The best players available in college football's transfer portal are making millions these days, and the programs assembling top portal recruiting classes are the ones willing to spend the most. But make no mistake: Talent evaluation is still very much the name of the game during portal season.
When thousands of players become available at the same time, there will always be good players who get overlooked and under-recruited. Four full weeks into this college football season, it's time to celebrate the September surprises.
This is not exactly an early all-transfer team; we'll get to that later in the season. Consider the following more like the all-sleeper team.
None of these players made our offseason rankings of the top 100 transfers for 2025, but they've been impressive and productive through nonconference play. Some brought serious experience to their new programs while others are finally getting a shot to start. This team includes hidden gems from the Group of 5, FCS and even Division II as well as Power 4 players.
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Offense | Defense | Special teams
OFFENSE
QB: Tommy Castellanos, Florida State
Transferred from: Boston College
Back in December, ESPN ranked the top 25 quarterbacks available in the winter portal window. Castellanos was No. 16 on the list after a tough season under Bill O'Brien at Boston College that ended with the QB getting benched and leaving the program. Now that he has found a perfect fit at Florida State, that ranking seems way too low. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound senior is off to an excellent start in Tallahassee, ranking third nationally in QBR (91.6) and second in total yards per play (11.3) while leading his Seminoles squad back into the AP top 10 after their 2-10 slide a year ago. He talked a big game going into the season opener against Alabama and backed it up with a dazzling performance in a stunning 31-17 upset. Three games in, the Seminoles have the No. 1 scoring offense in the country at 58 points per game and an opportunity to become the clear ACC title front-runner if they can take down Virginia (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and No. 2 Miami over these next two weeks.
RB: Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
Transferred from: Missouri
After playing sparingly during his freshman season at Mizzou, Lacy is emerging as one of college football's best young running backs. He ranks third among SEC backs with 405 yards from scrimmage through four games and has a conference-leading seven rushing TDs. The sophomore opened the season with back-to-back 100-yard performances and has shown an impressive blend of toughness and track speed. He's a 210-pound back who has already hit a max speed of 21.6 mph this season, fastest among all SEC backs, according to data powered by Teamworks.
RB: Cam Cook, Jacksonville State
Transferred from: TCU
Cook rushed for a team-high 460 yards and nine TDs last season at TCU but opted to enter the portal in search of a better opportunity. He has already surpassed that rushing total through four games at Jacksonville State, leading Conference USA with 537 rushing yards and four scores on 6 yards per carry. He's also leading all FBS backs with 22 rushes of 10-plus yards and has forced 31 missed tackles, tied for second most in the FBS, per ESPN Research.
WR: Danny Scudero, San Jose State
Transferred from: Sacramento State
Eget to Scudero for a 45-yard @SanJoseStateFB TD ‼️ pic.twitter.com/tyD7wKkw9g
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
After a Freshman All-America-caliber season at the FCS level in 2024, the San Jose, California, native made the move up to join the Spartans and is proving he can produce at the highest level. The speedy 5-foot-9, 174-pound slot receiver is leading the Mountain West with 379 receiving yards on 22 catches. He debuted with a 189-yard performance against Central Michigan and followed that up with seven catches against Texas' defense.
WR: Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Transferred from: Oklahoma
Thompson, a former top-150 recruit, made stops at Texas and Oklahoma before finding the perfect offensive fit for his talents at Mississippi State. He lit up Arizona State with six catches for 133 yards and two TDs and delivered the 58-yard, go-ahead touchdown to stun the Sun Devils. Thompson's 291 receiving yards on 17 catches rank seventh most in the SEC. He has gone over 20 mph on eight plays this season, most among FBS receivers, according to data powered by Teamworks, and has teamed with Georgia transfer Anthony Evans III to elevate the Bulldogs' passing attack during their 4-0 start.
WR: Chas Nimrod, South Florida
Transferred from: Tennessee
Nimrod started six games over three seasons at Tennessee but never carved out a major role in the Vols' receiving corps. He reunited with coach Alex Golesh in Tampa and has been a consistent big-play threat for quarterback Byrum Brown through four games, leading the American Conference with 367 receiving yards and two TDs on 14 catches and producing a career-high 128 receiving yards against Miami. Nimrod is averaging 18.8 air yards per target, second most among all FBS wideouts with more than 20 targets per ESPN Research, and 26.2 yards per catch.
TE: Rohan Jones, Arkansas
Transferred from: Montana State
Jones, a native of Montreal, began his career at Maine and became an FCS All-American as a fullback at Montana State last season. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound senior just keeps getting open for big plays in the Razorbacks' offense. Jones has caught only five passes so far this season but has turned them into gains of 41, 33, 21, 40 and 62 yards with two TDs, and he ranks fourth among SEC tight ends with 197 receiving yards.
OT: Keagen Trost, Missouri
Transferred from: Wake Forest
Trost, a seventh-year senior, went from FCS Morgan State to Indiana State to Wake Forest before moving to the SEC for his final season of eligibility. He's holding down the starting job at right tackle for the Tigers, is Pro Football Focus' highest-graded offensive lineman in the SEC and has helped pave the way for the No. 5 rushing offense in the country.
OT: Kahlil Benson, Indiana
Transferred from: Colorado
Benson left Indiana during its coaching change at the end of the 2023 season and joined Colorado to help rebuild the Buffs' line. He missed time because of injury and earned four starts, primarily at right guard, in his lone season in Boulder. Now he's back with the Hoosiers and off to a nice start as their starting right tackle, with one pressure and zero sacks allowed through their 4-0 start.
OG: Dominick Giudice, Missouri
Transferred from: Michigan
After playing in a reserve role for three seasons, Giudice earned five starts at center last year at Michigan. He moved on to Missouri as a grad transfer for his final season of eligibility and has fared well as the Tigers' starter at left guard, with only one blown block through four games, according to ESPN Research. Giudice shared SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after the Tigers' win over Kansas and has asserted himself as a leader for this unit.
OG: TJ Ferguson, Syracuse
Transferred from: Florida State
The former Alabama transfer went through a rough season with the Seminoles in 2024 but has turned things around as a sixth-year senior at Syracuse. Ferguson has played nearly every snap this season as the starter at left guard and held up well against Clemson's D-line on Saturday, allowing just one pressure in the 34-21 upset win on the road.
C: Jordan White, Vanderbilt
Transferred from: Liberty
Vanderbilt had to reload along the offensive line this offseason with three new starters arriving via the transfer portal. White, a two-year starter and All-CUSA performer at Liberty, has brought invaluable experience to this unit and has been one of the SEC's top centers for the No. 18 Commodores with zero blown blocks or sacks allowed during their 4-0 start, according to ESPN Research.
All-purpose: Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Transferred from: Ferris State
Say it with us...
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 20, 2025
DEUCEEEE 🗣️@Deuceisloose3 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/neZFP3Usca
We had to find a spot for Chambliss on this squad after the Division II transfer's incredible rise to QB1 in Oxford. After leading Ferris State to a Division II national title last season, Chambliss bet on himself by entering the portal in April and chose a spot with the Rebels rather than chase a starting job at the Group of 5 level. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior has been extremely impressive in relief of injured starter Austin Simmons with 719 passing yards, 195 rushing yards, six total TDs and no turnovers while leading wins over Arkansas and Tulane. Chambliss is averaging 9.33 total yards per play in Lane Kiffin's offense and ranks seventh in QBR (88.5).
DEFENSE
DL: J'Dan Burnett, Tulsa
Transferred from: Louisiana Tech
Burnett was on track to be a starter at Louisiana Tech in 2023 until a season-ending lower leg injury, and he produced five career sacks over four seasons in the program. The 6-foot, 250-pound pass rusher has already matched that total through his first four games at Tulsa. Burnett is tied for second in FBS in sacks, leads the American Conference with seven tackles for loss and had three more pressures in Tulsa's upset win at Oklahoma State last week.
DL: Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech
Transferred from: Northern Illinois
THICC SIX 🔥
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) September 6, 2025
📺 TNT & MAX https://t.co/mpiBdG51va pic.twitter.com/82IX3dbLnl
Gill-Howard was the least hyped of the four starting defensive linemen Texas Tech signed out of the portal, and some questioned whether his size (6-1, 290 pounds) might be an issue as he moved up to Power 4 ball. But he has been a disruptor for the Red Raiders with 10 stops, 2.5 TFLs and an epic 55-yard interception return for a touchdown against Kent State. Gill-Howard hit a max speed of 18.8 mph on the play, according to data powered by Teamworks, a testament to his uncommon abilities for his size.
DL: Khalil Laufau, Houston
Transferred from: Washington State
After starting three games last season at Washington State in a reserve role, Laufau has been one of the more impressive defensive tackles in the country through three games. He's a 6-foot-3, 300-pound force who can really move, stop the run and pass rush. Laufau has generated some big plays early on with nine stops, four pressures, a sack against Colorado and a forced fumble against Rice.
DL: Mason Reiger, Wisconsin
Transferred from: Louisville
It's been a rough start to the season in Madison, but Reiger has been a revelation. The former walk-on and Louisville transfer missed the 2024 season with a knee injury and had to sit out spring practice with the Badgers as well. But the 6-foot-5, 248-pound edge rusher has bounced back nicely as a sixth-year senior with 10 tackles, 11 pressures and two sacks through four games.
LB: Trey Lathan, Kansas
Transferred from: West Virginia
Lathan started 18 games over the past two seasons at West Virginia but moved on during the coaching change and opted to stay within the Big 12 at Kansas. The redshirt junior has put up 28 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups, and he snagged his first career interception against his former team Saturday during a 41-10 rout. The Jayhawks did a sneaky-good job of reloading on defense this offseason with under-the-radar portal pickups like Lathan, Bangally Kamara (South Carolina), Leroy Harris III (Chattanooga) and Lyrik Rawls (Oklahoma State), who have helped lead a 3-1 start.
LB: Ray Coney, Tulsa
Transferred from: East Tennessee State
After two productive seasons at ETSU, Coney followed Tre Lamb and his coaching staff to Tulsa and has emerged as college football's leading tackler with 49 stops through his first four games at the FBS level. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound junior has produced 13 or more tackles in three games and racked up nine solo stops and a sack in the win over Oklahoma State.
CB: Colton Hood, Tennessee
Transferred from: Colorado
Tennessee needed someone to step up at corner after injuries sidelined starters Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III, and Hood has certainly exceeded expectations in his first season with the Vols. After stops at Auburn and Colorado, where he started one game in 2024, Hood has stepped in and shined. He has been targeted 15 times through four games and has given up only three catches for 24 yards, according to ESPN Research. Hood shared SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after breaking up three passes and returning a fumble for a 22-yard touchdown in the season-opening win over Syracuse.
CB: John Nestor, Minnesota
Transferred from: Iowa
JOHN NESTOR PICK-6! @johnnestor_7
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) September 6, 2025
📺; @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/P8y5KTJVZs
Nestor transferred from Iowa to Minnesota this spring after playing primarily on special teams during his two seasons with the Hawkeyes. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound corner proved he was ready to be a starter and has allowed 36 passing yards on five catches through three games, per ESPN Research. Nestor opened the Gophers' 66-0 win over Northwestern State with a 29-yard pick-six on the first play of the game and grabbed another later in the first half.
CB: Hezekiah Masses, Cal
Transferred from: Florida International
Cal always does such a good job of mining the transfer portal for under-recruited talent, and Masses looks like its next great get. The two-year starter at FIU has come in and made a big splash right away with three interceptions and an FBS-leading seven pass breakups. Masses picked off a pass in each of his first three games for a Bears defense that is also getting good early returns from South Florida transfer cornerback Brent Austin.
S: Bishop Fitzgerald, USC
Transferred from: NC State
The No. 1 starting safety in Pro Football Focus' grading this season is Fitzgerald, a former junior college transfer who started 16 games over his two seasons at NC State. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior snagged a 39-yard pick-six in his Trojans debut and intercepted two more in the Big Ten opener against Purdue, both times in the red zone to stop scoring opportunities. The No. 21 Trojans will need plenty more of that timely playmaking with three consecutive top-25 opponents up next.
S: Alex McLaughlin, Washington
Transferred from: Northern Arizona
McLaughlin, an All-Big Sky performer at the FCS level at Northern Arizona, earned a starting role with the Huskies and was already playing well before he took his game to another level in the Apple Cup on Saturday. He delivered an interception and 27-yard return on Washington State's opening drive, then put the game away for good in the fourth quarter with a 47-yard pick-six. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior is also the Huskies' second-leading tackler with 16 stops.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK: Jesus Gomez, Arizona State
Transferred from: Eastern Michigan
Last season, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham became so frustrated with the Sun Devils' kicking issues that he announced he would hold open tryouts. This year, Gomez has more than calmed those concerns. Gomez is 9-for-10 on field goal attempts through four games and has made all 12 extra-point tries. The former All-MAC performer got to be the hero in the Sun Devils' 27-24 road win at Baylor on Saturday, converting his fourth field goal of the night from 43 yards out with time expiring.
P: Damon Greaves, Colorado
Transferred from: Kansas
The Australia native joined the Buffaloes after two seasons at Kansas and has been a difference-maker on special teams, averaging 45.8 yards per punt with five dropped inside the 10-yard line, tied for most among all Power 4 punters.
Returner: Cam Ross, Virginia
Transferred from: James Madison
Ross has been everything the Cavaliers hoped as an all-purpose playmaker through his first four games. He's their second-leading receiver with 252 yards and one touchdown on 19 catches, and he has gained 98 yards on punt returns and another 176 on kickoffs, including a 100-yard touchdown return against Coastal Carolina in which he went untouched. The former UConn and James Madison transfer ranks seventh in the FBS in total return yards.