ESPN ranks the Top 30 newcomers in college football

The modern paradigm of college football features plenty of player movement as the transfer portal has lead to a quasi free agency. And teams have not been shy about adding talented newcomers, something ESPN took note of.

ESPN took a crack at ranking the Top 50 newcomers in college football this season, transfers and freshmen. Unsurprisingly, the bulk of the ranking is comprised of players that already have a college track record. However, a few highly-touted freshman snuck in near the bottom of the ranking.

Players are transfers unless otherwise indicated; freshman are highlighted with a *.

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

After making waves with his decision to sign with Jackson State and head coach Deion Sanders out of high school as the top high school prospect in America, Hunter followed Sanders to Colorado. He brings a level of talent to the outside that Colorado hasn’t seen in decades.

Hunter played both ways for Jackson State, starring as a cornerback and wideout. It seems the intent is for him to do both at Colorado, as well.

2. QB Sam Hartman, Notre Dame

After struggling at quarterback in Marcus Freeman’s first year as head coach, Notre Dame hopped in the portal and upgraded big time. In nabbing Hartman from Wake Forest, Notre Dame locked up arguably the best free agent quarterback this offseason.

Hartman was über productive in four years at Wake Forest and could key in a strong Year 2 for Freeman at Notre Dame. Plus, he’s got a necklace made out of one of his own ribs.

3. QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

If one player was seemingly certain to go with Deion Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado, it was his son and starting quarterback, Shedeur Sanders. Now in Boulder, coach and quarterback are hoping for a big year.

In two seasons at Jackson State, Sanders threw for nearly 7000 yards and accounted for 79 total touchdowns, no small part of his inclusion on this list from ESPN. If he can bring some juice to what was a lifeless Colorado offense, it’ll be a big step forward for the Buffaloes.

4. CB Fentrell Cypress, Florida State

Ranked the No. 3 overall transfer in the On3 Transfer Portal player rankings, Cypress stayed in the ACC after heading to the Seminoles from Virginia. He’ll presumably slot in quickly as an outside corner for a Florida State team looking to push for a College Football Playoff berth.

Over four years at Virginia, he developed into a lockdown presence on the outside. In 2022 alone, he had 14 passes defensed.

5. WR Dominic Lovett, Georgia

Georgia has won back-to-back national championships without a no-doubt No. 1 receiver. Lovett could be in position to change that in 2023.

Tight end Brock Bowers will command plenty of attention, but Lovett, Missouri’s leading receiver a year ago, can eat up targets at wideout. Lovett also has some big-play pop, going for 15.1 yards per catch in 2022.

6. LB Dasan McCullough, Oklahoma

One of the highest-rated recruits to ever sign with Indiana, McCullough was a disruptive force for the Hoosiers as a freshman. Now Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables hopes he can be that same presence for the Sooners.

In 12 games at Indiana, McCullough had 6.5 tackles for loss, including four sacks, and even showed an ability to drop back and play in coverage. Oklahoma has a need to reinforce the defense and McCullough is a good start as he’s comfortably one of the Top 30 newcomers in college football this yera

7. LB Omar Speights, LSU

Speights produced consistently in the middle of the Oregon State defense for years. Now he hopes to do the same for LSU.

In 26 games the last two seasons, Speights has 170 tackles, including 13 for a loss. He’s also go a pair of interceptions. He’ll make a great running mate for Harold Perkins.

8. LB Mason Cobb, USC

A year removed from some putrid defense likely keeping USC out of the College Football Playoff, Lincoln Riley and Co. have loaded up with some defensive transfers. Cobb, along with Georgia DL Bear Alexander (further down the list) should do the trick nicely.

Cobb burst onto the scene with an eye-watering single-season stat line in 2022 while at Oklahoma State. In 12 games, he had 96 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble, earning him a spot in the Top 10 of this ESPN list.

9. OL LaDarius Henderson, Michigan

One of a trio of linemen who transferred to Michigan this offseason, Henderson came from Arizona State as a guard with top-shelf movement skills. He’ll likely compete for a spot at right tackle with the Wolverines in 2023.

And Henderson brings plenty of experience to a line room that has won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards. He started all 13 games for Arizona State a year ago.

10. DB Zy Alexander, LSU

An FCS star in 2022, Alexander might’ve flown under some radars this transfer cycle. But the FCS All-American in 2021 has a chance to make a big splash for LSU.

In 31 games at Southeastern Louisiana, Alexander registered 97 tackles, 12 pass breakups and 9 interceptions. He’ll have a shot to play major snaps in LSU’s retooled secondary this year.

Newcomers 11-30 in the ESPN Top 30

11. QB Devin Leary, Kentucky
12. WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
13. DB Denver Harris, LSU
14. WR Dorian Singer, USC
15. WR Dante Cephas, Penn State
16. QB Brennan Armstrong, NC State
17. LB Ernest Hausmann, Michigan
18. DL Braden Fiske, Florida State
19. QB Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin
20. DE Jordan Burch, Oregon
21. WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
22. RB Carson Steele, UCLA
23. QB Cade McNamara, Iowa
24. EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
25. DT Bear Alexander, USC
26. S Caleb Downs*, Alabama
27. WR Zachariah Branch*, USC
28. CB Cormani McClain*, Colorado
29. LB Anthony Hill*, Texas
30. WR Nyckoles Harbor*, South Carolina

There is, certainly, plenty of room for debate within these ESPN rankings of the Top 30 newcomers in college football. And with games getting closer by the day, we’ll know soon enough who is really going to make a splash in new surroundings this season.