Portal Pulse: January 6
This is the January 6th version of the "Portal Pulse" looking back at the transfer portal movement from the day that was.
In this edition of the Pulse, we’ll look back at the day that was, January 5th, 2025, with plenty of impactful transfer portal movement.
[ Note: The number in parentheses is the player rating — out of 20. If you’d like to learn more about how this number is derived, check out this article > ]
SUMMARY
Iowa State lost Matt Campbell to Penn State, and the losses the program has suffered have been noteworthy. However, it’s worth mentioning that his replacement, Jimmy Rogers, is doing work (quickly) in the portal to get them back on track. This roster still needs a LOT of build-up, but we’re starting to see it. It’s not just those following him from his previous stop in Pullman, Washington State. Here is a quick look at the Cylones ledger as it stands at the time to publish today:
47 players is a lot to replace, especially with so many of the top guys following Campbell to Happy Valley. So, they are still ranked in the bottom five of total talent churn, but Iowa State faithful should be feeling good about what Rogers and his staff are doing at this point.
We had a BUSY day yesterday with plenty of movement both entering and exiting the portal, here is a look at our log from January 5th:
Entries = 117
Signings = 181
Here is a look at the total breakdown from our Portal Tracker: Summary page:
With that busy day of signings, we have moved up to 13% of players committed with a similar percentage shown by each position group — with the linebackers being the slowest to commit (10%) and tight ends pacing the groups (17%).
TOP TEN :::::: view all >
Not a lot of change at the top here with Ole Miss and Indiana remaining as the only two in the positive talent churn space. That’s unsurprising as they are still playing football. Once the season ends, they will begin to see some negative churn as top players will try to find homes where they can play more often. Outside of the expected services academies, good news out of Northwestern and Hawai’i as both programs are retaining players (even with one stud leaving the Warriors — WR Jackson Harris is headed to LSU).
BOTTOM TEN :::::: view all >
A notable ‘move out’ from the basement includes West Virginia (now ranked 123rd, yay!), who are making some moves and have now signed ten players to combat the 36 departures. Charles Huff and Memphis appear slow to move, but expect a similar movement of Southern Miss players to make the move, possibly in a big batch, reminiscent of a year ago when he brought his best Marshall dudes to Hattiesburg.
Interesting to note that Florida State moved down and into the 131st slot, even with some key signings on the day, including RB Tre Wisner [15.5] in from Texas and QB Ashton Daniels [14.1] from Auburn. They lost TE Amaree Williams [14.0], the Desir brothers — Darryll [13.4] and Mandrell [11.9] — along with LB Justin Cryer.
TRENDS
Top Ten Trending UP:
Top Ten Trending DOWN:
TOP ENTRIES
Here is a look at the top ten portal entries (by player rating) we saw enter over the last 24 hours:
Sam Houston: LB JaMair Diaz [15.6]
Connecticut: LB Tyrece Mills [15.2]
Kentucky: DB Quay’sheed Scott [14.9]
North Carolina: QB Gio Lopez [14.9]
SMU: LB Justin Medlock [14.6]
UCLA: DB Andre Jordan Jr. [14.4]
Florida State: TE Amaree Williams [14.0]
Arizona State: RB Kanye Udoh [13.8]
Notre Dame: WR KK Smith [13.7]
Alabama: DL Qua Russaw [13.7]
Other notable entries:
SMU: RB Chris Johnson Jr. [13.6]
Michigan: QB Mikey Keene [13.6]
Virginia: DB Emmanuel Karnley [13.5]
Temple: DL Sekou Kromah [13.5]
Charlotte: LB Gavin Willis [13.4]
Florida State: DL Darryll Desir [13.4]
Rutgers: OL Taj White [13.2]
Buffalo: DB SaVeon Brown [13.2]
Oklahoma State: DL Armstrong Nnodim [13.2]
Colorado: DB Tyrecus Davis [13.0]
see them all at the bottom in the “Sicko Section”TOP SIGNINGS
Here is a look at the top ten portal entries (by player rating) we saw enter over the last 24 hours:
Texas A&M: K David Olano [17.7] << from Illinois
Texas: TE Michael Masunas [17.2] << from Michigan State
Iowa State: WR Omari Hayes [16.3] << from Tulane
Missouri: LB Robert Woodyard Jr. [15.8] << from Auburn
Nebraska: LB Owen Chambliss [15.7] << from San Diego State
Florida State: RB Quintrevion Wisner [15.5] << from Texas
Alabama: RB Hollywood Smothers [15.5] << from North Carolina State
Colorado: DL Santana Hopper [15.5] << from Tulane
California: WR Ian Strong [15.3] << from Rutgers
Louisville: RB Marquise Davis [15.2] << from Missouri
Other notable commitments:
Texas Tech: LB Trey White [15.2] << from San Diego State
Oklahoma: WR Trell Harris [15.1] << from Virginia
Auburn: RB Nykahi Davenport [15.1] << from South Florida
Kansas State: RB Rodney Fields Jr. [15.0] << from Oklahoma State
Kentucky: QB Kenny Minchey [14.9] << from Notre Dame (flipped from Nebraska)
Oklahoma State: DB Kollin Lewis [14.6] << from North Texas
Texas Tech: DL Bryce Butler [14.6] << from Washington
Memphis: RB Sutton Smith [14.6] << from Minnesota
DL Naquan Crowder [14.6] << from Marshall
South Florida: DL Shamar Meikle [14.5] << from Oregon State
Vanderbilt: DL Talan Carter [14.5] << from Jacksonville State
USC: WR Terrell Anderson [14.5] << from North Carolina State
LSU: TE Malachi Thomas [14.5] << from Pittsburgh
(see more in the “Sicko Section” at the bottom)
Notable Withdrawals & Retention Signings
— Perhaps the biggest news of the day was not an entry or a signing, but it was the retention of RB Kewan Lacy [17.4] at Ole Miss. He was sure to be sought after by any school, but most certainly by Lane Kiffin at LSU. Big work by the coaching staff and boosters in Oxford.
— Scott Frost is able to convince a highly sought after DL Horace Lockett [16.2] to stick around in Orlando for 2026.
— Cal DT Nate Burrell [11.8] also removed his name from the portal and he’ll stick around Berkeley for next season.
SICKO SECTION
Entry Log (the rest of the entries noted from this period):
Louisville: DL Justin Beadles [10.9]
Stonehill: DL Aidan Horodnik [10.9]
USC: TE Joey Olsen [10.9]
LSU: WR TaRon Francis [10.8]
New Hampshire: RB Myles Thomason [10.8]
Eastern Michigan: LB Zion Fonua [10.7]
Morgan State: DL Dashawn Fields [10.6]
Rice: DB Ephraim Dotson [10.5]
California: OL Braden Miller [10.5]
Mississippi State: DB Cyrus Reyes [10.4]
Appalachian State: TE Kanen Hamlett [10.4]
Cal Poly: OL Racin Delgatty [10.3]
Mississippi State: OL Luke Work [10.2]
Ohio: K David Dellenbach [10.0]
North Carolina: TE Connor Cox [10.0]
Tennessee: OL William Satterwhite [9.88]
Temple: WR Ian Stewart [9.88]
Oklahoma State: RB DJ Dugar Jr. [9.69]
Mercer: OL Amarii Atchison [9.63]
Arkansas State: OL Zuri Madison [9.61]
SMU: WR Jaxson Lavender [9.50]
Division 2: LB LaRawn Robinson [9.36]
Virginia Tech: OL Carter Stallard [9.32]
Houston: OL Cayden Bowie [9.24]
Utah State: OL Jr Sia [9.20]
Iowa State: DL BJ Carter [9.09]
Virginia: RB Davis Lane Jr. [9.03]
Dartmouth: OL Vasean Washington [8.98]
South Florida: OL Khalil Walker [8.75]
Illinois: DB Amar Reynolds [8.67]
Southern Miss: DL Iliyas Fuavai [8.46]
Arkansas State: RB Cedric Hawkins [8.40]
Arkansas State: LB Chase Bogle [7.71]
SMU: WR Lance Beeghley [7.70]
Connecticut: LB Jon Morris [7.48]
Texas A&M: P Truette Tumey [6.30]
Eastern Illinois: OL Kwan Johnson [5.63]
SMU: RB Zach Hernandez [5.29]
UAB: OL Mason Chorak [3.85]
Signing Log (the rest of the commitments that took place):
Louisville: RB Cole Tabb [14.4] << from Stanford
Duke: OL Nick Del Grande [14.3] << from Coastal Carolina
UCLA: DL Aiden Gobaira [14.3] << from James Madison
Georgia Tech: WR Jaylen Mbakwe [14.3] << from Alabama
Wisconsin: DB Javan Robinson [14.1] << from Arizona State
Rutgers: QB Dylan Lonergan [14.1] << from Boston College
South Florida: LB C.J. Hicks [14.1] << from Ohio State
Florida State: QB Ashton Daniels [14.1] << from Auburn
Kentucky: OL Coleton Price [14.0] << from Baylor
Oklahoma State: RB Ayo Adeyi [14.0] << from James Madison
Oklahoma: RB Lloyd Avant [13.9] << from Colorado State
UCLA: DB Ta’Shawn James [13.8] << from Iowa State
Kansas State: DB Koy Beasley [13.7] << from Miami (OH)
Arkansas: WR Jamari Hawkins [13.7] << from Memphis
LSU: WR Tre’ Brown III [13.7] << from Old Dominion
Tennessee: DB Qua Moss [13.7] << from Kansas State
Clemson: DB Elliot Washington II [13.6] << from Penn State
Missouri: DB Jahlil Florence [13.6] << from Oregon
Oklahoma: TE Rocky Beers [13.6] << from Colorado State
San Diego State: DL Kai Wallin [13.6] << from Oregon State
Washington State: DB Jeremiah Bernard [13.5] << from Cal Poly
South Florida: OL Ethan Green [13.5] << from Cincinnati
Kansas: LB Quincy Davis [13.5] << from New Mexico State
Arizona State: WR Omarion Miller [13.5] << from Colorado
Washington: OL Kolt Dieterich [13.5] << from Sam Houston
Indiana: DL Chiddi Obiazor [13.4] << from Kansas State
Florida: WR Bailey Stockton [13.4] << from Georgia Tech
Auburn: WR Jeremiah Koger [13.4] << from South Florida
Oklahoma State: DL Keviyan Huddleston [13.4] << from North Texas
Baylor: DL Kamren Washington [13.4] << from Texas State
Boston College: LB Anthony Palano [13.3] << from Washington State
Illinois: OL Jake Renfro [13.3] << from Wisconsin
Arkansas: LB Ja’Quavion Smith [13.3] << from Howard
Ole Miss: LB Chris Jones [13.3] << from Southern Miss
West Virginia: QB Michael Hawkins Jr. [13.2] << from Oklahoma
Ole Miss: DL Michai Boireau [13.2] << from Florida
Michigan State: DB Tre Bell [13.2] << from Iowa State
Baylor: DB Devon Jordan [13.2] << from Oklahoma
Liberty: OL Alex Birchmeier [13.2] << from Penn State
Northwestern: DB Brenden Deasfernandes [13.1] << from Central Michigan
Penn State: WR Chase Sowell [13.1] << from Iowa State
Penn State: DL Keanu Williams [13.0] << from UCLA
Georgia Tech: TE Chris Corbo [13.0] << from Dartmouth
Michigan State: DB Michael Richard [13.0] << from Louisiana Tech
Oklahoma: OL Caleb Nitta [13.0] << from Western Kentucky
Louisville: DL Daylen Russell [13.0] << from Miami (FL)
Boston College: OL Reggie Jackson [13.0] << from Jacksonville State
Tulsa: RB D.J. McKinney [13.0] << from New Mexico
Texas Tech: DB Davin Martin [12.9] << from UTSA
SMU: WR Yannick Smith [12.9] << from East Carolina
Ole Miss: DL Jehiem Oatis [12.9] << from Colorado
Oklahoma: DB Dakoda Fields [12.9] << from Oregon
Colorado: DL Toby Anene [12.9] << from North Dakota State
Florida Atlantic: DL Jay Crable [12.9] << from Ohio
Michigan State: LB Caleb Wheatland [12.8] << from Auburn
Oklahoma State: DB Evan Jackson [12.8] << from North Texas
Wake Forest: DB Bernard Causey III [12.8] << from Georgia State
Nebraska: OL Brendan Black [12.8] << from Iowa State
Indiana: TE Brock Schott [12.7] << from Miami (FL)
Wisconsin: OL Austin Kawecki [12.7] << from Oklahoma State
Missouri: WR Caleb Goodie [12.7] << from Cincinnati
Florida: OL Harrison Moore [12.7] << from Georgia Tech
Duke: WR Jared Richardson [12.7] << from Penn
South Florida: LB Grayson Howard [12.6] << from Florida
Iowa State: DL Donovan Fitzmaurice [12.6] << from Washington State
San Diego State: DB Isaiah Green [12.5] << from Portland State
Kansas State: DB Jacobi Oliphant Jr. [12.5] << from Oklahoma State
Florida Atlantic: P Reed Chandley [12.5] << from Georgia State
North Carolina: WR Trech Kekahuna [12.5] << from Wisconsin
Wake Forest: WR Chase Tyler [12.4] << from Duke
UCF: LB Tackett Curtis [12.4] << from Wisconsin
Kansas State: DB Kaleb Patterson [12.4] << from Illinois
West Virginia: DB Geimere Latimer II [12.4] << from Wisconsin
Mississippi State: QB AJ Swann [12.3] << from Appalachian State
Purdue: DB Jaden Mangham [12.3] << from Michigan
Colorado State: QB Hauss Hejny [12.3] << from Oklahoma State
Wake Forest: RB KD Daniels [12.3] << from Florida
Florida: TE Lacota Dippre [12.3] << from James Madison
Iowa State: LB Sullivan Schlimgen [12.3] << from Washington State
Texas A&M: DL Brandon Davis-Swain [12.2] << from Colorado
UCLA: OL Riley Robell [12.2] << from James Madison
Kansas State: WR Izaiah Williams [12.2] << from Texas A&M
Colorado: LB Immanuel Ezeogu [12.2] << from James Madison
Cincinnati: RB Gi’Bran Payne [12.1] << from Notre Dame
TCU: LB Michael Short [12.0] << from Virginia Tech
Kansas: LB Jaron Willis [12.0] << from South Carolina
Iowa State: OL DeAndre Carter [12.0] << from Auburn
East Carolina: DB Ashton Levells [11.9] << from Florida International
Marshall: WR Owen Sweeney [11.9] << from VMI
Wisconsin: DB Cai Bates [11.8] << from Florida State
Virginia Tech: DL Javion Hilson [11.8] << from Missouri
Florida: DL DK Kalu [11.8] << from Baylor
Boise State: LB Logan Brantley [11.8] << from Kansas
South Florida: DB Israel Boyce [11.8] << from West Virginia
Kansas State: DL De’Arieun Hicks [11.7] << from Gardner–Webb
Oklahoma State: DL Fatafehi Vailea II [11.7] << from North Texas
East Carolina: WR Ja’Keith Hamilton [11.7] << from Furman
Auburn: DB Gavin Jenkins [11.6] << from South Florida
South Florida: DL Asani Redwood [11.6] << from West Virginia
Penn State: DB Jamison Patton [11.6] << from Iowa State
East Carolina: DB Christian Peterson [11.5] << from UCF
Appalachian State: DL Jehchys Brown [11.5] << from Southeast Missouri State
James Madison: RB Seth Cromwell [11.5] << from Northern Arizona
Boston College: WR Javarius Green [11.5] << from North Carolina
Rice: DB Zach Cody [11.4] << from Coastal Carolina
Auburn: TE Jonathan Echols [11.4] << from South Florida
Iowa State: TE Tyler Fortenberry [11.4] << from Arkansas State
Oklahoma: OL E’Marion Harris [11.3] << from Arkansas
Wake Forest: DB Josh Patterson [11.3] << from Iowa State
Arizona State: P Nick McLarty [11.2] << from Ohio State
UCLA: DB Dante Lovett [11.0] << from Virginia Tech
Boston College: DL KJ Sampson [11.0] << from Florida State
Oregon State: WR Xayvion Noland [11.0] << from UTRGV
Thank you for checking this edition of the Portal Pulse — we’ll be back with more madness tomorrow…