Transfer portal breakdown: The 12 best commitments this week

The transfer portal “season” has been in full swing since the current 45-day window to enter opened December 5.

We’re more than halfway through this open-window period, and while players are entering, they also are exiting. To that end, here are the 12 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.

12. Washington RB Dillon Johnson

Transfer from: Mississippi State
The skinny: Dillon Johnson (6-0, 215) started 14 games over the past two seasons at Mississippi State. He rushed for 983 yards in that span, but his receiving ability is the key here. Johnson had 65 receptions in 2021 and 48 this season. He leaves MSU tied for fifth in school history with 148 receptions. Washington’s offense was predicated on the pass this season, and it’ll be more of the same next season with QB Michael Penix returning. UW coaches will put Johnson’s receiving ability to good use. Johnson has two seasons of eligibility left.

11. Washington State G Christy Nkanu

Transfer from: Southern Utah
The skinny: The Cougars are losing starting G Grant Stephens to graduation, and Christy Nkanu (6 feet 4, 300 pounds) – a three-season starter for the FCS Thunderbirds who earned some All-WAC honors this season – figures to slide right in. He started at both tackle and guard for Southern Utah, but is best-suited for guard. Washington State had issues in pass protection this season – the Cougars allowed 46 sacks – and retooling the line is perhaps the highest offensive priority in the offseason. Getting a commitment from Nkanu, who has one season of eligibility remaining, and signing junior college OT Eliesa Pole is a good start.

10. Wisconsin EDGE Darian Varner

Transfer from: Temple
The skinny: Darian Varner (6-2, 260) almost made this list two weeks ago, when he announced he was committed to Virginia Tech. But because transfers don’t sign letters of intent – until they actually enroll, they are, well, free agents – he was able to change his mind. Varner was fifth in the AAC this season with 12.5 tackles for loss. He was a key part of an aggressive and physical Temple front seven that helped the Owls rack up 38 sacks (tied for eighth nationally) and 88 TFL (11th). As a true freshman last season, when he played at 285 pounds, Varner was a part-time starter and had seven tackles for loss. His disruptive nature needs to come to the fore on a revamped Badgers defense that has lost star EDGE Nick Herbig to the NFL. Varner has two seasons of eligibility left.

9. Wisconsin DB Jason Maitre

Transfer from: Boston College
The skinny: Jason Maitre started 30 games in four seasons at BC. That experience will be welcomed as Wisconsin looks to revamp its defense under new coordinator Mike Tressel. Twelve of those starts came at corner in 2019 and ’20, then he moved to free safety, where he started the past two seasons. Over the past four seasons, Maitre (5-10, 188) had 131 tackles, three interceptions and 18 pass breakups. Maitre originally had planned to transfer to Liberty, but like new teammate Varner, he changed his mind.

8. Penn State WR Devin Carter

Transfer from: NC State
The skinny: Devin Carter (6-3, 215) was an important part of NC State’s receiving rotation for four seasons. He fills a big need for the Nittany Lions. Carter had 117 receptions for 1,895 yards (16.2 yards per catch) and 10 TDs in the past four seasons with the Wolfpack. He also is a proven deep threat, with : He has had 23 career catches of at least 20 yards. That means almost 20 percent of his receptions have gone for that distance. Carter is not a No. 1 receiver but can be an important complementary piece. The question for Penn State: With the departures of Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley, can KeAndre Lambert-Smith be consistent enough to be the No. 1 receiver in 2023? Carter has one season of eligibility left.

7. Florida DT CamRon Jackson

Transfer from: Memphis
The skinny: Florida needs bodies up front on defense. That is one reason the Gators signed five defensive linemen during the early signing period. They also received a portal commitment from former Louisville DT Caleb Banks. But Banks is more of a developmental guy. CamRon Jackson (6-6, 340) needs to produce this fall. After serving as a reserve in 2021, Jackson became a starter for Memphis this season and produced solid numbers, finishing with 41 tackles. He doesn’t provide much of a pass rush, but he takes up a lot of space and is good against the run. Jackson has two years of eligibility left. An aside: Desmond Watson – all 6-5 and 439 pounds of him – started at defensive tackle for Florida in the second half of the season. It’s not likely to happen, but the Gators conceivably could start Jackson and Watson next to each other in 2023. That would be roughly 740 or so pounds (assuming Watson loses some weight) in the middle of the line. That’s a lot of beef to block.

6. Houston S A.J. Haulcy

Transfer from: New Mexico
The skinny: S A.J. Haulcy (5-11, 220) started for New Mexico as a true freshman this season and received some freshman All-America acclaim after he had 87 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He also was a second-team All-Mountain West selection. Haulcy is a Houston-area native who will be joining a Cougars secondary that was shredded far too often this season. With the Cougars moving into the Big 12 this fall, Haulcy’s playmaking ability is needed. He has three seasons of eligibility left.

5. Ohio State S Ja’Had Carter

Transfer from: Syracuse
The skinny: Syracuse played some of the stingiest pass defense in the nation in the past two seasons despite going against some of the nation’s most productive quarterbacks in ACC play. Ja’Had Carter (6-2, 198) was a big part of those stingy secondaries. He was a three-season starter at safety for the Orange, and had 138 tackles, five interceptions and seven pass breakups in that span. Ohio State definitely needed an experienced safety; starters Ronnie Hickman (NFL) and Tanner McCalister (graduation) are gone and Lathan Ransom also could head to the pros. Carter played a lot as a slot defender in 2022, and adds versatility as well as experience. Carter never redshirted, starting as a true freshman in 2020, and has two seasons of eligibility left.

4. UCLA RB Carson Steele

Transfer from: Ball State
The skinny: Carson Steele (6-1, 215) had a big season at Ball State, with 1,556 rushing yards. His rushing total was eighth nationally and he had nine 100-yard outings, including four with at least 179. Steele, a former “Mr. Football” in Indiana, rushed for 891 yards in 2021 as a true freshman. The Bruins are losing 1,300-yard rusher Zach Charbonnet to the NFL, and while they return RBs Keegan Jones and T.J. Harden, Steele figures to get every opportunity to show he can be the lead back. Steele also had 29 receptions this season, a facet of his game that should be put to effective use in a Chip Kelly offense. Steele has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

3. Wisconsin QB Tanner Mordecai

Transfer from: SMU
The skinny: New Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell hired offensive coordinator Phil Longo away from North Carolina in an attempt to rev up the Badgers’ passing attack. Tanner Mordecai threw for 7,152 yards and 72 TDs in his two seasons as SMU’s starter; Wisconsin QBs combined to throw 71 TD passes in the past five seasons. Mordecai does need to cut down on his interceptions: He threw 22 in the past two seasons. Still, Mordecai – who began his career at Oklahoma – gives Longo an experienced passing quarterback as Wisconsin retools its offense.

2. Florida State CB Fentrell Cypress

Transfer from: Virginia
The skinny: Fentrell Cypress (6-0, 184) was one of the best corners available in the portal, and he moves from one ACC team to another. He should provide a boost for a Seminoles secondary that was shaky at times this season. Cypress was a second-team All-ACC selection this season for Virginia, when he had 39 tackles and a league-high 13 pass breakups. He was a part-time starter in 2021, but emerged as a key defensive cog for new Cavs coordinator John Rudzinski this season. He has two years of eligibility left.

1. Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman

Transfer from: Wake Forest
The skinny: Meet Notre Dame’s new starting quarterback. Sam Hartman (6-1, 210) was a four-year starter at Wake Forest and owns the ACC career record for TD passes with 110, three more than former Clemson star Tahj Boyd. Hartman also is second in ACC history with 12,967 yards, behind only former NC State standout Philip Rivers (13,484). Hartman was a great fit for Wake’s mesh-point offense; he also rushed for 855 yards and 17 TDs in a career. It’ll be interesting this spring to see how quickly he adapts to the Irish offense. and how he works with Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees. Hartman has a lot of trust in his arm, maybe too much. But he’s a gunslinger and fun to watch. He has one year left.

Others considered: Georgia Southern QB Davis Brin (from Tulsa), Auburn OT Gunner Britton (from Western Kentucky), North Carolina LB Amari Gainer (from Florida State), NC State K Brayden Narveson (from Western Kentucky).