Transfer portal breakdown: The 10 best commitments this week

The transfer portal “season” is in full swing, with more than 2,000 FBS scholarship players having entered the portal since this cycle began August 1. The current 45-day window to enter opened December 5.

While players are entering, they also are exiting. To that end, here are the 10 best portal commitments this week.

For a look at all the players in the portal, go to On3’s transfer portal wire, which is updated continuously as players go into – and leave – the portal. In addition, there are position rankings of those already in the portal.

10. Indiana EDGE Andre Carter

Transfer: From Western Michigan
The skinny: Andre Carter (6 feet 5, 263 pounds) was one of the best EDGE players available in the portal, and the Hoosiers desperately needed a pass-rushing presence. IU had two players tie for the team lead with four sacks, and both are gone – one via the portal (Dasan McCullough), one via graduation (Alfred Bryant). Carter had seven sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss at Western Michigan this season, when he was a second-team All-MAC selection. Carter started for two seasons for the Broncos after serving as a key reserve in 2019 and ’20. He has one season of eligibility left.

9. Auburn TE Rivaldo Fairweather

Transfer: From FIU
The skinny: Rivaldo Fairweather (6-5, 245) was an under-the-radar guy this season, but he has a high upside as a flex tight end. He had 28 receptions for 426 yards (15.2 yards per catch) and three TDs for FIU. All three TDs came in the regular-season finale against Middle Tennessee State, but Fairweather’s skill set is intriguing. New coach Hugh Freeze’s offense didn’t feature the tight end at Liberty. But Fairweather’s receiving ability coupled with Auburn’s lack of proven talent at receiver make him an important addition.

8. Miami G Javion Cohen

Transfer: From Alabama
The skinny: Javion Cohen (6-4, 305) was a two-year starter for the Tide. He may have been Alabama’s best interior lineman in 2021, but struggled at times this season. Still, his physicality will be important for a UM offensive line that too often was pushed around this season. He should slide right into Miami’s starting lineup at guard. Cohen has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

7. USC LB Mason Cobb

Transfer: From Oklahoma State
The skinny: Mason Cobb (6-0, 230) led Oklahoma State with 96 tackles this season, his first as a starter, and was a second-team All-Big 12 pick. Cobb was third in the league with 12 tackles for loss, and he also had 11 quarterback hurries. USC’s defense was lackluster all season, especially against the run. Adding a talented linebacker is a big deal for the Trojans. Cobb has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

6. Florida State OT Jeremiah Byers

Transfer: From UTEP
The skinny: An experienced lineman with starting experience? Who doesn’t want one of those? Jeremiah Byers (6-4, 331) was a two-year starter for the Miners at right tackle after two seasons as a part-time starter. FSU loses two line starters – coincidentally, both were transfers (G Dillan Gibbons and T Jazston Turnetine) – and Byers should move right into the starting lineup. He earned first-team All-Conference USA acclaim this season and has two years of eligibility of remaining. FSU coach Mike Norvell and his staff have done excellent work in the portal this month.

5. Georgia WR Dominic Lovett

Transfer: From Missouri
The skinny: Dominic Lovett (5-10, 187) emerged as Missouri’s best receiver this season, with 56 catches for 846 yards but just three TDs (Mizzou has only 13 TD passes this season). Georgia needed an established big-play receiver and it got one – and it got one from the same division. Lovett was strictly a possession receiver as a true freshman in 2021, averaging just 6.7 yards on his 26 receptions. But he developed into a legit downfield threat this season and was second in the SEC with nine receptions of at least 30 yards. He has two years of eligibility left. Georgia also received a commitment from former Mississippi State WR Rara Thomas (6-2, 200), who had 44 receptions for 626 yards and seven TDs. It’s like the Lovett addition: Georgia added an established receiver – and it got one from the same conference.

4. Colorado ATH Travis Hunter

Transfer: From Jackson State
The skinny: Travis Hunter (6-1, 170) was the top-rated transfer available after leaving Jackson State, but he’s going to a Colorado team that is bereft of talent. While new coach Deion Sanders is trying to change that, you wonder how big a splash Hunter truly can make for a team needing a complete rebuild. He played both corner (two picks, 10 pass breakups) and wide receiver (18 receptions, 188 yards, four TDs) for Jackson State. But the Buffs really need a lot of help in the secondary. They allowed 31 TD passes this season, second-most nationally.

3. Kentucky QB Devin Leary

Transfer: From NC State
The skinny: Devin Leary (6-1, 212) threw for 3,433 yards and 35 TDs in 2021, but injuries and less-than-stellar surrounding talent led to a tough 2022. He played in just six games and threw for 1,265 yards and 11 TDs. Leary needed surgery on a torn pectoral muscle in his right (throwing) arm, so there is at least a modicum of doubt about whether he can regain his 2021 form. Still, it’ll be interesting to see how he works with new UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who is returning to his old job after one less-than-fruitful season as OC of the Los Angeles Rams. Assuming he is healthy, Leary can put up big numbers again in the right situation. UK also added former Vanderbilt RB Ray Davis out of the portal. Davis (5-9, 205) was fourth in the SEC in rushing yards with 1,042. He had five 100-yard games this season, including 167 against South Carolina. At the least, Davis will be an important rotation piece for UK. Davis began his career at Temple and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

2. Oregon OT Ajani Cornelius

Transfer: From Rhode Island
The skinny: Ajani Cornelius (6-5, 310) was the top FCS player available in the portal, and he was part of Oregon’s impressive haul on the first day of the early signing period. Cornelius started at right tackle for two seasons with the Rams and was a first-team All-Colonial selection this fall. The Ducks will have a vacancy at right tackle and Cornelius should fill it from the moment he steps on campus.

1. USC WR Dorian Singer

Transfer: From Arizona
The skinny: Star WR Jordan Addison is expected to go pro, so Lincoln Riley brings in another star receiver. Dorian Singer (6-1, 185) had a big season at Arizona, where he was part of one of the nation’s top receiving trios with Jacob Cowing and standout true freshman Tetairoa McMillan. Now he’ll be part of a deep group at USC that will catch passes from Caleb Williams. Singer had 66 receptions for 1,105 yards (16.7 per catch) and six TDs this season. He was tied for the Pac-12 lead with five receptions of at least 40 yards and with 11 for at least 30; he also led the league with 21 receptions of at least 20 yards. Singer has a cool backstory: Singer is a native of St. Paul, Minn., who went to his senior year of high school in Phoenix to increase his recruiting visibility. He arrived at Arizona as a preferred walk-on but quickly earned a scholarship. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Others considered: North Carolina K Ryan Coe (from Cincinnati), Washington TE Josh Cuevas (Cal Poly), TCU WR JoJo Earle (Alabama), UCLA G Spencer Holstege (Purdue), Fresno State QB Mikey Keene (UCF), UCF OT Marcellus Marshall (Kent State), Tennessee LB Keenan Pili (BYU), Houston QB Donovan Smith (Texas Tech), Minnesota WR Elijah Spencer (Charlotte) and Virginia Tech DL Darian Varner (Temple).