Transfer portal impact players of Week 6

Diego Pavia did not hold an FBS offer out of high school. He started his college football career at the New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to New Mexico State. The quarterback finished his career at New Mexico State ranked ninth all-time in program history in passing yards.

His decision to transfer to Vanderbilt for the 2024 season paid off Saturday night. Pavia and the Commodores were the story of the weekend in college football as they pulled off the 40-35 upset No. 1 Alabama in Nashville.

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 6:

1. Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia threw for 252 yards and rushed for 56 more as the Commodores stunned the Crimson Tide. Pavia outplayed Heisman Trophy favorite Jalen Milroe for most of the game, handing Kalen DeBoer his first loss as the Crimson Tide’s head coach. The quarterback’s performance led Vanderbilt to its first win over an AP top-five team in program history. Vanderbilt was 0-60 all-time against AP top-five teams. The Commodores had lost 23 consecutive games to Alabama dating with their last win in September 1984.

2. Syracuse QB Kyle McCord

The former Ohio State transfer continues to make Syracuse history. Kyle McCord finished 40 of 63 for 355 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 44-41 win at No. 25 UNLV. He extended his streak of consecutive games throwing for 300 yards to a program-best five. His 63 pass attempts rank second on Syracuse’s single-game record list. McCord’s starting to get Heisman attention, as the Orange are now 4-1.

3. Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton

Texas A&M finished with a season-best six sacks and eight tackles for loss, as the Aggies annihilated No. 9 Missouri 41-10. Purdue transfer EDGE Nic Scourton led the Texas A&M front seven, racking up three tackles, 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks in the blowout win. The Aggies allowed just 79 yards in the first half as they jumped out to a 24-0 lead. Scourton has 4.5 sacks on the season.

4. Minnesota QB Max Brosmer

The former New Hampshire transfer knocked off No. 11 USC on Saturday night in Minneapolis. Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer rushed for a touchdown from the 1-yard line with 56 seconds left to knock off the Trojans 24-17. The play was initially called short before officials reviewed the call and ruled it a touchdown. Brosmer finished the game 15 for 19 for 169 yards passing while also rushing for three touchdowns in the win.

5. Ole Miss EDGE Walter Nolen

Former Texas A&M EDGE Walter Nolen had his best performance of the year last weekend at South Carolina. The Ole Miss pass rusher posted five tackles with two sacks and a fumble recovery in the 27-3 win. Nolen was the No. 2 overall transfer in the On3 2024 College Football Transfer Portal rankings.

6. Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers

Diego Pavia was joined at Vanderbilt by New Mexico State teammate Eli Stowers, who committed to Vanderbilt last May. Pavia connected with the tight end for six catches and 113 yards in Saturday’s historic win over No. 1 Alabama. Stowers started his career at Texas A&M as a quarterback but has developed into a tight end. He caught all six of his targets for six first downs Saturday night.

7. Nebraska CB Ceyair Wright

Former USC cornerback Ceyair Wright is making an impact in the Nebraska secondary this season. The former top-100 prospect and four-star recruit in the 2021 class posted six tackles with a pass breakup Saturday against Rutgers. Wright also had his first interception of the season in the win. The 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback was targeted nine times and allowed just one catch in the 14-7 win.

8. Arkansas S Doneiko Slaughter

Doneiko Slaughter got some payback Saturday night against his former team. The Arkansas safety posted eight tackles and a pass breakup in the 19-14 upset of No. 4 Tennessee. Slaughter allowed just two catches for 11 yards in the win. The Arkansas defense allowed just 158 passing yards.

9. Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke

Former Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw for more than 300 yards for the third time this season as Indiana moved to 6-0 and secured bowl eligibility. He was 25 of 33 for 380 yards and three touchdown passes. Rourke finished with a 75.8 completion percentage. He’s thrown just two interceptions this season and is making a case to be in the Heisman conversation, as the Hoosiers are off to their best start since 1967.

10. Louisville WR Ja’Corey Brooks

A former five-star recruit in the 2021 cycle, Ja’Corey Brooks played three seasons at Alabama. He’s now in his first season at Louisville and continues to live up to the hype. In Saturday’s loss to SMU, Brooks finished with three catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. His 86-yard catch and run touchdown in the third quarter tied the game at 27. He has 25 catches for 489 yards and is averaging 19.6 yards per catch in five games.

Former five-star recruit and Alabama transfer Ja'Corey Brooks is living up to the billing at Louisville.

Big-time catch and run. Has 3 catches for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns against SMU. https://t.co/otixhRDN7Y pic.twitter.com/ZTYqmTaIma

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) October 5, 2024