Ranking College Football's Best Transfer Portal Players Still Available
As expected, the college football transfer portal has been a busy place during the first open window for players to change schools this offseason, and we're expected to see some notable names come available in the spring transfer window, as well.
For the second time this offseason, the transfer portal is active again, this time for a two-week period as most programs are coming out of spring football.
Related: College Football Transfer Portal Team Rankings in 2023
An estimated more than 1,500 players entered the transfer portal at the FBS level since the month of August, and something like a thousand of those prospects have found a new school for the 2023 season.
Keep up: College football transfer portal tracker for 2023's top players
Let's take a look at the best players available in the NCAA transfer portal in the latest 2023 cycle for the spring transfer period.
College Football's 10 Best Transfer Players Available
DL Bear Alexander: Georgia ⟶ ??. It looked like Alexander, a former top-five recruit at the position, was poised for a larger role with the Bulldogs after playing in 12 games and recording 13 quarterback hurries, but he's moving on from UGA this offseason and should get a ton of attention from major schools, as he did as a recruit.
Edge Derrick McClendon: Florida State ⟶ ??. The redshirt junior was a starter for the improved Seminoles last season, recording personal-best marks in tackles (37) and in tackles for loss (5) in 12 starts, but is leaving FSU as a graduate transfer now.
LB Jaheim Thomas: Cincinnati ⟶ ??. Over 27 games for the Bearcats the last two years, Thomas had 93 stops and 2.5 sacks. He has two years left.
OL Caleb Etienne: Oklahoma State ⟶ ??. The starting left tackle comes in at 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds and was one of two players on offense to start every game in 2022.
TE Var'Keyes Gumms: North Texas ⟶ ??. One of the more skilled freshman tight ends in college football, Gumms had 34 receptions for 458 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games.
OL Cam'Ron Johnson: Houston ⟶ ??. After playing some at backup guard, Johnson moved into a starting role a year ago, emerging as one of the premier blockers in the AAC. He started 13 games, earning first-team All-AAC honors, and projects as a Power 5 lineman this season in a market that's always on the lookout for good offensive linemen.
WR Craig Burt: Western Kentucky ⟶ ??. A former 3-star prospect for the Hilltoppers, Burt brings JUCO experience an ideal frame to the position, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 205 pounds, over 20 games in his career catching 40 passes for 468 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
DL Alton Tarber: Oklahoma ⟶ ??. Despite not playing for the Sooners this past season, it was expected the former three-star recruit would finally get prolonged involvement in 2023. If he does, it will be with another school.
QB Chance Nolan: Oregon State ⟶ ??. Nolan started 17 straight games for the Beavers over parts of the last two seasons before a neck injury prematurely ended that streak and forced him from action. He was 10-7 as the starter, passing for 4,153 yards and 32 touchdowns, running for five more scores and 508 yards.
CB Juan Powell: East Carolina ⟶ ??. A defensive back with experience at both corner and safety racked up 113 total stops with two interceptions and four pass breakups in four seasons with the Pirates and brings two years of eligibility to a team that is in the market for a fleet-footed pass cover option.
WR Dominick Blaylock: Georgia ⟶ ??. A former four-star recruit, Blaylock caught five touchdown passes in a superb rookie outing for Georgia before an ACL tear in the SEC Championship and has battled through injuries since then, seeing his playing time diminish as a result. Blaylock had his best outing in 2019 when he caught 15 passes for 227 yards.
DL Marquis Robinson: Auburn ⟶ ??. One of a wave of players to transfer after Bryan Harsin was fired, Robinson was originally one of Auburn's higher-rated prospects two classes ago, but played in just two games this past season.
WR Gary Bryant, Jr.: USC ⟶ ??. A former top 50 recruit in the 2020 football recruiting class and No. 7 wide receiver nationally, Bryant caught 44 passes for 579 yards in 2021 as a sophomore but saw his role decline after USC's coaching staff changes, redshirting after three games into this past season.
More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | All Teams