Portal Pulse: January 7

This is the January 7th 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 6th, 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

We had another BUSY day yesterday with plenty of movement both entering and exiting the portal. Here is a look at our log from yesterday:

Entries = 67
Signings = 178

Here is a look at the total breakdown from our Portal Tracker: Summary page:

We have moved up to 22% of players who have already committed to new schools. I don’t have data on this, but it seems to far outpace last year’s percentage at this time. This is likely due to schools’ putting more emphasis — hiring GMs and scouting departments — to move quickly in the space and try to lock in early. Still, PLENTY of players are looking for homes and are more likely to take some time to see where the chips fall and find a good fit (while positioning for the best payday).

TOP TEN :::::: view all >

Ole Miss and Indiana remain at the top and there really isn’t anybody even close at this point. Again, that will shift a bit when their seasons end. Each gained some more ground yesterday. The service academies remain holding the 3-5 spots. TCU enters the top ten, buoyed by the signing of WR Jeremy Scott [12.1] from South Alabama. Iowa also makes an appearance, primarily due to the pick-up of highly rated kicker Eli Ozick [16.4] from North Dakota State. Texas A&M holds serve at 7th, while Texas Tech drops one spot. Falling out are Georgia (previously 9th) and Hawaii (10th).

BOTTOM TEN :::::: view all >

Iowa State continues its climb out of the cellar, moving up to 129th, having secured 24 transfers-in. Still work to be done there to combat the 47 that have left the program. Toledo drops down into the bottom ten with WR Kamren Flowers [10.0], the latest to announce his entrance into the portal. Chad Morris’ OK State jumps his former school, North Texas, for the bottom spot in the FBS portal churn rankings.

TRENDS

Top Ten Trending UP:

• Louisville has the biggest move up with not only another defensive withdrawal — DL AJ Green [15.8] — but nine (9) signings. Those include:
  - TE Brody Foley [14.5] << from Tulsa
  - DL Jerod Smith II [13.9] << from Kentucky
  - OL Eryx Daugherty [13.4] << from Boston College
  - OL Johnnie Brown III [12.9] << from Georgia Southern
  - OL Anwar O’neal [12.4] << from Delaware
  - DL Jacob Smith [11.3] << from Kentucky
  - DL Demeco Kennedy [11.0] << from Purdue
  - TE Justyn Reid [10.2] << from Tulane

• South Florida has a notable day as well, led by landing Purdue transfer WR Arhmad Branch [13.8] and former FSU and Mississippi State QB Luke Kromenhoek [13.1] as Brian Hartline rebuilds that roster. They also grabbed six (6) defensive players yesterday — so, it’s not a one-way street for the offensive-minded new head coach.

  
  Top Ten Trending DOWN:

TOP PLAYER ENTRIES

Here is a look at the top ten portal entries (by player rating) we saw enter over the last 24 hours:

1. Washington: QB Demond Williams Jr. [15.9] — this one created quite the buzz late night as Williams announced his intention to enter the transfer portal shortly after signing a "top of the market" revenue-share contract with Washington just a few days ago. Williams cited the need to do "what is best for me and my future" as the reason for his decision, while Washington officials consider the contract legally binding and plan to pursue legal enforcement. Reports link Williams to LSU, where he was previously committed in high school.

2. Pittsburgh: DL Francis Brewu [15.7]

3. Bowling Green: LB Myles Bradley [15.3]

4. Tennessee: DL Jordan Ross [15.2]

5. Missouri: DL Damon Wilson II [14.9]

6. Coastal Carolina: DL Zeke Campbell [14.2]

7. Florida State: WR Lawayne McCoy [13.8]

8. Oregon: RB Jayden Limar [13.7]

9. Florida State: DB Earl Little Jr. [13.6]

10. Coastal Carolina: QB Emmett Brown [13.6]

Other notable entries:

• Florida State: DB Earl Little Jr. [13.6]

• Coastal Carolina: QB Emmett Brown [13.6]

• Iowa: DB Koen Entringer [13.5]

• San Jose State: DL Vili Taufatofua [13.5]

• Alabama: DL Kelby Collins [13.4]

• Ohio State: WR Quincy Porter [13.4]

• Nebraska: DL Willis McGahee IV [13.1]

• Illinois: WR Ashton Hollins [13.0]

• Rice: LB Ty Morris [13.0]

• Wisconsin: OL Joe Brunner [13.0]

  
  see them all at the bottom in the “Sicko Section”

  ---

  TOP PLAYER SIGNINGS

  Here is a look at the top ten portal entries (by player rating) we saw enter over the last 24 hours:

1. Florida: K Patrick Durkin [17.0] << from Tulane

2. California: RB Adam Mohammed [16.8] << from Washington

3. Auburn: QB Byrum Brown [16.7] << from South Florida

4. Oklahoma State: LB Ethan Wesloski [16.4] << from North Texas

5. Arizona: TE Cole Rusk [16.4] << from Illinois

6. Nebraska: QB Anthony Colandrea [16.4] << from UNLV

7. Iowa: K Eli Ozick [16.4] << from North Dakota State

8. Florida: P Alec Clark [16.2] << from Tulane

9. West Virginia: RB Cam Cook [16.0] << from Jacksonville State

10. Connecticut: LB K’Von Sherman [15.9] << from Toledo

    
    Other notable commitments:

• Colorado: LB Gideon ESPN Lampron [15.9] << from Bowling Green

• Florida: DL Emmanuel Oyebadejo [15.5] << from Jacksonville State

• Texas: DB Bo Mascoe [15.4] << from Rutgers

• Oklahoma: DL Kenny Ozowalu [15.2] << from UTSA

• Michigan State: P Rhys Dakin [15.1] << from Iowa

• Florida: RB Evan Pryor [14.9] << from Cincinnati

• Penn State: RB James Peoples [14.9] << from Ohio State

• Cincinnati: DB Jasper Beeler [14.8] << from Northern Illinois

• Utah: DL Ethan Day [14.8] << from North Texas

• Arkansas: DB Jahiem Johnson [14.7] << from Tulane

• Missouri: QB Austin Simmons [14.6] << from Ole Miss

• Kansas: DL David Santiago [14.5] << from Michigan State

• Wisconsin: DL Junior Poyser [14.5] << from Buffalo

• Louisville: TE Brody Foley [14.5] << from Tulsa

• Clemson: DB Jerome Carter [14.4] << from Old Dominion

• Mississippi State: DB Quentin Taylor Jr. [14.4] << from Iowa State

• LSU: DL Stephiylan Green [14.3] << from Clemson

• Maryland: WR Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding [14.2] << from Old Dominion

• Iowa State: DB Braden Awls [14.2] << from Toledo

• Wisconsin: DB Bryce West [14.1] << from Ohio State

• Texas Tech: DL JoJo Johnson [14.1] << from Oregon State

• California: TE Dorian Thomas [14.0] << from New Mexico

• Colorado: DB Justin Eaglin [14.0] << from James Madison

• Arizona State: DB Ashton Stamps [14.0] << from LSU

  
  see all in the “Sicko Section” at the bottom)

---

Notable Withdrawals & Retention Signings

—

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SICKO SECTION

Entry Log (the rest of the entries noted from this period):

• South Alabama: DB Brian Dillard [12.9]

• Appalachian State: DB Emory Floyd [12.7]

• Maryland: DL Dillan Fontus [12.7]

• Baylor: DB Caldra Williford [12.6]

• UCLA: DL Siale Taupaki [12.6]

• Georgia: OL Bo Hughley [12.5]

• Penn State: DL Mylachi Williams [12.4]

• BYU: DB Tayvion Beasley [12.4]

• LIU: DB Braylon Vincent [12.2]

• Boise State: WR Chris Marshall [11.9]

• Merrimack: QB Ayden Pereira [11.9]

• SMU: LB Mark Iheanachor [11.8]

• Ball State: OL Isaac Lucas [11.7]

• North Carolina State: DB Jivan Baly [11.7]

• West Virginia: WR Christian Hamilton [11.7]

• Jacksonville State: DL Darrell Prater [11.6]

• South Florida: DB Izaiah Guy [11.6]

• Alabama: DL James Smith [11.5]

• Hawaii: WR Brandon White [11.5]

• Texas: OL Daniel Cruz [11.4]

• Kansas State: RB DeVon Rice [11.3]

• Oklahoma: WR Javonnie Gibson [11.3]

• Illinois State: LB Patrick Bauer [11.3]

• Penn State: DL Cortez Harris [11.3]

• Auburn: OL Broderick Shull [11.3]

• Montana State: DB Carson Williams [11.1]

• Oklahoma: WR Ivan Carreon [11.1]

• UAB: DL Amorie Morrison [11.1]

• California: OL Jordan Spasojevic-Moko [11.1]

• Notre Dame: DL Preston Zinter [11.1]

• Stanford: LB Wilfredo Aybar [11.0]

• Ohio State: OL Justin Terry [10.9]

• LSU: OL Ethan Calloway [10.9]

• South Carolina: DL Jaylen Brown [10.7]

• Wake Forest: WR Jeremiah Melvin [10.6]

• Arkansas: DB Nigel Pringle [10.6]

• Coastal Carolina: DL Javen Johnson [10.6]

• Oregon State: WR Zack Card [10.6]

• Louisiana: WR Charles Robertson [10.5]

• Connecticut: DL Brandon Kelley [10.3]

• Towson: WR Jaceon Doss [10.3]

• Virginia Tech: OL Hannes Hammer [10.3]

• Ohio State: OL Devontae Armstrong [10.2]

• Florida State: OL Ja’Elyne Matthews [10.0]

• UCLA: DB Croix Stewart [10.0]

• Toledo: WR Kamren Flowers [9.95]

• South Florida: OL Tyreek Major [9.86]

• Kentucky: WR Montavin Quisenberry [9.84]

• Boston College: WR Ismael Zamor [9.76]

• Mississippi State: LB Montrell Chapman [9.34]

• Syracuse: WR Ja’Meer Thomas [9.02]

• Kansas State: LB Maguire Richman [9.00]

• Wake Forest: QB Deshawn Purdie [8.98]

• Akron: TE Khalil Witherspoon [8.92]

• North Texas: DL Will Smith [8.48]

• Florida State: K Brunno Reus [7.35]

• Oregon State: TE Carson Kolb [7.25]

• Western Michigan: LB Derek Pennington [6.69]

---

Signing Log (the rest of the commitments that took place):

• Louisville: DL Jerod Smith II [13.9] << from Kentucky

• Appalachian State: QB Malachi Singleton [13.8] << from Purdue

• Washington: DL DeSean Watts [13.8] << from Sacramento State

• Oklahoma: WR Parker Livingstone [13.8] << from Texas

• South Florida: WR Arhmad Branch [13.8] << from Purdue

• Clemson: LB Luke Ferrelli [13.8] << from California

• UCF: DB Caleb Flagg [13.6] << from Missouri

• Northwestern: DL Jamaal Johnson [13.6] << from UCF

• North Carolina: LB Peyton Seelmann [13.6] << from Richmond

• Minnesota: DB Mekhai Smith [13.6] << from Lehigh

• Virginia Tech: DB Cam Chadwick [13.5] << from Connecticut

• Nebraska: DB Dwayne McDougle [13.5] << from San Diego State

• Louisville: OL Eryx Daugherty [13.4] << from Boston College

• Oklahoma State: DB Maurion Horn [13.4] << from Texas Tech

• Michigan State: OL Nick Sharpe [13.4] << from South Carolina

• Texas A&M: DL Ryan Henderson [13.3] << from San Diego State

• Kentucky: RB Jovantae Barnes [13.3] << from Oklahoma

• West Virginia: WR DJ Epps [13.2] << from Troy

• USC: DL Alex VanSumeren [13.2] << from Michigan State

• North Texas: DB C.J. Coombes [13.2] << from Wofford

• Florida State: DL Rylan Kennedy [13.2] << from Texas A&M

• Penn State: DL Armstrong Nnodim [13.2] << from Oklahoma State

• Duke: DL Owen Wafle [13.1] << from Penn State

• South Florida: QB Luke Kromenhoek [13.1] << from Mississippi State

• Northwestern: QB Aidan Chiles [13.1] << from Michigan State

• Clemson: DB Donovan Starr [13.1] << from Auburn

• East Carolina: RB Ashton Gray [13.0] << from North Texas

• Arkansas: DL Hunter Osborne [13.0] << from Virginia

• Washington State: QB Caden Pinnick [13.0] << from UC Davis

• Louisville: OL Johnnie Brown III [12.9] << from Georgia Southern

• Liberty: RB Kam Davis [12.9] << from Florida State

• UCF: OL Henry Tabansi [12.9] << from Buffalo

• Oklahoma State: OL Tyler Mercer [12.9] << from Kansas

• Kansas State: LB Mekhi Mason [12.8] << from Louisiana Tech

• South Carolina: OL Hank Purvis [12.8] << from Purdue

• Florida State: TE Desirrio Riles [12.7] << from East Carolina

• Mississippi State: DB Kaylib Singleton [12.7] << from Syracuse

• West Virginia: LB David Afogho [12.7] << from Bowling Green

• Florida State: OL Nate Pabst [12.6] << from Bowling Green

• Colorado: LB Tyler Martinez [12.6] << from New Mexico State

• Purdue: WR Asaad Waseem [12.6] << from Florida Atlantic

• Cincinnati: QB JC French IV [12.6] << from Georgia Southern

• Iowa State: WR Carter Pabst [12.5] << from Washington State

• LSU: DB Ty Benefield [12.5] << from Boise State

• South Florida: DB Ayden Jackson [12.5] << from Georgia Southern

• Penn State: DL Alexander McPherson [12.5] << from Colorado

• SMU: DB Jarvis Lee [12.5] << from South Florida

• Florida State: OL Bradyn Joiner [12.5] << from Purdue

• South Florida: OL Caleb Cook [12.5] << from Georgia Southern

• Tulane: RB Jaylin Lucas [12.5] << from Florida State

• Louisville: OL Anwar O’neal [12.4] << from Delaware

• Florida Atlantic: DL Jonathan Bax [12.4] << from TCU

• South Carolina: DL Jordan Thomas [12.4] << from Georgia

• Kansas: DL Tre’Von McAlpine [12.4] << from Tulane

• Nebraska: LB Dexter Foster [12.4] << from Oregon State

• Tulane: QB Zeon Chriss-Gremillion [12.4] << from Houston

• Florida: OL TJ Shanahan Jr. [12.3] << from Penn State

• Michigan State: K Liam Boyd [12.3] << from Charlotte

• Michigan State: QB Cam Fancher [12.2] << from UCF

• Northwestern: LB Kobie McKinzie [12.2] << from Oklahoma

• Oklahoma State: DL Jerry Lawson [12.2] << from Louisville

• Minnesota: DB Aydan West [12.2] << from Michigan State

• Alabama: LB Caleb Woodson [12.1] << from Virginia Tech

• Nebraska: OL Tree Babalade [12.1] << from South Carolina

• Arizona: DL Cooper Blomstrom [12.1] << from Grambling State

• SMU: DL Ira Singleton [12.1] << from South Florida

• North Texas: OL Chandler Strong [12.1] << from Georgia Southern

• Arkansas: RB Jasper Parker [12.1] << from Michigan

• TCU: WR Jeremy Scott [12.1] << from South Alabama

• Kentucky: DB Aaron Gates [12.0] << from Florida

• Memphis: TE Hunter Tipton [12.0] << from Middle Tennessee

• Marshall: LB Kelvon McBride [12.0] << from North Carolina State

• Utah: DL Lucas Samsula [11.9] << from Wyoming

• LSU: RB Rod Gainey Jr. [11.9] << from Charlotte

• South Carolina: OL Carter Miller [11.8] << from UCF

• Rice: QB Jacurri Brown [11.8] << from UCF

• SMU: LB Caden Marshall [11.7] << from Bowling Green

• Miami (OH): DB Dillon Tatum [11.7] << from Northwestern

• Arkansas: DL Carlon Jones [11.7] << from USC

• Iowa: DL Kahmari Brown [11.7] << from Elon

• Ole Miss: OL Carius Curne [11.7] << from LSU

• Syracuse: RB Ju’Juan Johnson [11.6] << from LSU

• South Florida: DL Terry Simmons Jr. [11.6] << from Duke

• Missouri: DB JaDon Blair [11.5] << from Notre Dame

• Oklahoma State: WR Israel Polk [11.5] << from Akron

• Purdue: LB Anthony Speca [11.5] << from Penn State

• Maryland: RB Harry Dalton III [11.5] << from USC

• West Virginia: LB Malachi Hood [11.4] << from Illinois

• South Florida: DB Malcolm Ziglar [11.4] << from North Carolina

• Georgia Tech: P Alex Bacchetta [11.3] << from Rice

• Louisville: DL Jacob Smith [11.3] << from Kentucky

• North Carolina: QB Miles O’Neill [11.3] << from Texas A&M

• Baylor: OL Nate Kibble [11.2] << from Texas

• Missouri: RB Xai’Shaun Edwards [11.2] << from Houston Christian

• Oklahoma State: OL Jacob Sexton [11.2] << from Oklahoma

• James Madison: DL Rasheed Lovelace [11.2] << from Nicholls

• Samford: RB Marquise Henderson [11.2] << from Clemson

• UTSA: WR T.J. West [11.2] << from Texas Tech

• Washington State: WR Tank Hawkins [11.1] << from Florida

• Purdue: RB Travis Terrell Jr. [11.1] << from Jackson State

• Iowa State: OL Braden Smith [11.1] << from Tarleton

• Georgia Tech: OL Joseph Ionata [11.0] << from Alabama

• Louisville: DL Demeco Kennedy [11.0] << from Purdue

• South Florida: DB Teddy Foster [11.0] << from Florida

• Kentucky: OL Max Anderson [11.0] << from Tennessee

• Penn State: OL Vaea Ikakoula [10.9] << from Iowa State

• Tennessee: OL Ory Williams [10.9] << from LSU

• Kansas State: DL Austin Ramsey [10.7] << from Kentucky

• UCLA: TE Josh Phifer [10.7] << from James Madison

• Memphis: DB Stonka Burnside [10.6] << from Mississippi State

• Mississippi State: OL Mario Nash Jr. [10.6] << from Florida State

• New Mexico State: TE Josiah Thomas [10.6] << from Western Carolina

• Washington State: DB Jack Bal [10.5] << from Arizona State

• Virginia Tech: WR Jeff Exinor Jr. [10.5] << from Penn State

• Wisconsin: OL Blake Cherry [10.4] << from Arkansas

• Boise State: WR Darren Morris [10.4] << from Southern

• UCF: OL Tyler Gibson [10.3] << from Charlotte

• Utah: DB Marcus Wimberly [10.3] << from Oklahoma

• Alabama: OL Kaden Strayhorn [10.2] << from Michigan

• Oregon State: LB Dylan Layne [10.2] << from Idaho

• Louisville: TE Justyn Reid [10.2] << from Tulane

• East Carolina: TE Ismael Smith Flores [10.0] << from UTRGV

• Georgia State: OL Connor Jones [10.0] << from Michigan

• Wake Forest: OL Tolu Olajide [10.0] << from New Hampshire

• Colorado: DL Tyler Moore [10.0] << from Coastal Carolina

• Florida: OL Eagan Boyer [9.93] << from Penn State

• North Carolina: OL Sean Thompkins [9.58] << from Baylor

• Nebraska: LB Will Hawthorne [9.55] << from Iowa State

• Georgia State: OL Deylin Hasert [9.44] << from Iowa State

• Charlotte: DB Shamar McIntosh [9.42] << from Maryland

• Baylor: OL Asher Hale [9.37] << from South Alabama

• Marshall: DL BJ Carter [9.08] << from Iowa State

• Florida Atlantic: WR Jahmari Powell-Wonson [9.03] << from Maryland

• Western Kentucky: OL Alex Lopez [8.99] << from Mississippi State

• South Dakota State: OL Cooper Starks [8.77] << from Vanderbilt

• South Florida: LB Sam Robinson [8.70] << from Rutgers

• Georgia State: OL Gage Stanaland [8.47] << from Oklahoma State

• Boston College: WR Jackson Wade [8.28] << from Florida

• South Florida: OL Kahari Finley [8.06] << from Morgan State

• Auburn: TE Xavier Newsom [7.54] << from Howard

• Oregon: K Keaton Emmett [7.40] << from Nevada

• Iowa State: K Adlai Lounsbury [4.55] << from Washington State

  
  Thank you for checking this edition of the Portal Pulse — we’ll be back with more madness tomorrow…