The transfer portal has become an everyday part of college football roster management. Year over year, more and more players are switching teams.
This offseason has been no different, as new coaches are looking to improve their rosters, some coaches on the hot seat are looking to turn things around quickly and others are just trying to add as much talent as possible.
A few teams have already added big names for next season, so here is a look at 10 teams that have added the most in the transfer portal. This list does not take into account what players the teams have lost -- which will come in a later post -- and also factors in quality as well as quantity.
1. USC Trojans
Lincoln Riley and his staff have been adding new players to revamp the roster as quickly as possible.
USC was able to land freshman quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Mario Williams, who both played under Riley at Oklahoma in 2021. Mario Williams had 380 receiving yards and four touchdowns and already knows Riley's offense, which should afford him the opportunity to help right away.
Caleb Williams is arguably the best transfer this offseason for any team and has the opportunity to start right away, as the Trojans have had a few quarterbacks transfer out.
The coaches are also bringing in Colorado receiver Brenden Rice, Washington receiver Terrell Bynum, who had 436 receiving yards and four touchdowns last season. Virginia offensive lineman Bobby Haskins is also transferring to USC to help the offense.
The running game will also get a much-needed boost, as Oregon running back Travis Dye and Stanford back Austin Jones are both transferring in.
On the defensive side, Riley is adding former Oklahoma cornerback Latrell McCutchin, who was just a freshman in 2021, as well as Colorado corner Mekhi Blackmon. The Trojans are getting some help along the defensive line, as well, with Tyrone Taleni and TCU transfer Earl Barquet.
At linebacker, Alabama's Shane Lee and Auburn's Romello Height are both joining the team as well.
2. Ole Miss Rebels
Lane Kiffin got a big transfer recruiting win when former five-star running back Zach Evans committed to Ole Miss. Evans transferred from TCU and was the No. 16 prospect in the 2020 class.
The Rebels are losing their top three rushers from this past season, so adding Evans is a big deal.
The other big get this offseason was former USC quarterback Jaxson Dart, who threw for 1,353 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions on 117 completions this past season. Dart will go a long way in filling the void left by Matt Corral and should start right away for Ole Miss.
Kiffin was also able to get Western Kentucky offensive lineman Mason Brooks, who was highly coveted by quite a few programs, as well as USC tight end Michael Trigg and wide receiver Jordan Watkins. Defensively, the staff is bringing in Auburn defensive lineman J.J. Pegues, who is 6-foot-3, 308 pounds and also played some tight end at Auburn.
Central Michigan linebacker Troy Brown led the Chippewas in total tackles this past season with 121. He also had 24 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, and he is now joining the Ole Miss defense. Brown is joined by safeties Isheem Young and Ladarius Tennison, who will add to the secondary.
3. LSU Tigers
New coach Brian Kelly has done quite a bit of work in the transfer portal to add to the roster and ensure the team is competitive in his first season.
He was able to keep quarterback Myles Brennan, who had entered the transfer portal but later withdrew his name and announced he would stay with the Tigers. Kelly also was able to add two offensive linemen who should be able to contribute immediately in FIU transfer Miles Frazier and East Tennessee transfer Tre'mond Shorts.
The Tigers also added to the secondary with corner transfers Greg Brooks Jr. (Arkansas) and Jarrick Bernard-Converse (Oklahoma State), and safeties Joe Foucha and Mekhi Garner. Kelly got a commitment from Missouri freshman defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo, who will add to a strong defensive front, Penn State running back Noah Cain and Louisiana wide receiver Kyren Lacy.
4. Florida State Seminoles
Mike Norvell needs to turn the roster around quickly and build on some of the high school recruiting foundation he has built at Florida State.
He had success last season, bringing in defensive end Jermaine Johnson II, who was one of the leaders on the team, and Norvell is hoping to get more help from the long transfer list this offseason.
The staff is replacing some of that pass rush from Johnson with Jared Verse, who had 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks last season for Albany. Norvell is also hoping to get help from cornerback Greedy Vance and linebacker Tatum Bethune on the defensive side.
Offensively, it was imperative to add playmakers to get the offense running more consistently. Wide receivers Winston Wright Jr., Deuce Spann, Johnny Wilson and Mycah Pittman, along with running back Trey Benson, will all bring competition and playmaking ability to the offense.
To help up front, offensive linemen Kayden Lyles and Bless Harris were also added as transfers in what is looking like a great haul for Norvell.
5. Oklahoma Sooners
There is a theme to this list that plenty of new coaches are utilizing the portal to jump-start their roster overhauls, and Brent Venables at Oklahoma is no different.
The Sooners got a big win when Venables landed UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will reunite with offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. He missed most of the 2021 season due to a collarbone injury, but threw for 814 yards and nine touchdowns in just three games.
In 10 games during the 2020 season, he threw for 3,570 yards and 32 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He will help fill the void left by Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams and should be able to start immediately.
The staff is bringing in offensive lineman McKade Mettauer, as well as Missouri tight end Daniel Parker Jr. Wide receiver Theo Wease was in the transfer portal, but withdrew his name and has decided to stay at Oklahoma, which is a win for Venables and Lebby.
On defense, linebacker T.D. Roof left Appalachian State to play for Venables at Oklahoma. Roof had 68 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions this past season.
Tulane defensive lineman Jeffery Johnson, along with Wyoming cornerback C.J. Coldon, North Carolina defensive back Trey Morrison, Louisville defensive back Kani Walker and Hawai'i defensive lineman Jonah Laulu, are all joining the Sooners.
6. South Carolina Gamecocks
Coach Shane Beamer and his staff finished the season 7-6, but there were consistent flashes of an improving team. A win over North Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl and a win over Auburn in the penultimate game of the regular season showed he has a good foundation, but Beamer knows he needs to add pieces to progress quickly.
Beamer signed Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, who was a preseason Heisman candidate before being replaced by freshman Caleb Williams.
Addressing the quarterback position was a pressing need after the staff had three quarterbacks attempt at least 95 passes each, combining for 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Rattler will be able to come in and, at a minimum, provide more competition and depth at the position. But given how he has played in the past, he will have every shot to take over as the starter.
Beamer also added Oklahoma tight end Austin Stogner, as well as running backs Christian Beal-Smith and Lovasea Carroll, and receiver Antwane Wells Jr. Defensively, the coaches are bringing in Central Michigan safety Devonni Reed and defensive lineman Terrell Dawkins.
7. Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas pulled out a nine-win season in 2021, including wins over Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Penn State, after going 3-7 in the 2020 season.
Sam Pittman did a great job improving the team in his second season, but he and his staff know that if they're going to continue on an upward trajectory, they're going to have to utilize the portal for immediate help.
Pittman has done just that so far, as he has brought in some big names who should be able to help right away. The team is losing leading receiver Treylon Burks to the NFL, so the staff was able to help fill that void with Oklahoma receiver Jadon Haselwood, a former five-star recruit who had 399 receiving yards and six touchdowns this past season for the Sooners.
The defensive side is where the staff has added the most talent, though. Former ESPN 300 defensive end Landon Jackson transferred to Arkansas from LSU after one season with the Tigers. He was the No. 78 prospect in the 2021 class and can help add a pass rush element to the defense. The staff is also adding former Georgia safety Latavious Brini.
Cornerback Dwight McGlothern is also leaving LSU for Arkansas to help the Razorbacks' secondary. McGlothern was a four-star in the 2020 class and had 32 tackles, five pass breakups and one interception this past season in 10 games.
Linebacker Drew Sanders is transferring in from Alabama, and was ranked as the No. 36 recruit in the 2020 class out of Denton, Texas. Sanders was listed as an athlete out of high school and still has plenty of eligibility remaining to make an impact.
The Razorbacks don't have the quantity that some other programs have, but they have added some key pieces that quite a few other schools were targeting that should help keep them consistent next season.
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Scott Frost got another opportunity to coach at Nebraska, and it's a win-now mentality at this point. Frost made some big coaching changes, especially on the offensive side.
Part of trying to win now means bringing in transfers that can compete immediately and make the team better right away. Starting quarterback Adrian Martinez transferred to Kansas State, so a priority was finding a quarterback.
Frost added Texas quarterback Casey Thompson, who threw for 2,113 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions this past season for the Longhorns. The coaches also got a commitment from Florida State quarterback Chubba Purdy, who was the No. 126 ranked recruit in the 2020 class but doesn't have as much on-field experience as Thompson.
Adding those two quarterbacks gives the Huskers competition at that position that it hasn't had in quite some time -- something that could help spark the offense going forward.
Nebraska is bringing in more offensive help with wide receivers Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda and Trey Palmer, running back Deondre Jackson and offensive linemen Kevin Williams and Hunter Anthony.
On defense, the staff is adding corner Tommi Hill, who is transferring from Arizona State, and corner Omar Brown from Northern Iowa..
Frost's additions via the portal, changes to the coaching staff and the younger players on the roster now having more experience should give Frost a shot at righting the ship at Nebraska.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide don't have quantity, but the staff is adding players who could be difference-makers.
On defense, Nick Saban is adding former five-star corner Eli Ricks, who left LSU to join Alabama. Ricks was a freshman All-American in 2020, playing in 10 games and starting seven. He was injured most of 2021, but should be a plug-and-play corner for Alabama.
The Crimson Tide are also adding former Georgia receiver Jermaine Burton in what was somewhat of a surprise transfer. Burton had 26 receptions, 497 yards and five touchdowns this past season for the Dawgs. With Alabama dealing with multiple departures at receiver, Burton should help immediately.
Finally, Alabama added Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who ran for 746 yards and four touchdowns, to go along with 465 yards receiving and two receiving touchdowns this season. Gibbs' versatility will give Alabama some options in how to use him within the offense.
10. Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns are similar to Alabama in the fact that they don't have the quantity, but they have the quality. The transfers are led by former five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is joining the program after signing with Ohio State.
Ewers was originally supposed to be a part of the 2022 recruiting class that signed in December, but he reclassified to the 2021 cycle and signed with the Buckeyes. He decided to transfer after one season, though, and is now going to play for the Longhorns.
We haven't seen what Ewers can do on the college level yet, but his high school stats and talent got him to the No. 1 overall ranking in his class. He's a big addition for Texas, which is looking for stability at quarterback.
Steve Sarkisian had a star this past season in receiver Xavier Worthy, and now the offense is adding another talented receiver in Isaiah Neyor, who is transferring in from Wyoming. Neyor had 878 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns this past season at Wyoming.
The staff is also adding in former Ohio State corner Ryan Watts and former Alabama tight end Jahleel Billingsley.