Thoughts on Michigan’s recent portal visitors
Thoughts on Michigan’s recent portal visitors
The 2023 All-Transfer Team: College football’s most impactful Year 1 transfers
These transfers from the 2023 cycle made the most impact in college football this season.
The portal is not going anywhere, and the NFL Draft’s early rounds are going to be littered with former transfers on a regular basis moving forward. If one created a fantasy team solely from transfers, it would be one of the top teams in the sport.
Colorado, Miami, Florida State and Oregon are among the teams that grabbed headlines last offseason for their splashy use of the transfer portal. But did their efforts pay off in the long run?
Here’s a look at 247Sports’ All-Transfer Team, as as voted on by a panel of national writers; note that only transfers from last offseason were eligible, meaning the likes of Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr. could not make the team.
QB: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Stats: 298-430 passing (69.3%), 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 4 rushing touchdowns
Transferred from: Jackson State
While Colorado’s first season under coach Deion Sanders didn’t go as planned, the younger Sanders still put on a show. Coach Prime’s son established himself as a high-level NFL Draft prospect early in the season, missed time with an injury and then continued playing well upon returning.
Sanders is expected to return to CU for another season, but he figures to make every preseason shortlist for next year’s Heisman Trophy. And he could be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
RB: Ray Davis, Kentucky

Stats: 186 carries, 1,066 yards (5.7 average), 13 TD; 29 receptions, 317 yards, 7 TD
Transferred from: Vanderbilt
Similarly to Sanders, Davis’ season started better than it ended. But Davis still earned Second Team All-SEC honors and should be a prospect to watch in the late rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The most underrated aspect of Davis’ game is his ability as a receiver out of the backfield. He made multiple highlight-reel grabs at Vanderbilt and further cemented himself as a great weapon in the passing game at Kentucky. Davis fits the modern NFL perfectly thanks to his three-down ability, shiftiness and vision.
WR: Keon Coleman, Florida State

Stats: 50 receptions, 658 yards, 11 TD
Transferred from: Michigan State
Coleman’s box-score stats undersell his impact on the field this fall for Florida State. The former Michigan State Spartan played a huge role in making the Seminoles one of the top offenses in college football amid an undefeated season.
NFL scouts surely have noticed, and Coleman figures to go early in next year’s draft if he leaves. Coleman has great size at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, but he also has the type of functional athleticism that makes him much more than just a big body on the outside.
WR: Adonai Mitchell, Texas

Stats: 51 receptions, 813 yards, 10 TD
Transferred from: Georgia
As it turned out, a change of scenery was exactly what Mitchell needed to break out as an All-Conference player. Mitchell posted a strong freshman season at Georgia in 2021, missed most of last season with an injury and broke out as an elite receiver in the Big 12 at Texas.
Now Mitchell will get a chance to make an impact on the sport’s biggest stage as the Longhorns head to the College Football Playoff. Quinn Ewers needed a complementary option opposite Xavier Worthy, and Mitchell has done a great job of filling that role and more.
WR: Malik Washington, Virginia

Stats: 110 receptions, 1,426 yards, 9 TD
Transferred from: Northwestern
Just look at those monster stats. In this case, they don’t lie. Washington dominated for Virginia this season, which is especially impressive given the lack of talent around him.
Washington led the FBS in receptions, hauling in just short of 10 catches per game. A lot of top programs missed out here when they did not pursue Washington out of Northwestern last offseason, as he is one of the top players at his position in college football.
TE: Dallin Holker, Colorado State

Stats: 64 receptions, 767 yards, 6 TD
Transferred from: BYU
Just as Washington led all FBS players in receptions, Holker did so among tight ends. Colorado State quietly has turned out some real talent at this position, as Trey McBride was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Holker is just a so-so blocker at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, but great receiving tight ends can be hard to come by in the college game. Holker increased his reception total seven-fold from last year at BYU, when he made just nine catches.
OL: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon

Stats: 12 games started, 98.7% pass-block efficiency
Transferred from: Rhode Island
Even though Cornelius was coming from the FCS level, he generated plenty of interest from high-level Power Five programs. Oregon secured his commitment, and it’s a good thing for the the Ducks that they did.
Cornelius was a stalwart on the right side of the line as a starting tackle. He graded out as a plus pass-blocker and run-blocker, boosting his NFL Draft stock along the way. His big season stands out as particularly impressive given how much the Pac-12 improved this year overall.
OL: Jon Mucciolo, Ball State

Stats: 12 games started, 99.6% pass-block efficiency
Transferred from: Sacred Heart
Offensive line might be the toughest position to recruit out of the transfer portal, as virtually every team could use an extra lineman or two. Ball State did a great job of identifying Mucciolo, who was a multi-year starter at the FCS level.
Mucciolo started all 12 games at left guard for the Cardinals, grading as an elite pass-blocker according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed just two pressures and no sacks in over 600 snaps while committing only three penalties. That type of consistency is downright impressive.
Center: Matt Lee, Miami

Stats: 12 games started, 99.5% pass-block efficiency
Transferred from: UCF
Miami came into this season attempting to revamp its offensive line. While the Hurricanes experienced some ups and downs at the tackle spots, Lee posted a rock-solid season at center and earned Second Team All-ACC honors as a result.
Lee isn’t the biggest lineman at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, but he used that lower weight to his advantage from a technique perspective — he committed just one penalty in 792 snaps and did not allow a single sack.
OL: LaDarius Henderson, Michigan
Stats: 12 games played; 7 games started; 95.4% pass-block efficiency
Transferred from: Arizona State
Henderson is an interesting player to evaluate. His PFF grades don’t stack up all that well, but he earned First Team All-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches and was the starting left tackle on a CFP team. Those factors ultimately secured him a spot on this team.
On top of that, Henderson did not commit a penalty all season and allowed only one sack. That’s extremely impressive at left tackle in the Big Ten. Henderson successfully kept Michigan from getting behind the chains, which is a big deal at left tackle.
OL: Luke Kandra, Cincinnati

Stats: 12 games started, 97.7% pass-block efficiency
Transferred from: Louisville
For the most part, the linemen on this list excelled more so as pass-blockers than as run-blockers. Kandra stands out because he graded well above average in both areas according to PFF.
Kandra started every game at right guard for the Bearcats, who experienced a tough first season in the Big 12. But Kandra did enough individually to earn Second Team All-Big 12 recognition.
EDGE: Elijah Roberts, SMU

Stats: 29 total tackles, 11 1/2 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 3 pass break-ups, 2 forced fumbles
Transferred from: Miami
After doing very little at Miami for three seasons, Roberts absolutely wreaked havoc for SMU this season as the Mustangs posted an 11-win campaign and won the American Athletic Conference.
At a listed 6-foot-4, 278 pounds, Roberts is far from a one-dimensional pass-rushing specialist. Roberts held up well against the run, and it is a bit surprising that he did not end up making First Team All-AAC.
EDGE: Austin Booker, Kansas

Stats: 56 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 1 pass break-up, 2 forced fumbles
Transferred from: Minnesota
Offense has not been an issue for Kansas under coach Lance Leipold, but the Jayhawks needed to take a step forward on defense this season. Booker gave them a big boost as a disruptive player off the edge.
Booker generated 36 pressures this season, or three per game. Interestingly, he also played well as a run defender even at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. Booker did almost nothing at Minnesota, so this was a great scouting win for Leipold and Co.
EDGE: Antwaun Powell-Ryland

Stats: 39 total tackles, 13 1/2 tackles for loss, 9 1/2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Transferred from: Florida
It may seem odd to put three edge defenders on this list, but the idea was to get the best 11 players on defense — and most teams only play two true linebackers for the most anyway. Powell-Ryland was a big-name transfer from Florida who rated as a 4-star recruit coming out of high school before disappointing with the Gators.
He sure did not disappoint for the Hokies. Powell-Ryland played a crucial role in helping coach Brent Pry get Virginia Tech to a bowl game in his second season at the helm.
DL: Braden Fiske, Florida State

Stats: 43 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks
Transferred from: Western Michigan
Florida State emerged as one of the saltiest defenses in college football thanks in part to Fiske’s big season. Fiske ranked as one of the ACC’s best interior pass-rushers, complementing Jared Verse and Patrick Payton on the edge.
Fiske most definitely lived up to his 4-star transfer rating and, like many members of the Seminoles’ defense, appears to have a promising future in the NFL.
DL: Bear Alexander, USC

Stats: 44 total tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, 4 pass break-ups
Transferred from: Georgia
Yes, USC’s defense struggled badly this season. But Alexander did well for himself and helped the Trojans marginally improve their run defense in terms of yards per play allowed from a year ago.
In addition, Alexander generated 31 pressures according to PFF — a strong number for an interior lineman. As a true sophomore, Alexander also still has a lot of upside remaining even after posting a good campaign.
LB: Francisco Mauigoa, Miami

Stats: 70 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 7 1/2 sacks, 1 INT, 2 pass break-ups, 2 forced fumbles
Transferred from: Washington State
Five-star offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa may have arrived at Miami with more fanfare than his older brother, but Francisco had a huge season for himself. Just look at those numbers.
PFF did not particularly care for Mauigoa’s coverage this season, but he was still all over the field. The Hurricanes ranked 37th in yards per play allowed this year, way up from 103rd in 2022.
LB: Nick Jackson, Iowa

Stats: 99 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 pass break-ups, 2 forced fumbles
Transferred from: Virginia
Iowa’s defense rated as the best in college football by more than one metric. Jackson played a huge role in that, playing 750 snaps and rating as above average or better in every category of defense per PFF.
Perhaps most impressive is that Jackson missed only five tackles all season. The 4-star transfer lived up to his billing and exceeded it. It is hard to fathom that the Big Ten’s coaches only gave him Honorable Mention recognition.
DB: Travis Hunter, Colorado

Stats: 30 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 INT, 5 pass break-ups; 57 receptions, 721 yards, 5 TD
Transferred from: Jackson State
A lacerated liver may have limited Hunter to nine games, but last offseason’s highest-profile transfer still made a big splash at Colorado. Hunter starred on both sides of the ball and further asserted himself as an elite prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft — whether he’s primarily considered a corner or wide receiver.
One could easily argue that no player in college football had as much impact on a per-game basis as Hunter, as he played 116 snaps per game with elite production on both sides of the ball.
DB: Jabbar Muhammad, Washington

Stats: 42 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 12 pass break-ups
Transferred from: Oklahoma State
For opponents to keep up with Washington’s explosive offense, they had to chuck the ball around. But Muhammad made that easier said than done, as one can see from his coverage stats.
The star cornerback earned Second Team All-Pac-12 honors, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 53.3% of their passes against him per PFF. Muhammad allowed only two touchdowns on 75 targets this season.
DB: Khyree Jackson, Oregon

Stats: 34 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 7 pass break-ups
Transferred from: Alabama
The Pac-12’s top teams largely did strong work in the transfer portal last offseason, and that includes Oregon. Jackson always had plenty of potential as a lengthy corner at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, but he finally translated that talent into production.
Jackson earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors, grading as Oregon’s top defender per PFF. The former junior-college transfer showed what Alabama previously saw in him once he got a chance at more playing time in Eugene, Ore.
DB: Beanie Bishop, West Virginia

Stats: 59 total tackles, 4 INT, 20 pass break-ups
Transferred from: Minnesota
You’re reading those numbers right: Bishop broke up a whopping 20 passes this season. That number led the nation.
West Virginia coach Neal Brown desperately needed a good season to save his job, and Bishop helped out a lot as the Mountaineers went 8-4 in the rugged Big 12. Bishop got burned deep more often than one might like, but overall he still posted an impressive year at corner.
K: Jose Pizano, UNLV

Stats: 25-27 field goals, 52-52 extra points
Transferred from: Missouri State
UNLV was one of the big surprises at the Group of Five level, winning nine games under coach Barry Odom as one of the top teams in the Mountain West Conference. Pizano provided an incredibly consistent weapon with range out beyond 50 yards.
Considering Pizano earned Second Team All-America honors at Missouri State in 2021, it’s a surprise that Power Five programs did not pursue him harder. He was one of the FBS’ top kickers this season.
P: Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse

Stats: 46.5 yards per punt
Transferred from: Missouri
Big legs run in the Stonehouse family — Jack Stonehouse’s cousin, Ryan, leads the NFL in punting average for the Tennessee Titans. Syracuse’s Stonehouse ranked ninth nationally in punting average and second in the ACC by a narrow margin.
Stonehouse consistently helped Syracuse flip the field. A 64-yard boomer against Pittsburgh represented Stonehouse’s season-best.