Some of the top transfers from last spring faired better than others during the 2023 season.
Cody Nagel
The college football spring transfer portal window began Tuesday with more than 200 FBS scholarship players entering within the opening 24 hours. A handful of big names were among the Day 1 entries, including USC true freshman offensive lineman Jason Zandamela, Colorado cornerback Cormani McClain and the expected move by five-star offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, who is set to return to Alabama after initially transferring to Iowa in January.
While the first wave of transfer portal entries during the spring window was not asmomentous as anticipated, there is still plenty of time for more impact departures to come as the 15-day period continues.
More than 1,000 FBS playerstransferred during the spring window last year, with 15 of those landing inside the top 150 of the 247Sports portal prospect rankings. Some of those spring transfers made a greater impact than others at their new destination during the 2023 season.
VIP:Everything our experts know about the biggest news from Day 1 of the spring college football transfer window
Below is a closer look at how the top transfers from the 2023 spring window faired last season:
15. Cam'Ron Johnson, OL, Missouri
Previous school: Houston
Cam'Ron Johnson instantly became a plug-and-start transfer for Missouri last season. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound offensive lineman started all but one game at right guard for the Tigers during the 2023 campaign. Johnson helped Missouri become a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, honoring the most outstanding offensive line unit in the country. He allowed just two sacks and 17 pressures on 434 pass-blocking snaps. Johnson remains at Missouri as a fifth-year senior ahead of the 2024 season.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 91 rating | No. 111 overall | No. 7 OT
14. Montana Lemonious-Craig, WR, Arizona
Previous school:Colorado
Montana Lemonious-Craig finished as the fifth-leading pass-catcher in his first season at Arizona in 2023. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound wide receiver hauled in 28 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 10.6 yards per catch.Lemonious-Craig appeared in all 13 games for the Wildcats, making at least one reception in all but one contest. He also remains on the Arizona roster ahead of the 2024 season.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 91 rating | No. 110 overall | No.22 WR
13. Logan Diggs, RB, LSU
Previous school:Notre Dame
Logan Diggs was the second-leading rusher for LSU in 2023 behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels. Diggs totaled 653 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, while alsograbbing eight receptions for 82 yards. His 5.49 yards per carry ranked ninth-most in the SEC among players with at least 100 attempts. Diggs re-entered the transfer portal in January before joining Ole Miss shortly after.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 90 rating | No. 171 overall | No.14 RB
12. Zakhari Franklin, WR, Ole Miss
Previous school:UTSA
Zakhari Franklin arrived at Ole Miss with lots of hype and was a member of the 2023 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. However, the former UTSA star receiver appeared in only four games and made two starts whiletrying to bounce back from an injury that forced him to miss the opening three contests of the 2023 campaign. Franklin caught four passes for 38 yards and a touchdown last season. Heentered the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, opting not to use his extra year of college eligibility.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 91 rating | No. 108 overall | No.21 WR
11. Alton McCaskill, RB, Colorado
Previous school:Houston
Alton McCaskill also battledan injury during the 2023 season at Colorado. The former American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year at Houston in 2021 played in just four games with one start before redshirting in Boulder.McCaskill recorded 14 carries for 59 yards and added two receptions for 19 yards. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound back joined the growing list of transfer departures out of Colorado on Thursday.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 91 rating | No. 107 overall | No.9 RB
10. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Previous school:Colorado
Jordyn Tyson did not record any stats last season at Arizona State while appearing in only three games. He played in nine games as a true freshman at Colorado in 2022, leading the team with 470 yards receiving and five touchdowns before suffering a knee injury that kept him out of the subsequent spring practice at Arizona State. Tyson averaged 21.4 yards per catch and earned Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors at Colorado in 2022.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 91 rating | No. 106 overall | No.20 WR
9. Josh DeBerry, CB, Texas A&M
Previous school:Boston College
Josh DeBerry spent his final year of eligibility at Texas A&M in 2023, playing in a total of 10 games with seven starts. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback made 39 tackles, including 4.5 for loss with one sack for the Aggies. DeBerry also snagged two interceptions while making five pass breakups. He allowed28 receptions on 45 targets in pass coverage. DeBerry spent four seasons at Boston College before transferring to Texas A&M.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 91 rating | No. 105 overall | No.21 CB
8. Brenen Thompson, WR, Oklahoma
Previous school:Texas
Brenen Thompson made one of the rare transfer moves across rival lines, joining Oklahoma after one year at Texas. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound sophom*ore missed most of the 2023 season due to injury, but returned for the back half of the schedule. Thompson hauled in seven receptions for 241 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-long 63-yard grab in the Alamo Bowl. Thompson should see an increased number of targets and snaps in 2024 for the Sooners.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 92 rating | No.57 overall | No.11 WR
7. RJ Moten, S, Florida
Previous school:Michigan
RJ Moten started the season-opener for Florida in 2023, but played in just four more games as a reserve. The 6-foot, 220-pound safety recorded eight total tackles. Moten was targeted twice in coverage and allowed a reception on both instances. Moten remains with the Gators ahead of the 2024 season as a veteran in the secondary. His father, Ron Moten, played for Floridain the 1980s.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 92 rating | No.56 overall | No. 2 S
6. Marcus Washington, CB, Louisville
Previous school:Georgia
Marcus Washington primarily played special teams in his first season at Louisville. The former Georgia defensive back did not record any stats for the Cardinals in 2023. Washington is listed as a 6-foot-1, 200-pound sophom*ore on theLouisville 2024 roster. He rated as a four-star recruit coming out of high school and ranked among the Top247 prospects in the 2022 class.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 92 rating | No.55 overall | No. 12 CB
5. Emmanuel Pregnon, OL, USC
Previous school:Wyoming
USC got the most out of its offensive line transfer addition in Emmanuel Pregnon. The former Wyoming standout started 12 games at left guard for the Trojans in 2023.The 6-foot-5, 320-pound redshirt junior did not allow a sack and gave up 14 pressures on 511 pass-blocking snaps. Pregnon returns to USC in 2024 as one of two starting offensive linemen back from last season.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 92 rating | No. 41 overall | No.5 IOL
4. Chris Graves, CB, Ole Miss
Previous school:Miami (Fla.)
After not seeing any action as a true freshman at Miami in 2022, Chris Graves transferred to Ole Miss where he made appearances in all 13 games during the 2023 campaign. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound cornerback made 13 total tackles, including eight solo stops. Graves also broke up three passes in coverage and forced one fumble. He remains on the Ole Miss roster ahead of the 2024 season.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 93 rating | No. 27 overall | No.6 CB
3. Jordan Hudson, WR, SMU
Previous school:TCU
Jordan Hudson made the short transfer journey to SMU ahead of his sophom*ore season in 2023 and made an immediate impact for the Mustangs. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound wide receiver tied for a team high with seven touchdown catches, hauling in 425 yards on 30 receptions in the process. Hudson appeared in all 14 games and made one start. He could move into a regular starting role for the Mustangs in 2024.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 93 rating | No. 25 overall | No.6WR
2. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Previous school:Michigan State
Keon Coleman made his presence known at Florida State despite being in Tallahassee for only one season. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound wideout hauled in 50 passes for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns for an average of 13.2 yards per catch. Coleman played a key role in the Seminoles posting an undefeated regular-season record and ACC championship. He projects to be an early-round selection in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 93 rating | No. 16 overall | No.4 WR
1. Bear Alexander, DL, USC
Previous school:Georgia
Bear Alexander had a breakout season upon his arrival at USC in 2023. The 6-foot-3, 313-pound defensive lineman recorded 48 total tackles, including 6.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks in 13 games played. Alexander started in all but one of those contests. Despite speculation of a possible departure from Los Angeles during this current spring transfer portal window, Alexander confirmed his intention to stay with USC ahead of the 2024 season.
247Sports Transfer Portal Ranking: 4-star | 94 rating | No. 14 overall | No.1 DL
