[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image source=”featured_image” img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]We’ve seen a record number of players in the transfer portal this year, including a ton of very talented players moving from the FCS level to FBS. Let’s take a look at the top 20 guys making the leap to big-time college football.
1. DE Jared Verse
Albany to Florida State
6-foot-4, 251-pounds
The skinny: The Seminoles won one of the more heated transfer portal recruiting battles of the cycle when they were able to reel in Verse. In 15 games with Albany, Verse finished with 74 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, 13.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Was named an FCS Freshman All-American after the 2021 fall season.
2. QB Cameron Ward
Incarnate Word to Washington State
6-foot-2, 223-pounds
The skinny: Ward was one of the more productive quarterbacks over the last two FCS seasons, finishing his time at Incarnate Word with 6,908 yards, 71 touchdowns, and only 14 interceptions. He was named the top freshman in the country after the spring 2021 season and was Second Team All-American after the fall season.
3. DE DJ Coleman
Jacksonville State to Missouri
6-foot-6, 245-pounds
The skinny: Coleman earned Third Team All-American honors in 2019, Second Team All-American honors in 2020, and then totaled 55 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks in the fall of 2021.
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4. CB Omar Brown
Northern Iowa to Nebraska
6-foot-1, 200-pounds
The skinny: Brown played in 29 games at Northern Iowa and totaled 140 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and eight interceptions. He was the FCS Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2019.
5. LB Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey
James Madison to Texas
5-foot-10, 214-pounds
The skinny: Tucker-Dorsey earned All-American honors after his final season with the Dukes when he totaled 116 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and four interceptions.
6. OL Tre’Mond Shorts
East Tennessee State to LSU
6-foot-5, 340-pounds
The skinny: Shorts earned Freshman All-American honors in 2018 and then All-American honors after the 2021 season. He finished off his time with the Buccaneers by starting 40 consecutive games.
7. LB Jason Johnson
Eastern Illinois to UCF
6-foot-2, 200-pounds
The skinny: A two-time All-American at Eastern Illinois, Johnson totaled 226 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries during his last 26 games with the Panthers.
8. OL Hunter Nourzad
Cornell to Penn State
6-foot-3, 310-pounds
The skinny: Nourzad started his last 20 games with Cornell at right tackle, including all 10 during a 2021 season when the Big Red offensive line only gave up nine sacks all season. He earned All-American honors after his final season in Ithaca.
9. OL J.D. DiRenzo
Sacred Heart to Rutgers
6-foot-6, 315-pounds
The skinny: DiRenzo started his career at right tackle, but then moved to left tackle prior to the 2019 season. After the move, he started his final 29 games and earned All-American honors after both the 2021 spring and fall seasons.
10. S Darius Joiner
Western Illinois to Duke
6-foot-2, 200-pounds
The skinny: Joiner transferred from Jacksonville State to Western Illinois last summer, where he earned FCS First Team All-American honors after totaling 142 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, and one sack.
11. WR Tyler Hudson
Central Arkansas to Louisville
6-foot-2, 197-pounds
The skinny: Hudson made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2019 by grabbing 55 receptions for 975 yards and 12 touchdowns. Over his three seasons at Central Arkansas, he totaled 167 receptions for 3,062 yards and 27 touchdowns while earning multiple All-American honors.
12. DE George Tarlas
Weber State to Boise State
6-foot-3, 260-pounds
The skinny: Tarlas returned home to finish his collegiate career, as he played his high school football in Boise. During his time at Weber State, he totaled 121 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks, and seven forced fumbles.
13. WR Antwane Wells
James Madison to South Carolina
6-foot-1, 204-pounds
The skinny: Wells earned Freshman All-American honors after the spring 2021 season when he had 33 receptions for 603 yards and six touchdowns. He then took his game to the next level during his All-American fall season with 83 receptions for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns.
14. DL Kobie Turner
Richmond to Wake Forest
6-foot-3, 290-pounds
The skinny: In 37 career games with the Spiders, Turner totaled 158 tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 15 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles. He was named the Co-Defensive Conference Player of the Year after the 2021 spring season.
15. CB Jordan Perryman
UC-Davis to Washington
6-foot, 198-pounds
The skinny: Perryman proved himself to be one of the top cover corners in the FCS level during his time at UC-Davis while totaling 140 tackles, four interceptions, and 22 pass breakups.
16. S Nicario Harper
Jacksonville State to Louisville
6-foot-1, 205-pounds
The skinny: Harper, who started his collegiate career at Southern Miss before transferring to Jacksonville State, totaled 146 tackles, five tackles for a loss, and five interceptions during his 22 games with the Gamecocks.
17. LB Trimarcus Cheeks
Samford to Houston
6-foot-2, 222-pounds
The skinny: Cheeks enjoyed three successful seasons at Samford before entering the portal. He totaled 171 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, and five forced fumbles in 29 career games with the Bulldogs.
18. CB Marcis Floyd
Murray State to West Virginia
6-foot, 188-pounds
The skinny: Floyd developed himself into one of the top FCS cornerbacks in the country during the 2021 spring and fall season. During these 18 games, he totaled 72 tackles, five tackles for a loss, three sacks, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 15 pass breakups.
19. S Koby Perry
Austin Peay to UCF
6-foot, 185-pounds
The skinny: Perry began his collegiate career at Dodge City CC and then Troy, where he did not play, before spending two seasons at Austin Peay. With the Governors, he was a First Team All-American and the Conference Defensive Player of the Year for his performance during the fall 2021 season when he totaled 85 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and three pass breakups.
20. LB Donovan Manuel
East Tennessee State to Florida International
6-foot-1, 200-pounds
The skinny: Manuel is coming off his best collegiate season during the fall of 2021 when he was named Third Team All-American after totaling 124 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
