Transfer portal breakdown: On3 transfer power rankings after Week 7

Here is our seventh set of rankings of college football’s most impactful transfers. This considers all four-year transfers, not just those who changed teams this offseason.

This is not simply a list of the most talented players out of the transfer portal. Talent and potential certainly are considered. But so is past performance and current production.

First is an overall transfer ranking; following that are position-by-position breakdowns. These rankings fluctuate weekly.

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker remains No. 1 in the transfer rankings. He threw for 385 yards and five TDs and rushed for another 56 yards in the Vols’ epic 52-49 win over Alabama. Among the big movers this week:

+ Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel: Gabriel returned after a week in concussion protocol and accounted for 440 yards of offense and three TDs in a 52-42 win over Kansas. Gabriel threw for 403 and two TDs and rushed for 37 and another score. It was the fifth 400-yard passing game of his career; the other four came in 2020, when he played for Josh Heupel at UCF.

+ Utah TE Dalton Kincaid: Kincaid, who began his career at FCS San Diego, had 15 receptions for 217 yards and a TD in Utah’s 43-42 win over previously unbeaten USC. Utah lost three-time All-Pac-12 TE Brant Kuithe to a season-ending knee injury on September 24 in a win over Arizona State. The Utes make heavy use of two-tight end sets, and Kincaid went from the No. 2 guy in those sets to the guy, and never was it more apparent than against the Trojans, who couldn’t cover him. Kincaid now leads all tight ends nationally with 39 receptions, with 558 yards and with six TD receptions.

+ Nebraska WR Trey Palmer: Palmer caught 41 passes in three seasons at LSU; he has 47 receptions this season after a giant performance in a 43-37 loss to Purdue. Palmer had seven receptions for 237 yards and two TDs in the shootout loss. (Purdue counterpart Charlie Jones, also a transfer, had 12 receptions for 132 yards and two TDs.) He’s on pace for 81 catches and 1,339 yards; both would be school single-season records.

+ Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.: Penix battled injury problems in his four seasons at Indiana – each ended early because of a season-ending injury – but continues to show off a strong left arm for the Huskies. He leads the nation in passing yards and had his best performance of the season in a 49-39 victory over Arizona. Penix threw for a school single-game record 516 yards (it was the first 500-yard game in school history) and four TDs against the Wildcats. As for his accuracy, he was 36-of-44 (81.6 percent). Both secondaries had long – like, really long – days. Arizona QB Jayden de Laura, also a transfer, threw for 416 yards and four TDs. And neither quarterback threw a pick.

+ Utah QB Cameron Rising: Rising outdueled Caleb Williams as the Utes edged USC. Rising ran for the winning two-point conversion with 48 seconds left to cap off a magnificent night. He accounted for 475 yards and five touchdowns. He threw for a career-high 415 yards and two TDs, and rushed for 60 and three more TDs, including a 1-yarder that preceded the winning two-point conversion. It was the second time Rising threw four TD passes this season and his fourth game with at least three TD passes. Rising began his career at Texas before transferring.

On to the rankings.

TOP 25 TRANSFERS

Player, school	Former school
1. QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee	Virginia Tech (2020)
2. QB Caleb Williams, USC	Oklahoma (left after 2021 season)
3. RB Chase Brown, Illinois	Western Michigan (2018)
4. RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA	Michigan (2020)
5. QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington	Indiana (2021)
6. WR Charlie Jones, Purdue	Iowa (2021)
7. RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama	Georgia Tech (2021)
8. C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan	Virginia (2021)
9. WR Jacob Cowing, Arizona	UTEP (2021)
10. QB Will Levis, Kentucky	Penn State (2020)
11. WR Trey Palmer, Nebraska	LSU (2021)
12. WR Jordan Addison, USC	Pitt (2021)
13. QB Cameron Rising, Utah	Texas (2018)
14. QB Quinn Ewers, Texas	Ohio State (2021)
15. LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati	Miami of Ohio (2021)
16. RB Travis Dye, USC	Oregon (2021)
17. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma	UCF (2021)
18. LB Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama	Tennessee (2020)
19. TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah	San Diego (2019)
20. G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida	Louisiana (2021)
21. LB Eric Gentry, USC	Arizona State (2021)
22. RB Khalan Laborn, Marshall	Florida State (2021)
23. LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State	Nevada (2021)
24. EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State	Albany (2021)
25. QB Bo Nix, Oregon	Auburn (2021)

QUARTERBACKS

Player, school	Former school
1. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee	Virginia Tech (2020)
2. Caleb Williams, USC	Oklahoma (2021)
3. Michael Penix Jr., Washington	Indiana (2021)
4. Will Levis, Kentucky	Penn State (2020)
5. Cameron Rising, Utah	Texas (2018)
6. Quinn Ewers, Texas	Ohio State (2021)
7. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma	UCF (2021)
8. Bo Nix, Oregon	Auburn (2021)
9. Garrett Shrader, Syracuse	Mississippi State (2020)
10. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland	Alabama (2019)
11. Jayden de Laura, Arizona	Washington State (2021)
12. Tanner Mordecai, SMU	Oklahoma (2020)
13. John Rhys Plumlee, UCF	Ole Miss (2021)
14. Todd Centeio, James Madison	Colorado State (2021)
15. Jayden Daniels, LSU	Arizona State (2021)
16. Jordan Travis, Florida State	Louisville (2018)
17. Adrian Martinez, Kansas State	Nebraska (2021)
18. Cameron Ward, Washington State	Incarnate Word (2021)
19. Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern	Buffalo (2021)
20. Austin Reed, Western Kentucky	West Florida (2021)

RUNNING BACKS

Player, school	Former school
1. Chase Brown, Illinois	Western Michigan (2018)
2. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA	Michigan (2020)
3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama	Georgia Tech (2021)
4. Travis Dye, USC	Oregon (2021)
5. Zach Evans, Ole Miss	TCU (2021)
6. Khalan Laborn, Marshall	Florida State (2021)
7. Xazavian Valladay, Arizona State	Wyoming (2021)
8. Eric Gray, Oklahoma	Tennessee (2020)
9. Montrell Johnson, Florida	Louisiana (2021)
10. Tavion Thomas, Utah	Cincinnati (2019)
11. Dae Dae Hunter, Liberty	Hawaii (2021)
12. Re’Mahn Davis, Vanderbilt	Temple (2020)
13. Mar’Keise “Bucky” Irving, Oregon	Minnesota (2021)
14. Samson Evans, Eastern Michigan	Iowa (2019)
15. Calvin Tyler Jr., Utah State	Oregon State (2020)

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player, school	Former school
1. Charlie Jones, Purdue	Iowa (2021)
2. Jacob Cowing, Arizona	UTEP (2021)
3. Trey Palmer, Nebraska	LSU (2021)
4. Jordan Addison, USC	Pitt (2021)
5. Ali Jennings, Old Dominion	West Virginia (2020)
6. Keytaon Thompson, Virginia	Mississippi State (2019)
7. Jake Bobo, UCLA	Duke (2021)
8. Isaiah Winstead, East Carolina	Toledo (2021)
9. Daewood Davis, Western Kentucky	Oregon (2019)
10. Tayvion Robinson, Kentucky	Virginia Tech (2021)
11. Antwane Wells Jr., South Carolina	James Madison (2021)
12. Grant Dubose, Charlotte	Miles College (2020)
13. Kris Thornton, James Madison	VMI (2018)
14. Tory Horton, Colorado State	Nevada (2021)
15. Johnny Wilson, Florida State	Arizona State (2021)

TIGHT ENDS

Player, school	Former school
1. Dalton Kincaid, Utah	San Diego (2019)
2. Ryan Jones, East Carolina	Oklahoma (2019 – as LB)
3. Tanner McLachlan, Arizona	Southern Utah (2021)
4. George Takacs, Boston College	Notre Dame (2021)
5. Caleb Phillips, Hawaii	Stanford (2020 – as LB)

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Player, school	Former school
1. C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan	Virginia (2021)
2. G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida	Louisiana (2021)
3. C Jacob Gall, Baylor	Buffalo (2020)
4. T Raiqwon O’Neal, UCLA	Rutgers (2021)
5. T Gerald Mincey, Tennessee	Florida (2021)
6. T Tyler Steen, Alabama	Vanderbilt (2021)
7. C Mike Novitsky, Kansas	Buffalo (2020)
8. C Alan Ali, TCU	SMU (2021)
9. G Marcus Minor, Pitt	Maryland (2020)
10. G Chuck Filiaga, Minnesota	Michigan (2021)
11. G Dillan Gibbons, Florida State	Notre Dame (2020)
12. G Doug Nester, West Virginia	Virginia Tech (2020)
13. G McKade Mettauer, Oklahoma	California (2021)
14. T Ryan Swoboda, UCF	Virginia (2021)
15. T Cade Beresford, Boise State	Washington State (2021)

EDGE RUSHERS

Player, school	Former school
1. Jared Verse, Florida State	Albany (2021)
2. Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State	UNLV (2021)
3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA	Washington (2021)
4. Lonnie Phelps, Kansas	Miami of Ohio (2021)
5. Jeremiah Martin, Washington	Texas A&M (2020)
6. Hunter Echols, Arizona	USC (2021)
7. Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska	TCU (2021)
8. Brenton Cox, Florida	Georgia (2018)
9. Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan	Valdosta State (2019)
10. Grayson Murphy, UCLA	North Texas (2021)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Player, school	Former school
1. Siaki Ika, Baylor	LSU (2020)
2. Kobie Turner, Wake Forest	Richmond (2021)
3. Mekhi Wingo, LSU	Missouri (2021)
4. Akheem Mesidor, Miami	West Virginia (2021)
5. Cory Durden, NC State	Florida State (2020)
6. Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati	Virginia (2020)
7. Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State	Miami (2021)
8. Dennis Osagiede, Liberty	Stephen F. Austin (2021)
9. Kyler Baugh, Minnesota	Houston Baptist (2021)
10. Patrick Jenkins, Tulane	TCU (2021)

LINEBACKERS

Player, school	Former school
1. Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama	Tennessee (2020)
2. Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati	Miami of Ohio (2021)
3. Eric Gentry, USC	Arizona State (2021)
4. Daiyan Henley, Washington State	Nevada (2021)
5. Drew Sanders, Arkansas	Alabama (2021)
6. Troy Brown, Ole Miss	Central Michigan (2021)
7. Ayinde Eley, Georgia Tech	Maryland (2020)
8. Shane Lee, USC	Alabama (2021)
9. Tatum Bethune, Florida State	UCF (2021)
10. Jackson Sirmon, California	Washington (2021)
11. Darius Muasau, UCLA	Hawaii (2021)
12. Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri	Florida (2021)
13. Johnny Hodges, TCU	Navy (2021)
14. Rich Miller, Kansas	Buffalo (2020)
15. Jerry Roberts, Arizona	Bowling Green (2020)

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Player, school	Former school
1. S Jammie Robinson, Florida State	South Carolina (2020)
2. CB Mekhi Blackmon, USC	Colorado (2021)
3. S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame	Northwestern (2021)
4. CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon	Colorado (2021)
5. CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas	LSU (2021)
6. S Mark Perry, TCU	Colorado (2021)
7. CB Keidron Smith, Kentucky	Ole Miss (2021)
8. S Isheem Young, Ole Miss	Iowa State (2021)
9. S Darius Joiner, Duke	Western Illinois (2021)
10. CB Anthony Johnson, Virginia	Louisville (2020)
11. CB Alex Hogan, Houston	Texas Tech (2020)
12. S Jalen Green, Mississippi State	Texas (2020)
13. S Greg Brooks Jr., LSU	Arkansas (2021)
14. S Michael Dowell, Miami (Ohio)	Michigan State (2021)
15. S Bentlee Sanders, Nevada	USF (2020)