Transfer portal impact players of Week 9
In the new age of college football, the portal has become a major piece of roster construction. Throughout the college football season, On3 is breaking down the top 10 transfer portal impact players based on weekly performances.
Here are the most impactful transfer portal players from Week 9:
1. Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds
D’Angelo Ponds was a freshman All-American at James Madison in 2023. He entered the portal last spring and landed over 22 offers, but ultimately decided to follow Curt Cignetti to Indiana. Against Washington on Saturday, Ponds allowed just one catch on four targets and posted two interceptions, including a pick-six as the Hoosiers ran away from Washington 31-17.
2. Miami running back Damien Martinez
Damien Martinez rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns to help No. 6 Miami remain unbeaten and blowout rival Florida State 36-14. His 148 yards was the second-most by any Miami rusher in the Florida State rivalry. The performance marked the former Oregon State transfer’s most rushing yards in a Miami uniform. Martinez is starting to build momentum after he rushed for 89 yards on 12 carries against Louisville a week ago.
3. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green
The former Boise State quarterback continues to help turn around the Arkansas offense. Taylen Green was 23 of 29 for 314 yards in the Razorbacks’ 58-25 win over Mississippi State. He also threw for a career-high five touchdowns with an interception. Green rushed for 79 yards with a touchdown, too, as he earned SEC honors. The redshirt junior posted 10.8 yards per attempt.
4. Texas A&M cornerback BJ Mayes
LSU led by 10 with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter when UAB transfer defensive back BJ Mayes picked off Garrett Nussmeier and returned it to the Tigers 8. Mayes delivered again in the third, intercepting Nussmeier and giving the Aggies the ball back. The defensive back’s play allowed Texas A&M to spark a comeback, running away with a 38-23 win.
5. North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris
Chandler Morris had stops at Oklahoma and TCU. He’s now at North Texas, playing out the final years of his eligibility. Morris currently leads the NCAA in passing yards with 2,873 through eight games. Against Tulane last Saturday, Morris eclipsed the 400-yard passing mark for the fourth this season. He was 38 of 55 for 449 yards and three touchdowns in the 45-37 loss. He also rushed for a touchdown.
6. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard continues to be a threat on the ground for the Fighting Irish. The Duke transfer was 13 of 21 for 178 yards against Navy, leading Notre Dame to its sixth consecutive win following the Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois. Leonard rushed 10 times for 83 yards and a touchdown. The quarterback’s 30-career rushing touchdowns rank second among all active FBS quarterbacks. With 11 rushing touchdowns this season, he is tied for third in most rushing touchdowns by an FBS quarterback in 2024.
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7. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel now ranks second all-time in FBS history in both career passing yards with 17,236 and career passing touchdowns with 143. The former UCF and Oklahoma transfer was 18 of 26 for 291 with three touchdowns and an interception in Oregon’s blowout win over Illinois. Gabriel has entered the Heisman Trophy conversation after eight weeks.
8. Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer
The former New Hampshire transfer knocked off Maryland on Saturday in Minneapolis. Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer was 26 of 33 in the win, tossing four touchdowns with a 78.8 completion percentage. It is the third consecutive win for the Golden Gophers, who are now 5-3 and one win away from bowl eligibility.
9. Indiana running back Justice Ellison
Wake Forest transfer Justice Ellison ran 29 times for 123 yards and a touchdown in No. 13 Indiana’s win over Washington. With College GameDay in Bloomington, the Hoosiers remained undefeated as Ellison played a key piece in the offense with starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke sidelined with a thumb injury. Indiana has now matched the 1967 Rose Bowl team for the best start in school history.
10. SMU running back Brashard Smith
SMU picked up its fifth consecutive win as running back Brashard Smith picked up 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. The Mustangs escaped in double overtime as they denied Duke on a two-point conversion. Smith has been a critical piece to the SMU offense since transferring in after three seasons at Miami. The running back ranks No. 26 in the nation with 745 rushing yards.