Transfer Portal: Top portal departures by school

With the winter transfer portal window mostly closed outside of some graduate transfer entries, it’s time to look back and see which programs were hit with attrition. Some of the nation’s top programs including Nebraska, Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama have seen large numbers head to the portal. Nobody has come within reach of hitting Colorado’s 56 departures from 2023.

Clemson (five) and SMU (three) had the fewest transfer portal entries. On3 is breaking down the top transfer portal departures by school:

36 – Washington State

When Jake Dickert decided to leave Washington State and accept the Wake Forest job, the move signaled a portal exodus. Keeping players was already challenging for Dickert, as the Pac-12 consists of just two teams. But the coaching turnover resulted in more roster turnover. Washington State has lost 36 players to the portal to date. New Washington State head coach Jimmy Rogers has brought in 20 players to date. But bringing in enough players this spring to have depth will be critical for the Cougars’ 2025 season. So far Wazzu has held on to quarterback Zevi Eckhaus while adding 15 who have followed Rogers from South Dakota State.

32 – Purdue

Barry Odom takes over a roster that will have a completely new look in 2025. Despite the Boilermakers going 1-11 in 2024, Purdue’s roster was raided following Ryan Walters’ firing. Some of the top-ranked players in the portal came from Purdue, including safety Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) and tight end Max Klare (Ohio State). Odom has done what he can to add talent since he took the job in December, bringing in 27 players along with a handful of UNLV transfers. Purdue also landed Arkansas transfer quarterback Malachi Singleton, who is in line to contend for the starting job.

30 – Arkansas

Arkansas has seen significant roster turnover during the winter portal, losing 30 players. Offensive lineman Josh Braun (Kentucky) and tight end Luke Hasz (Ole Miss), cornerback Jaylon Braxton (Ole Miss), offensive lineman Patrick Kutas (Ole Miss), linebacker Brad Spence (Texas) and wide receiver Isaiah Sategna (Oklahoma) are staying in the SEC. Offensive lineman Addison Nichols, ranked in On3’s top 100 Transfer Portal Rankings, is headed to SMU. Sam Pittman faces another pivotal year for his future at Arkansas and worked to address the turnover by adding 20 players.

29 – Oklahoma

Oklahoma lost several key pieces of its wide receiver room to the transfer portal, headlined by the departures of Nic Anderson (LSU) and Andrel Anthony (Duke). The Sooners addressed the receiver exodus by adding Isaiah Sategna, who finished second in catches (37) at Arkansas and Cal receiver Josiah Martin. The Sooners also dipped into the FCS, bringing in Southern Illinois receiver Keontez Lewis (49 catches for 813 yards in 2024) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Javonnie Gibson (70 catches for 1,215 yards in 2024). Despite losing 29 players, the Sooners landed one of the top quarterbacks available in Washington State’s John Mateer.

28 – Arizona

Arizona saw a key chunk of its roster hit the portal, totaling 28 departures. A year after Jedd Fisch left for Washington, the Wildcats will have to rebuild their roster for the 2025 season. Defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, linebacker Jacob Manu and cornerback Tacario Davis all transferred to Washington in this winter window. Arizona also lost cornerback Emmanuel Karnley (Miami) and safety Gunner Maldonado (Kansas State). Standout left guard Wendell Moe transferred to Tennessee, too. Arizona did hold on to star quarterback Noah Fifita.

26 – Mississippi State, Nebraska

With Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White accepting the same job at Florida State, the Cornhuskers were set to lose several defensive starters. In total, 14 of Nebraska’s 26 transfer portal entrants played on the defensive side of the ball. Arguably the most surprising loss was running back Dante Dowdell, who transferred to Kentucky.

For Jeff Lebby and Mississippi State, the Bulldogs nearly brought in as many players as they lost. Lebby’s program lost 26 athletes while bringing in 24. Mississippi State saw three main pieces of its offense leave — quarterback Michael Van Buren (LSU) and wide receivers Mario Craver (Texas A&M) and Kevin Coleman (Missouri). The Bulldogs return quarterback Blake Shapen and added Florida State transfer quarterback Luke Kromenhoek.

25 – Virginia Tech, Washington, Utah

Virginia Tech saw a number of its starters hit the portal and transfer to Power Four schools, including offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin (Auburn), cornerback Mansoor Delane (LSU), defensive lineman Gunner Givens (Vanderbilt), wide receiver Chance Fitzgerald (Vanderbilt), safety Mose Phillips (Missouri), offensive lineman Braelin Moore (LSU), running back Malachi Thomas (Purdue), linebacker Keli Lawson (UCF) and safety Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame).

Washington added Tacario Davis, a major pickup for its secondary but in the process lost starting cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (North Carolina). The Huskies also watched safety Peyton Waters, wide receiver Jason Robinson and linebacker Khmori House follow defensive coordinator Steve Belichick to Chapel Hill.

Starting Utah cornerback Cameron Calhoun hit the portal and transferred to Alabama, arguably one of the Utes’ top losses in college football free agency. Kyle Whittingham held onto quarterback Isaac Wilson, who entered the portal and later withdrew. The Utes also picked up New Mexico transfer quarterback Devon Dampier.

24 – Michigan, Alabama

Sherrone Moore has had a busy offseason following his first season at Michigan. The Wolverines added On3’s No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood, but also lost 24 players to the portal. Michigan has worked to fill those holes with talent pickups, including Alabama’s Damon Payne, Georgia’s Troy Bowles, Alabama’s Justice Haynes and Clemson’s Tre Williams. The Wolverines also added Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene, who will challenge Underwood for the starting job.

Alabama saw significant turnover in its wide receiver room, with Emmanuel Henderson (Kansas), Kendrick Law (Kentucky), Caleb Odom (Ole Miss), Kobe Prentice (Baylor) and Jaren Hamilton (Arizona State) all finding new homes. Quarterback Dylan Lonergan transferred out and reunited with Bill O’Brien at Boston College.

Here are the remaining top portal departures:

23 – UCLA, Kentucky, West Virginia
22 – UCF
21 – Texas A&M, Florida State, Maryland, Georgia Tech, USC
20 – Colorado, Stanford, Louisville
19 – LSU, Pitt, Wake Forest
18 – Ole Miss, Wisconsin
17 – Rutgers, Auburn, North Carolina, Florida, NC State
16 – Miami, South Carolina, Houston, Arizona State, Virginia
15 – Texas Tech, Missouri, Ohio State, Kansas State, Indiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma State