Transfer Portal Player Rankings: Malik Washington jumps to the No. 1 spot, Isaac Guerendo cracks 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.  

We have a shakeup at the top of the rankings, as Virginia wideout Malik Washington jumped to the No. 1 spot after his record-setting performance. There’s also a couple new additions to the Top 10, headlined by Wisconsin tailback Isaac Guerendo.

(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 Malik Washington, Virginia

Washington made his latest case for the Biletnikoff Award, catching passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in a record-setting day as the Hood upset Duke 30-27. 

It was the Northwestern transfer’s sixth-consecutive 100-yard game — and his nine 100-yard games lead all players nationally.  With another monster performance, Washington set the Virginia school record for single-season receptions (96) and yards (1,311) — both good for No. 2 nationally. His nine touchdowns now rank second in the ACC, too.

2. WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

Coleman added to his ACC-lead with his 11th receiving touchdown in FSU’s win over FCS North Alabama, hauling in a 24-yard pass from backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker.

In his last game in Doak Campbell Stadium, the Michigan State transfer had three catches for 53 yards (17.7 per catch). 

Coleman has been banged up the last month or so, and while he hasn’t had a 100-yard game since the blowout over Syracuse in mid-October, he has found the end zone four times in his last three games. 

With Seminoles star quarterback Jordan Travis suffering an awful season-ending leg injury, Coleman needs to quickly develop a rapport with Rodemaker if FSU hopes to stay undefeated and make the CFP. 

3. WR AD Mitchell, Texas

Mitchell had a relatively quiet game against Iowa State, catching just three of six targets for 32 yards. The Georgia transfer snapped his four-game streak with a touchdown, but he did haul in a key reception late to extend a drive. 

With nine touchdowns, Mitchell remains tied with Oklahoma’s Drake Stoops for the most scores in the Big 12. With the Longhorns looking to win the Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff, Texas hopes Mitchell’s big-game brilliance at UGA (four-career playoff touchdowns) continues in the coming weeks. 

4. WR Tez Johnson, Oregon

The Troy transfer made his debut in the Top 10 last week, and he had another big game in Oregon’s splattering of Arizona State, catching six passes for 80 yards and a touchdown — all in the first half. The Ducks will need Johnson to continue to play well next weekend to beat rival Oregon State and clinch a spot in the Pac-12 title game. 

On the season, Johnson has 59 catches for 805 yards and nine touchdowns — all three figures that still rank in the Top 10 among all Pac-12 wideouts.

5. LB Francisco Mauigoa, Miami

For the first time since the win over Texas A&M in Week 2, the Hurricanes’ linebacker failed to record a tackle for loss or sack in Miami’s 38-31 loss to Louisville. The Washington State transfer still had eight tackles, three QB hurries and a pass breakup against the Cardinals, though. 

On the season, Mauigoa leads Miami in sacks with 6.5 and is No. 2 in ACC with 15 TFLs. He remains one of the most impactful defensive transfers and is a lock for the On3 Postseason 2023 All-Transfer Portal Team.

6. ATH Travis Hunter, Colorado

Hunter continued his two-way play in Colorado’s 56-14 loss to Washington State. He recorded 45 defensive snaps, getting targeted three times and allowing one touchdown reception with one pass breakup. He also had a single tackle.

Hunter also recorded four receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown — a 45-yard catch. Despite missing three games midseason with a lacerated liver, Hunter is third on the team with 49 receptions and second with 614 yards. 

7. RB Blake Watson, Memphis

The Tigers’ tailback struggled to find a ton of room to gallop against SMU’s Top 25 run defense, going for a season-low 42 yards on 10 carries. The Old Dominion transfer did find the end once, and added three receptions for 33 yards in Memphis’ 38-34 loss. 

Watson still leads the AAC in yards from scrimmage (1,374) and total touchdowns (15). His 950 rushing yards are only behind Tulane freshman Makhi Hughes. 

8. RB Isaac Guerendo, Louisville 

While Jawhar Jordan has been the workhorse back for the Cardinals all season, Guerendo, a Wisconsin transfer making his debut in the Top 10 this week, has emerged as Louisville’s most explosive option in recent weeks.  The 6-1, 225-pound senior has three straight games with at least 94 yards on no more than 15 carries. He had four runs over 10 yards in the win over Miami, including a 26-yard burst. 

Against Virginia, Guerendo had a 73-yard touchdown, and in the rout over Virginia Tech, he went for 146 yards and three scores on just 11 carries — with five runs over 10 yards. On the season, he’s averaging 6.4 yards per carry with eight touchdowns and has already eclipsed his total combined yardage in four seasons at Wisconsin (585 vs. 583). 

9. LB Nick Jackson, Iowa

The Virginia grad transfer has been a plug-and-play starter in Iowa’s Top 10 defense, helping Jay Higgins shore up the middle with 87 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and 13 hurries.  In the 13-10 win over Illinois, Jackson had seven tackles and four QB hurries, grading out as the Hawkeyes’ top defender, per PFF. 

The All-ACC performer has been solid in coverage, while being a surefire tackler and an excellent blitzing linebacker.

10. WR Jamari Thrash, Louisville

Thrash continues to be hampered by a hand injury, catching just one pass for seven yards in Louisville’s 38-31 win over Miami. The Georgia State transfer did add a key 2-point conversion reception, but the Cardinals will need him to get healthy quick if they hope to upset Florida State in the ACC Championship in two weeks. 

Despite his limited production in recent weeks, Thrash still ranks in the Top 10 in the ACC in receptions (50), yards (741), touchdowns (six) and yards per catch (14.8). 

Best of the rest: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado; WR Devontez Walker, North Carolina; Ray Davis, Kentucky; QB Haynes King, Georgia Tech; DL Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech; QB TJ Finley, Texas State; RB Ismail Mahdi, Texas State; Marshawn Lloyd, USC.