Transfer Portal Player Rankings: Explosive wideouts AD Mitchell and Tre Harris surge back into Top 10

Each Thursday, we update the 2023 Transfer Portal Player Rankings, looking at the Top 10 transfers — based on their impact on the field and not their preseason ranking.  

There’s some real shakeup in the Top 10 this week, as AD Mitchell and Tre Harris both re-enter the rankings and Shedeur Sanders continues his tumble down the list.  There continue to be tough, tough omissions — like Texas State quarterback TJ Finley, who has revived his career in San Marcos playing for G.J. Kinne. 

Also, shouts to a couple of running backs who had career days last week. Mississippi State transfer Dillion Johnson notched highs in carries (26), yards (256) and touchdowns (four) in Washington’s win over USC. It was just Johnson’s second-career 100-yard game, and on the season, he now has 686 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Similarly, Wisconsin transfer Isaac Guerendo also recorded his second-career 100-yard game, tallying 11 carries for 146 yards and three touchdowns in Louisville’s blowout win over Virginia Tech.

(NOTE: I’m not an OL guru and it’s hard to judge those players. That being said, it’s clear that Drake Nugent at Michigan, Matt Lee at Miami and Ajani Cornelius at Oregon have been among the most impactful transfers thus far this season. All were represented on our Midseason All-Transfer Team.)

1. WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

Coleman missed Florida State’s 24-7 win over Pitt with an undisclosed injury, but there’s hope the star wideout will return to action this weekend against rival Miami. 

Despite sitting out the victory over the Panthers, the ex-Michigan State wideout still leads the ACC in receiving touchdowns (nine) — three more than any receiver in the conference. Coleman has emerged as Jordan Travis’ go-to target and has flexed his 1st Round ability in FSU’s offense. 

2. WR Malik Washington, Virginia

Washington had his third-straight double-digit reception game, hauling in 11 passes for 109 yards in a 45-17 loss to Georgia Tech. 

The Northwestern transfer finished has seven 100-yard games this season. The 5-8, 194-pound fifth-year senior continues to lap his competition in receptions (79) and yards 1,044) — leading the ACC in both categories. He ranks No. 2 nationally in catches and third in yards. 

3. WR AD Mitchell, Texas

The Georgia transfer has surged back in the Top 10 after back-to-back big weeks starring in Longhorn victories. Mitchell scored two touchdowns in the win over BYU, and then he torched Kansas State’s secondary for 149 yards and a score on eight catches. His day could’ve been even bigger had UT backup quarterback Maalik Murphy not missed on some throws. 

Mitchell has been a big-game performer throughout his career, and Texas will continue to lean on the 6-4 wideout. He leads the Longhorns with eight touchdowns and is averaging 15.7 yards per catch.

4. ATH Travis Hunter, Colorado

Hunter caught a team-high eight receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in Colorado’s 26-19 loss to Oregon State. Almost half his yards came after the catch, and Hunter forced eight missed tackles, per PFF. 

The two-way star also played 75 snaps defensively, allowing two receptions on three targets. He had two tackles and one pass breakup.

5. WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss

Availability has been the only thing that’s really stopped Harris this season. When the La. Tech transfer has been on the field for the Rebels, he’s been Jaxson Dart’s go-to target. In the 38-35 win over Texas A&M, Harris had a career day, going for 213 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches. He made two absurd sideline grabs in the game — one that counted and one that didn’t. 

Harris is averaging 19.7 yards per catch, which ranks behind only Jermaine Burton in the SEC. He has 38 catches for 749 yards and seven touchdowns.

6. WR Jamari Thrash, Louisville

Thrash was dinged up in the win over Duke and sat out Louisville’s 34-3 blowout over Virginia Tech. Still, he remains the Cardinals’ most explosive playmaker, averaging 15.9 yards per catch — most among all ACC wideouts with at least 25 receptions this season.

He also has six touchdowns, which is tied with Malik Washington for second in the conference. Thrash has 46 receptions for 712 yards.

7. QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Sanders’ numbers continue to dip as the Buffs burn through the teeth of their schedule, but the ex-Jackson State quarterback is still playing turnover-free football and throwing for a couple of touchdowns each week.  With a new play-caller in Pat Shurmur, Sanders still threw the ball 39 times in the 26-19 loss to Oregon State. He had two touchdowns late to cut into the Beavers’ lead, finishing with 245 yards (6.3 per attempt) on 61.5% passing. 

Sanders was sacked another four times — with his 46 sacks the most of any quarterback in college football this season. ly Keon Coleman.

8. RB Ray Davis, Kentucky

Davis was bottled up in Kentucky’s 24-3 win at Mississippi State, going for 80 yards on 21 carries. He also caught just one pass — his fewest receptions in a game in six weeks. 

The Vandy transfer remains one of the most productive tailbacks in the country, though. Davis ranks 10th nationally in yards from scrimmage (1130) — tops among all SEC tailbacks. His 14 total touchdowns are the third-most nationally behind only Michigan’s Blake Corum, Ashton Jeanty of Boise State and Kairee Robinson of SJSU.

9. LB Francisco Mauigoa, Miami

The Washington State transfer recorded five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and another sack in Miami’s 20-6 loss at NC State. 

Mauigoa is second on the Hurricanes in tackles (45), sacks (4.5) and forced fumbles (two). He now has a career-high 12.5 TFLs — which is tied for the most in the ACC so far this year.

10. RB Marshawn Lloyd, USC

After his best game in a Trojans uniform (190 total yards and two touchdowns), Lloyd sat out USC’s loss to Washington with an undisclosed injury.  He wasn’t known to be hurt but the South Carolina transfer didn’t participate in warmups and was on the sidelines in street clothes walking with a slight limp. 

On the season, Lloyd still ranks No. 3 in the Pac-12 in rushing touchdowns (eight) and No. 2 yards per carry (7.74 per attempt).

Best of the rest: QB Haynes King, Georgia Tech; DL Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech; WR Tez Walker, North Carolina; QB TJ Finley, Texas State; RB Blake Watson, Memphis, RB Ismail Mahdi, Texas State.