With the Wild Wild West that is the NCAA transfer portal, there have been a ton of changes to teams across the country this offseason. The Big Ten is no exception, as every team has seen at least one transfer come into the program and one player exit via the portal.
Today, we begin a two-part series detailing the Big Ten’s action in the transfer portal this year. Who is coming into the conference? Which programs lost the most? Which gained the most? Let’s dive right in and start with our hometown Wolverines.
Michigan Wolverines
Transfers in: CB Ricky Johnson (UNLV), S Jaden Mangham (Michigan State), S Wesley Walker (Louisville), CB Aamir Hall (Albany), WR Amorion Walker (Ole Miss), WR CJ Charleston (Youngstown St), K Dominic Zvada (Arkansas St), LB Jaishawn Barham (Maryland), IOL Josh Priebe (Northwestern)
Transfers out: S Keon Sabb (Alabama), LB Jeremiah Beasley (Missouri), LB Semaj Bridgeman (Michigan State), CB DJ Waller (Kentucky), IOL Amir Herring (Kansas), WR Darrius Clemons (Oregon State), CB Cameron Calhoun (Utah), LB Joey Velazquez (Ohio State), RB C.J. Stokes (Charlotte), TE Matthew Hibner (SMU), WR Jake Thaw (Delaware), WR Eamonn Dennis (Ohio), LB Hayden Moore (Washington), DL Reece Atteberry, WR Cristian Dixon, WR Karmello English
What stands out
- Sabb leaving for Alabama despite a potential starting role with Michigan
- Michigan losing young linebacker depth
- Amorion Walker transferring out and then returning to play wide receiver
- Barham has been standing out for the Wolverines so far this spring/summer, as he is set to be one of the starting linebackers this fall
- Priebe bringing experience to a new starting offensive line
Ohio State Buckeyes
Transfers in: IOL Seth McLaughlin (Alabama), RB Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), Caleb Downs (Alabama), QB Julian Sayin (Alabama), QB Will Howard (Kansas State), LB Joey Velazquez (Michigan), S Keenan Nelson Jr. (South Carolina), TE Will Kacmarek (Ohio)
Transfers out: QB Kyle McCord (Syracuse), RB Dallan Hayden (Colorado) WR Noah Rogers (NC State), IOL Victor Cutler (Louisville), S Kye Stokes (Cincinnati), RB Evan Pryor (Cincinnati), RB Chip Trayanum (Kentucky), WR Julian Fleming (Penn State), LB Reid Carrico (West Virginia), TE Joe Royer (Cincinnati), CB Jyaire Brown (LSU), TE Sam Hart (Colorado), S Cameron Martinez (Boston College), DL Omari Abor (SMU), S Cedrick Hawkins (UCF), Enokk Vimahi (Washington), Ja’Had Carter (NC State)
What stands out
- Ohio State brought in some star talent like Downs and Judkins, who should be immediate difference-makers
- The most intriguing addition is Sayin, who was a former Elite 11 MVP and the No. 1 QB in the transfer portal. If Howard struggles, Sayin could take the starting role during the season
- The Buckeyes lost a ton of depth across the board including some potential role players like Stokes, Trayanum, Fleming and more
Oregon Ducks
Transfers in: QB Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma), QB Dante Moore (UCLA), S Peyton Woodyard (Alabama), WR Evan Stewart (Texas A&M), CB Kam Alexander (UTSA), CB Jabbar Muhammad (Washington), CB Brandon Johnson (Duke), DL Ja’Maree Caldwell (Houston), S Kobe Savage (Kansas State), IOL Matthew Bedford (Indiana), S Cruz Rushing (Arizona)
Transfers out: QB Ty Thompson (Tulane), CB Collin Gill (Georgia), DL Ben Roberts (Michigan State), RB Dante Dowdell (Nebraska), OT Michael Wooten (Arizona), DL Tevita Pome’e (Oregon State), WR Kris Huston (Washington State), CB Cole Martin (Arizona State), S Trikweze Bridgers (Florida), WR Ashton Cozart (SMU), CB Bryan Addison (UCLA)
What stands out
- Woodyard joins an already loaded Oregon secondary
- Caldwell had 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble for Houston last season and should be a great veteran addition to the Ducks’ defensive line
- Stewart was one of the most coveted players in the portal with a career 91 receptions for 1,163 yards and six touchdowns, and should be the top dog for Oregon
- Oregon had the No. 6 recruiting class in On3’s rankings and are the top-ranked Big Ten program
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Transfers in: QB Max Brosmer (New Hampshire) CB Ethan Robinson (Bucknell), CB Jaionte McMillan (TCU), RB Sieh Bangura (Ohio), WR Cristian Driver (Penn State), RB Marcus Major (Oklahoma), edge Jaxon Howard (LSU), QB Dylan Wittke (Virginia Tech), WR Tyler Williams (Georgia), edge Alima Nkele (UTEP), EDGE Adam Kissayi (Clemson)
Transfers out: QB Athan Kaliakmanis (Rutgers), WR Dino Kaliakmanis (Rutgers), IOL Cade McConnell (Vanderbilt), RB Zach Evans (North Texas), RB Marquese Williams (Akron)
What stands out
- Brosmer will likely be the team’s starter after throwing for 6,613 yards, 56 touchdowns and 14 interceptions over the last two seasons at the FCS level
- Howard is a Minneapolis native who was the No. 1 player in Minnesota in the 2023 class and now returns home
- Driver is the son of Green Bay Packers legend Donald Driver and a former 3-star recruit
- Minnesota had On3’s No. 20 overall transfer portal class, good enough for the fourth-best in the conference
Indiana Hoosiers
Transfers in: CB D’Angelo Ponds (James Madison), RB Solomon Vanhorse (James Madison), WR Elijah Sarratt (James Madison), OT Tyler Stephens (James Madison), RB Kaelon Black (James Madison), DL James Carpenter (James Madison), LB Jailin Walker (James Madison), LB Aiden Fisher (James Madison), TE Zach Horton (James Madison), OT Nick Kidwell (James Madison), RB Ty Son Lawton (James Madison), EDGE Mikail Kamara (James Madison), RB Elijah Green (UNC), DL Andrew Depaepe (Michigan State), S Ebon Person (Valparaiso), DL CJ West (Kent State), CB Cedarius Doss (Austin Peay), WR Ke’Shawn Williams (Wake Forest)
Transfers out: QB Broc Lowry (Western Michigan), QB Dexter Williams II (Georgia Southern) RB Trent Howard (Oklahoma State), LB Anthony Jones (Michigan State), EDGE Philip Blidi (Auburn), WR Cameron Camper (Boise State), RB Jaylin Lucas (Florida State), OT Joshua Sales (Purdue), IOL Zach Carpenter (Miami), IOL Matthew Bedford (Oregon)
What stands out
- New head coach Curt Cignetti brought 12 players with him from James Madison
- Sarratt was one of the most productive wide receivers in college football a season ago with 1191 yards and eight touchdowns on 82 receptions
- JMU’s two leading rushers — Black and Lawton — also reunite with Cignett in Bloomington.
- Fischer led the Dukes with 108 tackles last season and will likely be an important player for Indiana’s defense
- Overall, the Hoosiers had a top-15 transfer portal class per On3, ranking third-best in the Big Ten.
Purdue Boilermakers
Transfers in: WR C.J. Smith (Georgia), De’Nylon Morrissette (Georgia), OT Joshua Sales (Indiana), CB Nyland Green (Georgia), WR Kam Brown (UCLA), RB Reggie Love (Illinois), EDGE C.J. Madden (Georgia), EDGE sh*tta Sillah (Boston College), OT Corey Stewart (Ball State), DL Jamarius Dinkins (Kentucky), IOL Joey Tanona (Notre Dame), CB Kyndrich Breedlove (Colorado)
Transfers out: LB Roman Pitre (Arizona State), EDGE Nic Scourton (Texas A&M), TE Garrett Miller (Texas A&M), DL Khordae Syndor (Vanderbilt), DL Sulaiman Kpaka (Mississippi State), IOL Josh Kaltenberger (Maryland), Deion Burks (Oklahoma), DL JP Deeter (Arizona State)
What stands out
- Stewart started nine games for Ball State last season and was a Preseason All-MAC honoree from Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and PFF. He’ll likely be their starting left tackle.
- Three former four-star recruits that went to Georgia (Smith, Morrissette, Green) will all play roles for the Boilermakers this season
- Brown and Tonona were also former four-star recruits who could see the field this fall
- Purdue had a top-25 portal class per On3, ranking No. 22 overall
Illinois Fighting Illini
Transfers in: CB Terrance Brooks (Texas), DL Dennis Bradds (Florida State), OT JC Davis (New Mexico), DL Enyce Sledge (Auburn)
Transfers out: DL Anthony Johnson (Pitt), OT Andrew Dennis (Michigan State), CB Zachary Tobe (Georgia Tech), CB Tahveon Nicholson (Louisville), DL Sedarius McConnell (Boston College), RB Reggie Love (Purdue)
What stands out
- Davis is PFF’s highest-graded tackle returning to college football in 2024 and was a starter for New Mexico over the last two seasons
- Brooks is a former top-100 corner and four-star recruit who also considered Michigan in the offseason. He should immediately start.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Transfers in: QB Athan Kaliakmanis (Minnesota), WR Dino Kaliakmanis (Minnesota), DL Malcolm Ray (Florida State)
Transfers out: QB Gavin Wimsatt (Kentucky), DL Rene Konga (Louisville)
What stands out
- The Gavin Wimsatt experience at Rutgers is over, as the Scarlet Knights turn to Kaliakmanis. Head coach Greg Schiano named Kaliakmanis the starter in the spring “due to his accuracy” after Wimsatt completed just 47.1 percent of his passes last season.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Transfers in: QB Jackson Stratton (Colorado State), QB Brendan Sullivan (Northwestern), WR Jacob Gill (Northwestern), IOL Cade Borud (North Dakota)
Transfers out: QB Spencer Petras (Utah State), QB Deacon Hill (Utah Tech), QB Joey Labas (Central Michigan), WR Jake Bostick (Texas A&M)
What stands out
- If McNamara is healthy, he should be the starter again for the Hawkeyes this fall despite the additions of Stratton and Sullivan
- Sullivan made eight starts over the last two years for Northwestern and should be the team’s backup, being the odds-on favorite to start in 2025
Northwestern Wildcats
Transfers in: QB Mike Wright (Mississippi State), IOL Matt Keeler (Texas Tech), IOL Jack Bailey (Colorado), IOL Cooper Lovelace (USC), LB Noah Taylor (Cornell)
Transfers out: IOL Josh Priebe (Michigan), QB Brendan Sullivan (Iowa), CB Garnett Hollis Jr (West Virginia), CB Rod Heard (Notre Dame), CB Jaheem Joseph (West Virginia), OT Zachary Franks (Duke), IOL Alexander Doost (Arizona), WR Jacob Gill (Iowa)
What stands out
- Corners Hollis Jr., Heard and Joseph all saw playing time for Northwestern last season and are going to leave holes in the Wildcats secondary
- Preibe was a three-year starter at Northwestern and will now be a starter for Michigan’s offensive line in 2024
- Wright is a veteran presence who started two seasons at Vanderbilt before transferring to Mississippi State. He’ll likely compete with Ryan Hillinski, another former SEC product, for the starting role, but Wright adds a dual-threat component that new offensive coordinator Zach Lujan may favor.
