The college football transfer portal opened Monday, and many of the top quarterbacks in the portal have yet to choose a new school. For quarterbacks, especially those transferring in this cycle, it is imperative that they make wise decisions.
Unlike recruiting from high school to college, the NCAA portal provides a more accurate predictor of success as coaches can evaluate players against college competition.
Let's find perfect fits for these transfer signal-callers:
Fernando Mendoza
Transfer QB ranking: 2
Transferring from: Cal
Best fit: Indiana
The success that Indiana has had with Kurtis Rourke this fall just reinforced how good of an offensive staff Indiana has with head coach Curt Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan. Rourke and Mendoza have very similar skill sets but Mendoza is a better runner and more of a true dual threat when he wants to be. Indiana would love Mendoza's toughness and grit, and he can make all the necessary throws. Mendoza would also add a different element to Indiana's offense when it comes to creating after the initial play has broken down. This will make for a great quarterback room alongside Tayven Jackson, a four-star prospect from the Class of 2022 who transferred from Tennessee. The competition should go deep into the fall.
Miller Moss
Transfer QB ranking: 3
Transferring from: USC
Best fit: Louisville
Moss is a decisive quarterback with a quick release and anticipatory traits. Under Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, Moss would be coupled with a tried-and-true scheme that is super quarterback-friendly. Brohm has become a destination coach for quarterbacks looking to up their game. Much like Tyler Shough this season, Moss now has a solid sample size of high-performance play that makes him coveted by the likes of Brohm. What makes this attractive for Moss is Louisville will always have good skill players around the QB.
Jackson Arnold
Transfer QB ranking: 4
Transferring from: Oklahoma
Best fit: Mississippi State
Jeff Lebby recruited Arnold to Oklahoma when the Bulldogs coach was the Sooners' offensive coordinator so this would be an ideal fit. But the job would have to be earned. Blake Shapen announced this week he'd be returning for his final season in Starkville. Arnold has been Lebby's guy all along and was a big reason for him signing with Oklahoma in the 2023 class. Arnold is talented and needs a fresh start with someone who believes in him.
Kaidon Salter
Transfer QB ranking: 5
Transferring from: Liberty
Best fit: Colorado
The Buffaloes just signed five-star QB Julian Lewis, but Lewis hasn't played a snap of college football and Salter has played a lot and played well. Colorado is set to lose Shedeur Sanders to the NFL as well as a load of talent around him. Salter would be a great bridge similar to Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore at Oregon. Salter, who is accurate and crafty and can make plays on the move, would bring veteran production and a dynamic skill set to Colorado while Lewis gets acclimated.
Anthony Colandrea
Transfer QB ranking: 15
Transferring from: Virginia
Best fit: Ole Miss
Colandrea still has a redshirt year, which would help his development. Colandrea is risky, but so was Jaxson Dart when he first won the job from Luke Altmyer at Ole Miss in 2022. Walker Howard, who seemed he would be next in line, has transferred out and committed to Louisiana. Colandrea would have to beat out the talented freshman Austin Simmons, but Ole Miss would certainly keep talent around the QB. Colandrea is a riverboat gambler quarterback, though, and Lane Kiffin loves those guys.
Braylon Braxton
Transfer QB ranking: 19
Transferring from: Marshall
Best fit: Southern Miss
For every quarterback, comfort and familiarity are very important. Braxton played for Charles Huff, the new Southern Miss coach, at Marshall this season, so this just seems to work. Starting eight games for the Herd, Braxton had over 2,000 yards of total offense and 23 total touchdowns. Huff needs a centerpiece like Braxton to begin the rebuild of the Southern Miss program.
Mikey Keene
Transfer QB ranking: 20
Transferring from: Fresno State
Best fit: Texas State
As a freshman, Keene played for Texas State coach GJ Kinne when Kinne was the offensive coordinator at UCF, so there is familiarity. Texas State has become a hot destination for offensive fireworks and QB play under Kinne and offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich. Keene would bring experience, a snappy release and a wealth of experience. He has led Fresno State to two straight bowl games, but seemed to sour with the fan base this fall and now needs a fresh start.