The transfer portal, college’s version of free agency, allows a player to consider changing schools prior to the next college football season and maximize their future playing time, earnings potential, and player development. This year the Winter Portal has been shortened to 20 total days, and players have until December 28th to put their name in the portal to be in consideration for a new program in 2025.
There are times when a player enters the portal, and they decide the opportunity to maximize their potential is to return to school. I wrote previously about all the possible “archetypes” of players entering the portal, and in this article, we hope to break down some of the transfer difference makers that have entered the portal for the 2025 season and transfers that are potential intriguing fits.
Quarterbacks
Transfer Difference Maker: Darian Mensah, Tulane (transferred to Duke)
Intriguing Fit: Devon Dampier, New Mexico (transferred to Utah)
Going into the 2024 season, it looked very likely that incoming former 5-star recruit Ty Thompson was going to be the starting QB for Tulane. Then, the message boards started to chatter about the rise of Darian Mensah in spring camp taking the starting job from Kai Horton and Ty Thompson. He took the job and propelled Tulane to a 7-2 record and propelled them to a as a top 10 passing offense in EPA/play on the season. He ended the season with:
- 22 TDs
- 2,722 passing yards
- 68% completion percentage
- 6 INTs (also 6 fumbles)
We knew he would garner a lot of interest from P4 programs and when he entered the portal this winter, he was named the #1 portal prospect by ESPN. With 3 years of eligibility remaining, Mensah chose to land with Duke University to continue to elevate his talent and build Manny Diaz’s program into a potential ACC contender.
The under-the-radar selection that I tend to love is Devon Dampier to Utah. Utah has had an elite defense all year and were a lot of people’s pre-season selection to win the Big 12 this year. With injuries to Cam Rising and the inconsistent play of Isaac Wilson, Dampier brings an element of dynamic play-making ability that could make Utah intriguing next year. Devon Dampier is:
- 99% percentile in our sack avoidance metric
- 82% percentile in big time throw ability.
- 75% percentile in our QB decision making metric
- 58% percentile in our accuracy metric
Skill Position
Transfer Difference Maker: Zachariah Branch, USC
Intriguing Fit: Barion Brown (Kentucky to LSU)
When I read Zachariah Branch was entering the portal, my jaw about dropped. The Bishop Gorman 5-star all-purpose player has shown flashes of electric play-making ability at USC somewhat reminiscent of former Heisman trophy winner Reggie Bush. In a good USC WR room, he was the change of pace receiver. He averaged 10 yards per reception with 112 career targets. In his freshman year (2023) he had a rushing, receiving, punt return, and kickoff return TD. He averaged ~21 yards per punt return and 18 yards per kickoff return. His 2024 special teams’ yardage is down as teams wisely decided against kicking him. I have to believe there is an offensive coordinator salivating at the notion of adding a player with his speed and change of direction to their scheme.
Another speedster, that entered the portal to much surprise was Barion Brown who ends up transferring to LSU. Brown has:
- an estimated on-field ~4.3 speed
- 79% percentile in our route running metric
- 12 yards per reception
His transfer will give Garrett Nussmeier another weapon to throw at. Brown will look to continue to develop his full route tree as he averages ~4 targets per game with the Kentucky offense.
Offensive Line
Transfer Difference Makers: Xavier Chaplin, Virginia Tech (committed to Auburn)
Intriguing Fit: Carter Miller, University of Louisiana-Monroe (committed to Colorado)
Xavier Chaplin looks to boost the Auburn line that was 24th percentile in estimated OL line yards in the run game. Chaplin comes of his 2nd season as the starting Virginia Tech LT where he allowed just 2 sacks. Chaplin also was:
- 99% percentile against speedy rushers
- 97% percentile in ability to sustain blocks over time
- 88% percentile in our all-in-one run blocking metric
- Chaplin allowed no pressures against teams with formidable defensive pass rushers in Clemson and Boston College.
Colorado continues to search for players to provide protection for their QB. With one of the biggest names in the transfer portal announcing he is transferring to Colorado (Kaidon Salter from Liberty), Colorado is once again looking to the portal to find caliber talent to pair with their high-profile LT in Jordan Seaton (named to On3s True Freshman All-American Team). Carter Miller, IOL, can slot in and provide some immediate talent to their OL. He ends the year with:
- 2 sacks allowed (0 pressures allowed against University of Texas)
- 87% percentile in ability to sustain blocks over time (which will be key with mobile QB Salter)
- 81% in our all-in-one pass blocking metric
Front Seven
Transfer Difference Makers: Clev Lubin, Coastal Carolina
Intriguing Fit: Skyler Gill-Howard, Northern Illinois (committed to Texas Tech)
Clev Lubin enters the transfer portal after a productive first year at Coastal Carolina. The former Gatorade New York State Player of the Year earned All-Sun Belt First Team defense honors with:
- 41 tackles
- 43 pressures
- 10 sacks
- 2 forced fumbles
- 83% percentile pass rush get-off
- 98% percentile all-in-one pass rush metric
I think he will get many looks from programs at a position of high positional importance and low availability in the transfer portal.
Skyler Gill-Howard is an interesting fit for Texas Tech defense. Northern Illinois looked to be one of the G5 schools that we expected to be a dark horse school in college football playoffs after a win against Notre Dame early in the season. One of the highlights for them was Gill-Howard who made second team all-MAC for his play as an interior defensive lineman. He ends the season with:
- 26 pressures
- 5 sacks
- 99% percentile in our ball carrier pursuit metric as an IDL
- 96% percentile in our pass rush getoff
- 95% percentile in our all-in-one pass rush metric
He has shown immense speed and agility at the IDL position and looks to continue to develop that in the Big 12 in 2025.
Secondary
Transfer Difference Maker: Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech (committed to LSU)
Intriguing Fit: Jahron Manning, Old Dominion (committed to Mississippi State)
Mansoor Delane came onto college football strong in 2022 as a true freshman with several freshmen all-American mentions. He registered 6 pass breakups in 8 games played. Since then, he’s been one of the pillars of the stout Hokies defense (#35 in Pass EPA/play allowed) with 4 INTs for 2024 giving him 3rd team all-ACC recognition. He slots into an LSU passing defense that ranked #56 in EPA/play allowed on pass and allowed 10% of all passing plays to be explosive plays (15+ yards). He will look to provide shut down ability for the LSU secondary.
Jahron Manning was a difference maker for Old Dominion this year with:
- 99% percentile all-in-one coverage metric
- 89% percentile in our ball-carrier pursuit metric as a safety
He looks to add to a Mississippi State defense that ranked #131 in EPA/play allowed in passing and #53 in EPA/play allowed against the run. His ability to be a drop-down player maker can help the Bulldogs keep pace in the SEC in 2025.
