Over 700 football players entered their names into the transfer portal on the first day of the NCAA-formed window on Dec. 5. Naturally, the quarterbacks were some of the most closely watched names.
Every offseason, college coaches are looking to add quarterback talent to their roster, and with the rise in popularity of the portal, transfers are where plenty of coaches go to get their guy.
There were some highly productive quarterbacks that decided to transfer, including NC State's Devin Leary, who broke records for the Wolfpack, and Clemson's DJ Uiagalelei. Some true freshmen, including Oklahoma's Nick Evers, put their names in the portal, and even Big Ten champion Cade McNamara (Michigan), who decided to leave the Wolverines for Iowa.
To make it easier to follow who's available and who has already chosen a new destination, we have ranked out the top available quarterbacks and will continue to adjust the rankings as new quarterbacks come in.
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Best available | Best committed
BEST AVAILABLE QBS
1. Sam Hartman, QB
Transferring from: Wake Forest
HT: 6-1 | WT: 210 | Class: Senior
Background: Hartman has one season of eligibility remaining and would be an upgrade at the position for quite a few teams. He has thrown for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns throughout his career at Wake Forest. He had 3,701 passing yards, 38 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this past season and now has been reportedly tied to Notre Dame as his next destination.
2. Spencer Sanders
Transferring from: Oklahoma State
HT: 6-1 | WT: 210 | Class: Senior
Background: Sanders was the Big 12 offensive freshman of the year in 2019 and a second-team All-Big 12 player, setting a program freshman record with 2,065 yards despite missing the final two games of the year with an injury. As a sophomore in 2020, he threw for 2,007 yards, 14 touchdowns and 8 interceptions with two rushing touchdowns, including a 400-yard, four-touchdown effort against Texas. He became a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2021 after throwing for 2,839 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with 668 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Sanders played in 10 games during the 2022 season and finished with 2,642 yards, 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions with eight rushing touchdowns in a seven-win season.
3. Davis Brin
Transferring from: Tulsa
HT: 6-2 | WT: 208 | Class: Senior
Background: Brin redshirted his first year in 2018 and played in just one game during the 2019 season. It wasn't until the 2021 season when he saw significant playing time, starting all 13 games and throwing for 3,269 yards and 18 touchdowns. It was the seventh-best single-season passing performance by a Tulsa quarterback. He followed that up with 2,138 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 2022.
4. Brennan Armstrong
Transferring from: Virginia
HT: 6-2 | WT: 210 | Class: Fifth-year senior
Background: Armstrong took over as Virginia's starting quarterback in 2020, when he threw for 2,117 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in nine games. He also had 552 yards rushing with five touchdowns and was able to expand on that in 2021 by running for nine touchdowns. He nearly doubled his passing yards from 2020 to 2021, throwing for 4,449 yards with 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. This past season, Armstrong had 2,210 yards, 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with six rushing touchdowns as well. He has a ton of experience and has put together a few good seasons at Virginia.
5. Luke Altmyer
Transferring from: Ole Miss
HT: 6-1 | WT: 200 | Class: Sophomore
Background: Altmyer was the No. 118 prospect overall in the 2021 class out of Starkville, Mississippi, and chose to stay in-state with the Rebels after decommitting from Florida State. He has mainly played a backup role at Ole Miss with Matt Corral and Jaxson Dart as the starters. In 2021, Altmyer saw action in five games, throwing 37 times for 192 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. In 2022, he threw for 125 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, while also running for a touchdown. He doesn't have a ton of game experience, but he still has a few years of eligibility left.
TOP QBS OFF THE BOARD
1. Devin Leary
Transferring to: Kentucky | Transferring from: NC State
HT: 6-1 | WT: 215 | Class: Senior
Background: Leary is a multi-year starter and should be one of the more sought-after quarterbacks in the portal. He played in eight games during the 2019 season, then went through an up-and-down season in 2020 with restrictions from COVID-19 and an injury. In 2021, he threw for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns, setting a school single season record for touchdown passes beating out Philip Rivers (34). He played in six games this season and threw for 1,265 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck just left the Wolfpack to take the head-coaching job at Coastal Carolina.
How he fits at Kentucky: Kentucky was in need of a replacement at quarterback after starter Will Levis declared for the NFL draft. Outside of Levis, there isn't much experience on the roster, so Leary will have a realistic shot at coming in and starting right away. He played in just six games during the 2022 season because of injury, but when fully healthy, he should be a great fit for this Kentucky offense that will be led again by Liam Coen, who was hired back to Kentucky from the Los Angeles Rams.
2. Shedeur Sanders, QB
Transferring to: Colorado | Transferring from: Jackson State
HT: 6-2 | WT: 215 | Class: Sophomore
Background: Sanders was an ESPN 300 recruit in the 2021 class and followed his father, Deion, to Jackson State. He started as a true freshman during the 2021 season and won the Jerry Rice FCS national freshman of the year award. He threw for 3,231 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions while also rushing for three touchdowns. In 2022, he helped guide Jackson State to an undefeated regular season and threw for 3,752 yards, 40 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for six touchdowns.
How he fits at Colorado: Sanders played for his father, Deion, at Jackson State, where he won the Jerry Rice FCS award for the top freshman his first season on campus. The Colorado starting quarterback in 2021, Brendon Lewis, transferred to Nevada, and fellow quarterbacks Maddox Kopp and Owen McCown are in the transfer portal, so Sanders is stepping in with an opportunity to elevate the Colorado offense from day one.
3. Austin Reed
Staying at: Western Kentucky
HT: 6-2 | WT: 230 | Class: Fifth-year senior
Background: Reed transferred to Western Kentucky from West Florida, where won a Division II national championship and threw for 4,089 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2019. In his lone season at the FBS level, he ranked second in FBS with 4,247 passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns (36) for the Hilltoppers. He entered the portal when it opened but opted to stay at Western Kentucky, which also boasted the leading passer in FBS in 2021 (Bailey Zappe).
4. DJ Uiagalelei, QB
Transferring to: Oregon State | Transferring from: Clemson
HT: 6-4 | WT: 235 | Class: Junior
Background: Uiagalelei is a former ESPN 300 recruit, ranked No. 43 in the 2020 class. He saw action in 10 games, starting two, during the 2020 season behind then-starter Trevor Lawrence and threw for 914 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He had an up-and-down season in 2021, throwing for 2,246 yards and nine touchdowns, completing 55% of his passes. He started the 2022 season on a similar note and was eventually pushed by true freshman Cade Klubnik, who replaced Uiagalelei in the ACC championship game win over North Carolina. Uiagalelei is leaving as a grad transfer and could end up going closer to home in California.
How he fits at Oregon State: Oregon State had starting quarterback Chance Nolan enter the transfer portal, and backup quarterback Tristan Gebbia has no remaining eligibility. Uiagalelei won't have as much pressure or attention on him as he did at Clemson, but he will have the opportunity to start from day one at Oregon State given the depth chart. A change of scenery might do him good to get back the talent everyone saw out of high school.
5. Drew Pyne
Transferring to: Arizona State | Transferring from: Notre Dame
HT: 5-11 | WT: 198 | Class: Junior
Background: Pyne was an ESPN 300 recruit in the 2020 class out of Connecticut. He signed with Notre Dame over some big Power 5 offers and had a lot of promise. He played four games behind Ian Book in 2020 and two games behind Jack Coan in 2021. He lost the starting quarterback job to Tyler Buchner in 2022, but after Buchner suffered an injury in Week 2, Pyne took over. He threw for 2,022 yards, 22 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 11 games and helped guide Notre Dame to an 8-4 record.
How he fits at Arizona State: Arizona State had quarterbacks Emory Jones and Paul Tyson enter the transfer portal, so new coach Kenny Dillingham was looking for a new starter. Pyne will have a shot at starting right away for the Sun Devils, who have also brought in former BYU backup Jacob Conover. Dillingham also has three-star Israel Carter committed in the 2023 cycle, but Pyne brings experience to the position. Dillingham had success last season with a transfer quarterback in Bo Nix at Oregon and he's hoping to do it again with Pyne.
6. Hudson Card, QB
Transferring to: Purdue | Transferring from: Texas
HT: 6-2 | WT: 201 | Class: Third-year sophomore
Background: Card was the No. 40 prospect in the 2020 class and signed with the Longhorns out of Austin, Texas. He redshirted his freshman season, then played in eight games with two starts in 2021. He had 590 yards, five touchdown passes and one interception that season. Card was beaten out by Ohio State transfer Quinn Ewers for the starting job this season, but Card played in four games after Ewers went down with an injury. In the five games in which he saw action, he had 928 passing yards and six touchdowns. Ewers took back the starting job once he was healthy, and now Card is looking for a fresh start.
How he fits at Purdue: New Purdue coach Ryan Walters needed a new quarterback for next season with starter Aidan O'Connell off to the NFL and freshman Brady Allen entering the transfer portal. Card lost the starting quarterback job to Quinn Ewers this season at Texas, but filled in when Ewers was injured. He has experience and has shown flashes of ability as he has mainly been a backup for the Longhorns.
7. Cade McNamara
Transferred to: Iowa | Transferred from: Michigan
HT: 6-1 | WT: 206 | Class: Senior
Background: After redshirting his freshman season and backing up Joe Milton III in 2020, McNamara eventually played his way onto the field, starting all 14 games in 2021 and leading Michigan to its first Big Ten championship under Jim Harbaugh and the team's first College Football Playoff berth. Despite the season he had in 2021, McNamara was in a battle with J.J. McCarthy for the starting QB job in 2022. McCarthy won the job after the second game of the season and McNamara suffered a leg injury in the fourth game against UConn that ended his season.
How he fits at Iowa: The Hawkeyes are in desperate need of stability at quarterback, and McNamara should be able to provide consistent play. Backup quarterback Alex Padilla entered the transfer portal, which puts quarterback depth at a minimum for next season. The team ranked 123rd in pass yards per game this season and No. 127 in offensive points scored per game. Adding McNamara, who has experience and ability, will give the Hawkeyes an immediate boost at the position for next season.
8. Nick Evers
Transferring to: Wisconsin |Transferring from: Oklahoma
HT: 6-3 | WT: 190 | Class: Freshman
Background: Evers was the No. 166 recruit in the 2022 class out of Flower Mound, Texas. He was originally committed to Florida, but decommitted and flipped to Oklahoma. He had interest from Penn State, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, TCU, Auburn and a handful of other schools but signed with the Sooners. He enrolled in January and redshirted this season, so he will have four years of eligibility remaining.
How he fits at Wisconsin: Evers will be Wisconsin's first ESPN 300 quarterback since 2019 (Graham Mertz). Mertz entered the portal earlier this cycle, leaving new coach Luke Fickell with a hole to fill.