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Max Olson
One of the best gamers accessible in school soccer’s switch portal are making hundreds of thousands nowadays, and the packages assembling prime portal recruiting courses are those keen to spend probably the most. However make no mistake: Expertise analysis remains to be very a lot the secret throughout portal season.
When 1000’s of gamers develop into accessible on the similar time, there’ll all the time be good gamers who get neglected and under-recruited. 4 full weeks into this school soccer season, it is time to have a good time the September surprises.
This isn’t precisely an early all-transfer workforce; we’ll get to that later within the season. Take into account the next extra just like the all-sleeper workforce.
None of those gamers made our offseason rankings of the top 100 transfers for 2025, however they have been spectacular and productive by means of nonconference play. Some introduced critical expertise to their new packages whereas others are lastly getting a shot to start out. This workforce consists of hidden gems from the Group of 5, FCS and even Division II in addition to Energy 4 gamers.
Bounce to:
Offense | Defense | Special teams
OFFENSE
Transferred from: Boston Faculty
Again in December, ESPN ranked the top 25 quarterbacks available within the winter portal window. Castellanos was No. 16 on the record after a troublesome season beneath Invoice O’Brien at Boston Faculty that ended with the QB getting benched and leaving this system. Now that he has discovered an ideal match at Florida State, that rating appears method too low. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound senior is off to a superb begin in Tallahassee, rating third nationally in QBR (91.6) and second in whole yards per play (11.3) whereas main his Seminoles squad again into the AP prime 10 after their 2-10 slide a 12 months in the past. He talked an enormous sport going into the season opener towards Alabama and backed it up with a stunning efficiency in a shocking 31-17 upset. Three video games in, the Seminoles have the No. 1 scoring offense within the nation at 58 factors per sport and a possibility to develop into the clear ACC title front-runner if they’ll take down Virginia (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and No. 2 Miami over these subsequent two weeks.
Transferred from: Missouri
After taking part in sparingly throughout his freshman season at Mizzou, Lacy is rising as one in all school soccer’s greatest younger working backs. He ranks third amongst SEC backs with 405 yards from scrimmage by means of 4 video games and has a conference-leading seven dashing TDs. The sophomore opened the season with back-to-back 100-yard performances and has proven a formidable mix of toughness and monitor pace. He is a 210-pound again who has already hit a max pace of 21.6 mph this season, quickest amongst all SEC backs, based on knowledge powered by Teamworks.
RB: Cam Cook, Jacksonville State
Transferred from: TCU
Prepare dinner rushed for a team-high 460 yards and 9 TDs final season at TCU however opted to enter the portal in the hunt for a greater alternative. He has already surpassed that dashing whole by means of 4 video games at Jacksonville State, main Convention USA with 537 dashing yards and 4 scores on 6 yards per carry. He is additionally main all FBS backs with 22 rushes of 10-plus yards and has compelled 31 missed tackles, tied for second most within the FBS, per ESPN Analysis.
Transferred from: Sacramento State
Eget to Scudero for a 45-yard @SanJoseStateFB TD ‼️ pic.twitter.com/tyD7wKkw9g
— FOX Faculty Soccer (@CFBONFOX) August 30, 2025
After a Freshman All-America-caliber season on the FCS stage in 2024, the San Jose, California, native made the transfer as much as be a part of the Spartans and is proving he can produce on the highest stage. The speedy 5-foot-9, 174-pound slot receiver is main the Mountain West with 379 receiving yards on 22 catches. He debuted with a 189-yard efficiency towards Central Michigan and adopted that up with seven catches towards Texas’ protection.
Transferred from: Oklahoma
Thompson, a former top-150 recruit, made stops at Texas and Oklahoma earlier than discovering the proper offensive match for his skills at Mississippi State. He lit up Arizona State with six catches for 133 yards and two TDs and delivered the 58-yard, go-ahead landing to stun the Solar Devils. Thompson’s 291 receiving yards on 17 catches rank seventh most within the SEC. He has gone over 20 mph on eight performs this season, most amongst FBS receivers, based on knowledge powered by Teamworks, and has teamed with Georgia switch Anthony Evans III to raise the Bulldogs’ passing assault throughout their 4-0 begin.
Transferred from: Tennessee
Nimrod began six video games over three seasons at Tennessee however by no means carved out a significant function within the Vols’ receiving corps. He reunited with coach Alex Golesh in Tampa and has been a constant big-play menace for quarterback Byrum Brown by means of 4 video games, main the American Convention with 367 receiving yards and two TDs on 14 catches and producing a career-high 128 receiving yards towards Miami. Nimrod is averaging 18.8 air yards per goal, second most amongst all FBS wideouts with greater than 20 targets per ESPN Analysis, and 26.2 yards per catch.
Transferred from: Montana State
Jones, a local of Montreal, started his profession at Maine and have become an FCS All-American as a fullback at Montana State final season. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound senior simply retains getting open for giant performs within the Razorbacks’ offense. Jones has caught solely 5 passes thus far this season however has turned them into positive aspects of 41, 33, 21, 40 and 62 yards with two TDs, and he ranks fourth amongst SEC tight ends with 197 receiving yards.
Transferred from: Wake Forest
Trost, a seventh-year senior, went from FCS Morgan State to Indiana State to Wake Forest earlier than transferring to the SEC for his remaining season of eligibility. He is holding down the beginning job at proper sort out for the Tigers, is Professional Soccer Focus’ highest-graded offensive lineman within the SEC and has helped pave the best way for the No. 5 dashing offense within the nation.
Transferred from: Colorado
Benson left Indiana throughout its teaching change on the finish of the 2023 season and joined Colorado to assist rebuild the Buffs’ line. He missed time due to harm and earned 4 begins, primarily at proper guard, in his lone season in Boulder. Now he is again with the Hoosiers and off to a pleasant begin as their beginning proper sort out, with one stress and nil sacks allowed by means of their 4-0 begin.
Transferred from: Michigan
After taking part in in a reserve function for 3 seasons, Giudice earned 5 begins at middle final 12 months at Michigan. He moved on to Missouri as a grad switch for his remaining season of eligibility and has fared nicely because the Tigers’ starter at left guard, with just one blown block by means of 4 video games, based on ESPN Analysis. Giudice shared SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after the Tigers’ win over Kansas and has asserted himself as a pacesetter for this unit.
Transferred from: Florida State
The previous Alabama switch went by means of a tough season with the Seminoles in 2024 however has turned issues round as a sixth-year senior at Syracuse. Ferguson has performed almost each snap this season because the starter at left guard and held up nicely towards Clemson’s D-line on Saturday, permitting only one stress within the 34-21 upset win on the highway.
Transferred from: Liberty
Vanderbilt needed to reload alongside the offensive line this offseason with three new starters arriving through the switch portal. White, a two-year starter and All-CUSA performer at Liberty, has introduced invaluable expertise to this unit and has been one of many SEC’s prime facilities for the No. 18 Commodores with zero blown blocks or sacks allowed throughout their 4-0 begin, based on ESPN Analysis.
Transferred from: Ferris State
Say it with us…
DEUCEEEE 🗣️@Deuceisloose3 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/neZFP3Usca
— Ole Miss Soccer (@OleMissFB) September 20, 2025
We needed to discover a spot for Chambliss on this squad after the Division II switch’s unbelievable rise to QB1 in Oxford. After main Ferris State to a Division II nationwide title final season, Chambliss guess on himself by coming into the portal in April and selected a spot with the Rebels fairly than chase a beginning job on the Group of 5 stage. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior has been extraordinarily spectacular in reduction of injured starter Austin Simmons with 719 passing yards, 195 dashing yards, six whole TDs and no turnovers whereas main wins over Arkansas and Tulane. Chambliss is averaging 9.33 whole yards per play in Lane Kiffin’s offense and ranks seventh in QBR (88.5).
DEFENSE
Transferred from: Louisiana Tech
Burnett was on monitor to be a starter at Louisiana Tech in 2023 till a season-ending decrease leg harm, and he produced 5 profession sacks over 4 seasons in this system. The 6-foot, 250-pound go rusher has already matched that whole by means of his first 4 video games at Tulsa. Burnett is tied for second in FBS in sacks, leads the American Convention with seven tackles for loss and had three extra pressures in Tulsa’s upset win at Oklahoma State final week.
Transferred from: Northern Illinois
THICC SIX 🔥
📺 TNT & MAX https://t.co/mpiBdG51va pic.twitter.com/82IX3dbLnl
— Texas Tech Soccer (@TexasTechFB) September 6, 2025
Gill-Howard was the least hyped of the 4 beginning defensive linemen Texas Tech signed out of the portal, and a few questioned whether or not his measurement (6-1, 290 kilos) is perhaps a difficulty as he moved as much as Energy 4 ball. However he has been a disruptor for the Crimson Raiders with 10 stops, 2.5 TFLs and an epic 55-yard interception return for a landing towards Kent State. Gill-Howard hit a max pace of 18.8 mph on the play, based on knowledge powered by Teamworks, a testomony to his unusual talents for his measurement.
Transferred from: Washington State
After beginning three video games final season at Washington State in a reserve function, Laufau has been one of many extra spectacular defensive tackles within the nation by means of three video games. He is a 6-foot-3, 300-pound power who can actually transfer, cease the run and go rush. Laufau has generated some massive performs early on with 9 stops, 4 pressures, a sack towards Colorado and a compelled fumble towards Rice.
Transferred from: Louisville
It has been a tough begin to the season in Madison, however Reiger has been a revelation. The previous walk-on and Louisville switch missed the 2024 season with a knee harm and needed to sit out spring follow with the Badgers as nicely. However the 6-foot-5, 248-pound edge rusher has bounced again properly as a sixth-year senior with 10 tackles, 11 pressures and two sacks by means of 4 video games.
Transferred from: West Virginia
Lathan began 18 video games over the previous two seasons at West Virginia however moved on throughout the teaching change and opted to remain throughout the Massive 12 at Kansas. The redshirt junior has put up 28 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and two go breakups, and he snagged his first profession interception towards his former workforce Saturday throughout a 41-10 rout. The Jayhawks did a sneaky-good job of reloading on protection this offseason with under-the-radar portal pickups like Lathan, Bangally Kamara (South Carolina), Leroy Harris III (Chattanooga) and Lyrik Rawls (Oklahoma State), who’ve helped lead a 3-1 begin.
Transferred from: East Tennessee State
After two productive seasons at ETSU, Coney adopted Tre Lamb and his teaching employees to Tulsa and has emerged as school soccer’s main tackler with 49 stops by means of his first 4 video games on the FBS stage. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound junior has produced 13 or extra tackles in three video games and racked up 9 solo stops and a sack within the win over Oklahoma State.
Transferred from: Colorado
Tennessee wanted somebody to step up at nook after accidents sidelined starters Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III, and Hood has definitely exceeded expectations in his first season with the Vols. After stops at Auburn and Colorado, the place he began one sport in 2024, Hood has stepped in and shined. He has been focused 15 instances by means of 4 video games and has given up solely three catches for twenty-four yards, based on ESPN Analysis. Hood shared SEC Defensive Participant of the Week honors after breaking apart three passes and returning a fumble for a 22-yard landing within the season-opening win over Syracuse.
Transferred from: Iowa
JOHN NESTOR PICK-6! @johnnestor_7
📺; @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/P8y5KTJVZs
— Minnesota Soccer (@GopherFootball) September 6, 2025
Nestor transferred from Iowa to Minnesota this spring after taking part in totally on particular groups throughout his two seasons with the Hawkeyes. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound nook proved he was able to be a starter and has allowed 36 passing yards on 5 catches by means of three video games, per ESPN Analysis. Nestor opened the Gophers’ 66-0 win over Northwestern State with a 29-yard pick-six on the primary play of the sport and grabbed one other later within the first half.
Transferred from: Florida Worldwide
Cal all the time does such job of mining the switch portal for under-recruited expertise, and Lots seems like its subsequent nice get. The 2-year starter at FIU has are available in and made an enormous splash immediately with three interceptions and an FBS-leading seven go breakups. Lots picked off a go in every of his first three video games for a Bears protection that can be getting good early returns from South Florida switch cornerback Brent Austin.
Transferred from: NC State
The No. 1 beginning security in Professional Soccer Focus’ grading this season is Fitzgerald, a former junior school switch who began 16 video 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 extra within the Massive Ten opener towards Purdue, each instances within the purple zone to cease scoring alternatives. The No. 21 Trojans will want loads extra of that well timed playmaking with three consecutive top-25 opponents up subsequent.
Transferred from: Northern Arizona
McLaughlin, an All-Massive Sky performer on the FCS stage at Northern Arizona, earned a beginning function with the Huskies and was already taking part in nicely earlier than he took his sport to a different stage within the Apple Cup on Saturday. He delivered an interception and 27-yard return on Washington State’s opening drive, then put the sport away for good within the fourth quarter with a 47-yard pick-six. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior can be the Huskies’ second-leading tackler with 16 stops.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Transferred from: Japanese Michigan
Final season, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham turned so annoyed with the Solar Devils’ kicking points that he introduced he would maintain open tryouts. This 12 months, Gomez has greater than calmed these considerations. Gomez is 9-for-10 on subject aim makes an attempt by means of 4 video games and has made all 12 extra-point tries. The previous All-MAC performer received to be the hero within the Solar Devils’ 27-24 highway win at Baylor on Saturday, changing his fourth subject aim of the night time from 43 yards out with time expiring.
Transferred from: Kansas
The Australia native joined the Buffaloes after two seasons at Kansas and has been a difference-maker on particular groups, averaging 45.8 yards per punt with 5 dropped contained in the 10-yard line, tied for many amongst all Energy 4 punters.
Returner: Cam Ross, Virginia
Transferred from: James Madison
Ross has been every little thing the Cavaliers hoped as an all-purpose playmaker by means of his first 4 video games. He is their second-leading receiver with 252 yards and one landing on 19 catches, and he has gained 98 yards on punt returns and one other 176 on kickoffs, together with a 100-yard landing return towards Coastal Carolina by which he went untouched. The previous UConn and James Madison switch ranks seventh within the FBS in whole return yards.
