Transfer Portal Player Rankings: WR Malik Washington hangs onto No. 1 spot, RB Ray Davis rejoins 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.  

With Week 13 in the books, this is the final regular-season rankings for the 2023 transfers. 

There’s no movement at the top, as Virginia wideout Malik Washington capped a phenomenal season in Charlottesville with another big game. Kentucky tailback Ray Davis returns to the Top 10 with his three-touchdown performance in the upset over Louisville, while Notre Dame edge rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste makes his debut in the rankings. 

(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 wasn’t one of three receivers nominated for the Biletnikoff Award, but the Northwestern transfer ended his college career stuffing the stat sheet one last time. In the loss to rival Virginia Tech, Washington recorded a game-high 14 catches for 115 yards yards. 

It was his seventh-straight 100-yard game, and 10th so far this season (tops among all wideouts nationally). Washington set the Virginia school record for single-season receptions and yards a week ago, finished the 2023 regular season No. 1 in the nation in catches (110) and No. 2 in yards (1,426). 

2. WR Tez Johnson, Oregon

The Troy transfer, who made his debut in the Top 10 last week, had his second-best game in a Ducks uniform in the regular-season finale against Oregon State, hauling in a team-high 11 receptions for 137 yards. 

Bo Nix’s adopted brother finished the regular season with 70 catches or 942 yards and nine touchdowns — all career-highs — and he’s been a beast down the stretch (he’s averaging nine catches for 131 yards and a touchdown over the last month) as the Ducks enter the most pivotal week of their 2023 season.

3. WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

With Jordan Travis sidelined for the rest of the season, Coleman had just a single reception for 24 yards in FSU’s win over Florida. The ex-Michigan State wideout hasn’t had a 100-yard receiving game in six weeks, and yet, Coleman remains one of the mismatch threats in all of college football. 

Teams are game-planning how to stop No. 4 in Garnet and Gold, while Coleman doesn’t have the raw stats of some of the top wideouts in the nation in 2023, he’s been among the most impactful players.  He still finished the regular season No. 1 in the ACC in receiving touchdowns (11) and had 46 catches for 639 yards. 

4. WR AD Mitchell, Texas

Mitchell finished the season with three consecutive games without a 100-yard game, but like Keon Coleman, his mere presence helped elevate Texas’ offense. 

The Georgia transfer still finished No. 2 in the Big 12 in touchdowns with nine, and while his teammate Xavier Worthy had more receptions and yards, Michell was the big-play hunter for the Longhorns this fall.  He finished the regular season averaging nearly 16.0 yards per catch and considering his big-game brilliance in all his College Football Playoff games (four touchdowns in four games), don’t be surprised to see a big game from AD this weekend in the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma State.

5. LB Francisco Mauigoa, Miami

Mauigoa was again among Miami’s most impactful defensive player in the Hurricanes’ regular-season finale, recording a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss in the rout over Boston College. 

The Washington State transfer proved to be among the most notable defensive additions for any team, finishing the season with a team-high 7.5 sacks and finishing just behind NC State’s Payton Wilson for the league-lead with 17.0 tackles for loss.  He remains one of the most impactful defensive transfers and is a lock for the On3 Postseason 2023 All-Transfer Portal Team.

6. RB Blake Watson, Memphis

The Tigers’ tailback capped his regular season with another 100-yard performance from scrimmage, scoring two more touchdowns in Memphis’ blowout win over Temple. 

The Old Dominion transfer finished the year leading the AAC in yards from scrimmage (1,513) and total touchdowns (17) — both career-highs. 

7. RB Ray Davis, Kentucky

The Vanderbilt transfer returns to the Top 10 after a two-week absence, scoring three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ upset over No. 9 Louisville in their regular-season finale. Davis promptly declared for the NFL Draft. 

He finished his senior season with 1,066 rushing yards at 5.7 yards per carry. Davis’ 20 total touchdowns (13 rushing, seven receiving) is tied for third nationally among all players. 

8. ATH Travis Hunter, Colorado

Hunter ended his sophomore season with one of his best offensive performances in a Buffs uniform, recording eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown in a close loss to Utah. It was his third 100-yard receiving game on the season. 

The two-way standout also played 64 snaps at cornerback, adding four tackles and allowing just two catches for 10 yards.  Despite missing three games with a lacerated liver, Hunter finished the 2023 year with 57 catches for 721 yards and five scores, with three INTs and five PBUs.

9. LB Nick Jackson,Iowa

The Virginia grad transfer finished the Hawkeyes’ regular season as a Top 10 tackler in the Big Ten. He’s been a plug-and-play starter on one of the best defenses in the country all season. 

In the win over Nebraska, Jackson had a key sack and another three QB hurries, along with four tackles. On the year, Jackson has 8.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and 91 stops. 

10. DL Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame

In the final rankings of the regular season, the former Ohio State signee cracks the Top 10 for the first time after a furious finish the last month of the season. Jean-Baptiste had four sacks in Notre Dame’s final three games, and in the finale against Stanford, added 2.5 tackles for loss and a 60-yard blocked field goal for a return touchdown. 

The senior finished the season with career highs in sacks (4.5), tackles for loss (9.5) and hurries (22), per PFF.

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