Syracuse lands transfer commitment from former West Virginia linebacker James Heard

Former West Virginia linebacker James Heard has will transfer to play for Syracuse in 2024, he announced Sunday evening via Twitter. Heard was a true freshman this past season and will have all four years of eligibility remaining.

Listed a 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, Heard did not see much action for the Mountaineers this past season. Still, he is a promising young player with many years ahead of him with an opportunity to take advantage of what’s left.

As a recruit, Heard was a three-star recruit out of St. Joseph’s Prep School in Voorhees, New Jersey. He ranked as the No. 623 overall prospect and the No. 66 linebacker in the 2023 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

James Heard ranks as the No. 539 overall player according to On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings. He will aim to live up to that billing as he embarks on a new destination to finish out his college career.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

Track transfer portal activity

As of December 17th, 1,735 FBS players have entered the Transfer Portal.

While the NCAA Transfer Portal database is private, the On3 Network has streamlined the reporting process tracking player movement. If you find yourself asking, ‘How can I track transfer portal activity?’ our well-established network of reporters and contacts across college athletics keeps you up to speed in several ways, from articles written about players as they enter and exit the transfer portal or find their new destination, to our social media channels, to the On3 Transfer Portal.

The transfer portal wire provides a real-time feed of player activity, including basic player profile information, transfer portal ranking and original On3 Industry recruiting ranking, as well as NIL valuation (name, image and likeness).

The On3 Transfer Portal Rankings allow for you to filter the On3 Industry Rankings to find the best of the best in the portal, starting with Overall Top Players.

You can dive deeper into the rankings and filter by position whether it is Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Tackle, Interior Offensive Line, Edge, Defensive Line, Linebacker, Cornerback, Safety, Athlete, Kicker, Punter, or Long Snapper you’re looking for.

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.