Transfers to Watch in 2024

Among those transfers are a handful of players who could be big difference-makers for their new programs, especially as the College Football Playoffs expand to 12 teams in 2024.

Here are ten players moving to new teams who could make a big impact this fall.

1. DB Caleb Downs, Ohio State (from Alabama)

Last year, Downs became the first freshman in Crimson Tide history to lead the team in tackles. With Nick Saban retiring, the rising sophomore strong safety is taking his talents to Columbus where he figures to be an immediate starter for the Buckeyes.

2. QB Cameron Ward, Miami (from Washington State)

Ward had declared for the NFL Draft on January 1 but changed his mind two weeks later, electing instead to become a graduate transfer at the University of Miami. The U will be Ward’s third collegiate stop after playing at Incarnate Word and Washington State. A two-time All-Pac 12 honorable mention passer, Ward will duke it out with fellow transfer Reese Poffenbarger (Albany) for the Hurricanes’ starting job.

3. RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (from Ole Miss)

A thousand-yard rusher in each of his first two seasons at Ole Miss, Judkins will join TreVeyon Henderson in the Ohio State backfield this fall. Judkins has scored 31 touchdowns in two years of SEC ball, a stat trend that should not slow down as he moves to the Big Ten.

4. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (from Oklahoma)

Gabriel is on his third college stop after playing two years (and an injury-abbreviated third season) at Central Florida along with the last two at Oklahoma. He was 17-8 as the Knights starter before going 16-8 in two seasons as a Sooner. Gabriel has thrown for 3,000 yards four times in his college career and eclipsed 30 touchdown passes twice. There is no reason to believe those numbers would decrease in Oregon’s quarterback-friendly offensive scheme.

5. DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (from Texas A&M)

Nolen was the nation’s top recruit in 2022 and logged 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks for the Aggies as a sophomore last season. With Jimbo Fisher out at Texas A&M, Nolen is now headed to Ole Miss where he will be one of three significant transfer additions along the defensive line (along with edge rusher Princely Umanmielen from Florida and defensive end Tyler Baron from Tennessee).

6. RB Trevor Etienne, Georgia (from Florida)

Etienne - whose brother is the primary tailback for the Jacksonville Jaguars - is a good runner landing in a great spot. After splitting carries for two years at Florida, Etienne is headed to Georgia where he will be the top candidate to take over lead-back duties for the Bulldogs.

7. QB Will Rogers, Washington (from Mississippi State)

Rogers had a down year in 2023 due to injury but passed for 71 touchdowns combined in 2021 and 2022 at Mississippi State. The SEC’s career completions leader, Rogers originally committed to Washington prior to head coach Kalen DeBoer departing for Alabama after the national championship in January; however, withdrew from the transfer portal and recommitted to the Dawgs once Jedd Fisch was announced as DeBoer’s replacement. Rogers will have big shoes to fill in replacing Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. at UW.

8. CB Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon (from Washington)

Muhammad started every game for the national championship runner-up Huskies in 2023. He began his career at Oklahoma State before moving to Seattle ahead of the 2022 season. With one more season of eligibility, Muhammad figures to be in contention for a second straight All-Conference honor – this time as a cornerback in the Big Ten.

9. OL Kadyn Proctor, Iowa (from Alabama)

Proctor - a Des Moines, Iowa native - had originally committed to Iowa coming out of high school before signing with Alabama in 2022. In the fallout of Nick Saban’s retirement, the 6-foot-7 Proctor is headed home after starting all 14 games for the Crimson Tide last season.

10. WR Evan Stewart, Oregon (from Texas A&M)

Another Jimbo Fisher recruit, Stewart will head to a reloaded Oregon team that should put up big numbers again in 2024. With three returning pass-catchers from 2023 in the lineup, Stewart will likely at least begin the year as a complementary piece but anticipate plenty of three- and four-wide looks from the Ducks in their Big Ten debut season.