Transfer Portal Power Rankings: Top 10 players after Week 1 of college football

Each Thursday, we’ll update the 2023 Transfer Portal Power Rankings, looking at the Top 10 transfers — based on their impact on the field and not their preseason ranking. 

Colorado’s Batman and Robin — Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders — were shoo-ins to make the initial rankings, while guys like Emory Jones and Amari Gainer are more surprising additions considering their lack of expectations entering the 2023 season. 

The Top 10 Transfer Portal Player Power Rankings after Week 1:

1. WR/DB Travis Hunter, Colorado

The former No. 1 overall recruit was the best pure football player in America in Week 1. In the upset over TCU, Hunter logged more than 130 snaps playing double-duty in over 100-degree heat.

He had 11 catches (on 14 targets) for 119 yards as a wideout and made an insanely athletic (and instinctive) interception at the goal line on defense. He had a game-saving hustle play on the same possession and allowed just three receptions on nine targets. He is HIM.

2. QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Coming from FCS Jackson State, few knew what to expect from Sanders in his first game against Power 5 competition, but Deion’s son is going to make a name for himself if he continues to play quarterback with such precision and poise.

Against the Horned Forgs, Sanders operated Sean Lewis’ breakneck offense like he’d been in the system for years … not just one game. He threw for a school-record 510 yards with four touchdowns, and the raw stats don’t do justice explaining how Sanders devastatingly carved up TCU with short and intermediate passes with perfect touch and timing. 

3. WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

If Travis Hunter is HIM, then Coleman at least qualifies for a Capitol ‘He’. The Michigan State transfer torched LSU’s secondary with nine catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

A former Spartans basketball player, Coleman is a jump-ball machine, and he abused Duce Chestnut and several other Tigers’ DBs on simple corner fades. He’s not a one-trick pony, though, catching a slant and breaking a tackle for another touchdown. Coleman lined up both in the slot and out wide, and paired with 6-foot-7 Johnny Wilson, he gives FSU one of the freakiest receiver duos in the country. 

4. QB Sam Hartman, Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish have one of the better offenses in the country in 2023 thanks to the instant upgrade Hartman has provided at quarterback.

The Wake Forest transfer quarterback has led 11 touchdown drives in 12 possessions at quarterback in Notre Dame’s 2-0 start. The ACC’s all-time passing leader has completed 83% of his passes at 11.1 yards per attempt with six touchdowns and zero interceptions. A tougher test awaits this weekend going up against a solid NC State defense in Durham.

5. QB Emory Jones, Cincinnati 

Perhaps the third time’s a charm? After unsuccessful stints at Florida and Arizona State, Jones had a highlight-reel debut at Cincinnati.

The nomadic quarterback now in his sixth season of college football threw for 345 yards (15.0 per attempt!) with five touchdowns and zero picks. Jones also added two rushing scores. It was also the best completion percentage (82.6%) of his entire career.  Jones had seven passing touchdowns the entire 2022 season in Tempe, and never threw for more than 260 yards. 

6. WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss

In his first game in a Rebels uniform, Harris, a transfer from La. Tech, set a program record with four touchdown receptions — and is the only wideout in the county to reach pay-dirt in a single game this season through two weeks. Harris finished the blowout win over Mercer with six catches for 133 yards, immediately establishing chemistry with Ole Miss starting QB Jaxson Dart. 

7. WR J. Michael Strudivant, UCLA

The Cal transfer helped spark the Bruins’ choppy offense against Coastal Carolina, catching a 62-yard touchdown late in the first half on a deep pass from 5-star freshman Dante Moore. Sturidvant averaged 27.2 yards per catch in the win, hauling in five receptions for 132 yards. He graded out as PFF’s No. 5 overall wideout nationally (89.3) in Week 1.

8. RB LJ Johnson, SMU

In his debut with the Mustangs, the former 5-star Texas A&M signee showcased the skills that landed him such a lofty ranking in the 2021 class. Johnson recorded his first-career 100-yard game, with a 14-carry, 128-yard performance. He averaged 9.1 yards per carry, aided by a 67-yard touchdown scamper that featured multiple broken tackles. 

9. RB Ray Davis, Kentucky

Davis was UK’s feature tailback in Week 1, playing nearly 80% of the snaps with 14 carries for 118 yards and two scores. The former Vanderbilt transfer, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2022, forced five missed tackles and had three explosive runs over 20 yards.

10. EDGE Amari Gainer, North Carolina

In one game with the Tar Heels, Gainer matched his sack total — two — in his last two seasons combined at Florida State. The 6-4, 235-pound edge senior gave South Carolina’s tackles fits in the win over the Gamecocks. In 11 pass rush snaps, Gainer had two sacks, a pressure and four hurries. 

Best of the Rest: DB Jaylen Key, Alabama; QB DJ Uiageleli, Oregon State; WR Xzavier Henderson, Cincy; WR Jimmy Horn, Colorado