Transfer portal impact players of Week 8

Coming off the bye week, Washington State transfer Cam Ward reminded the country why he’s a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and one of the top quarterbacks in college football. The Miami star was 21 of 32 for 319 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 52-45 win at Louisville.

In the new age of college football, the portal has become a major piece of roster construction. Ward’s success has turned the Hurricanes into a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

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 8:

1. Miami quarterback Cam Ward

The Miami quarterback was 21 of 32 for 319 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 52-45 win at Louisville. He threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jacolby George in the left corner of the end zone. Ward also connected with Houston transfer Sam Brown for a 49-yard touchdown pass, finding the wide receiver in the middle of the field. The Hurricanes are No. 6 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, positioned for an ACC title run and College Football Playoff berth.

2. Georgia running back Trevor Etienne

Former Florida transfer Trevor Etienne showed why he was one of the top running backs available in the portal last offseason. The Georgia running back rushed for three touchdowns against Texas, with his last coming in the fourth quarter after the pass interference controversy and Texas fans throwing bottles on the field. He finished with 87 rushing yards on 19 carries. Etienne also had three catches for 23 yards in the 30-15 win over the Longhorns.

3. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy

Jermod McCoy allowed only five passes on 11 targets against Alabama. The Oregon State transfer posted eight tackles, .5 for loss and a pass breakup. The 6-foot cornerback picked off Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the first quarter in the end zone, leaping to make the grab and returning it 54 yards.

4. Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough

Tyler Shough is at his third school in six seasons, playing out the final year of his college career at Louisville. The former Oregon and Texas Tech quarterback threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns in the 52-45 loss to Miami. Shough finished the game 31 of 51 for 342 yards and a 60.8 completion percentage.

5. Florida wide receiver Elijhah Badger

Elijhah Badger had his best game in a Florida uniform on Saturday. The former Arizona State transfer wide receiver had three catches for 148 yards in the Gators’ 48-20 blowout win over Kentucky. Badger connected with DJ Lagway on a 58-yard pass. He also had catches of 50 and 40 yards against the Wildcats, showing he can be a downfield threat.

6. Arizona safety Jack Luttrell

Former Tennessee transfer Jack Luttrell had his coming out party against Colorado. The safety posted five tackles and two interceptions in Arizona’s 34-7 loss to the Buffaloes. The only stats Luttrell had entering the game were two punt returns for 10 yards in the opening two games of the season. Both of his picks against Colorado came inside the red zone.

7. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia

After wins over Alabama and Kentucky, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia played the Commodores into the AP Top 25. After starting his college football career at the New Mexico Military Institute and transferring to New Mexico State, he’s playing in the SEC in 2024. Vanderbilt is 5-2 and ranked in the AP poll for the first time since the 2013 season. Pavia was 17 of 31 for 275 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 82 yards on 13 carries with a score.

8. South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr.

The former Georgia Tech and Charlotte transfer forced two fumbles in South Carolina’s 32-9 blowout win at Oklahoma. Demetrius Knight Jr. finished the win with a season-high 11 tackles and a sack. South Carolina finished with nine sacks on the day. One of Knight’s fumbles came in the first quarter, tripping up Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins as Tonka Hemingway scooped it up and ran it 36 yards to the house to put the Gamecocks up 14-0.

9. Colorado wide receiver LaJohntay Wester

With Travis Hunter still working through an injury, LaJohntay Wester connected with Shedeur Sanders for eight catches for 127 yards in the blowout win over Arizona. Wester ranked No. 2 in the nation in receptions last year with 108 catches at Florida Atlantic. Through seven games this season, the senior has 34 catches for 445 yards and seven touchdowns.

10. Memphis running back Mario Anderson

Mario Anderson picked Memphis over USC and Oklahoma last December. He pieced together his best performance of 2024 on Saturday, rushing for 183 yards on 22 carries with four touchdowns in a 52-44 win over North Texas. Anderson averaged 8.9 yards per carry.