https://t.co/PuWZoA1GW1

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 30, 2022

Category: College Football, PortalTag: Colorado, Florida State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Texas
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