Transfer Portal: Top 10 Best Available QBs after Maalik Murphy entered the portal
The quarterback market in the transfer portal continues to take shape, and some big names have come off the board. There are still some notable players on the market, though, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.
The top three quarterbacks to hit the portal so far this cycle — Cam Ward, Dante Moore and Will Howard — are all still available as the transfer window goes through its second week. A new name entered the fray, though, when Maalik Murphy announced his intention to enter the portal. He officially hit the portal on Thursday, On3 has learned.
As a result, the quarterback transfer rankings saw a shakeup. Here are the Top 10 best available QBs.
1. Cam Ward, Washington State
Cam Ward has been the biggest fish in the pond since entering the portal Dec. 1. He put together two 3,000-yard seasons at Washington State after transferring from Incarnate Word, including 3,736 yards in 2023.
On3’s Pete Nakos reported Ward will take a visit to Florida State this weekend after previously visiting Miami. The NFL is also an option, and he also indicated a potential third visit as his recruitment continues to take shape.
2. Dante Moore, UCLA
A highly touted 2023 recruit, Dante Moore put up modest numbers at UCLA this past year. He then entered the portal and became the No. 2-ranked quarterback to do so, and the suitors are lining up.
Moore is set to visit Oregon this week, On3 previously reported, and he could be open to a developmental role behind newly committed Dillon Gabriel. Development has been a key point for Moore as he goes through his options in the portal.
3. Will Howard, Kansas State
After leading Kansas State to a Big 12 championship in 2022, Will Howard found himself splitting time with highly touted freshman Avery Johnson this past season. He then entered the transfer portal around the time offensive coordinator Collin Klein left as he looked for a change of scenery.
Howard also visited Miami as the Hurricanes look to replace Tyler Van Dyke, who committed to Wisconsin. USC has also expressed interest since Howard entered the portal.
4. Kyle McCord, Ohio State
It sure looked like Kyle McCord was about to make his way to Nebraska after an official visit. But Nakos reported McCord decided to move on from the Huskers, and his recruitment remains open as a result.
McCord is coming off his lone season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, throwing for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns before entering the transfer portal. He is now reportedly set to take a visit to Syracuse as his recruitment continues.
5. DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State
After transferring to Oregon State from Clemson, DJ Uiagalelei put up impressive numbers. He decided to enter the portal as a graduate transfer, though, and his recruitment has been interesting.
Florida State has expressed interest in Uiagalelei and is hosting him for a visit, while Louisville has also reached out. He put up the best numbers of his career in 2023, throwing for 2,638 yards and 21 touchdowns for Oregon State.
6. Dequan Finn, Toledo
A first team All-MAC selection this year, Dequan Finn helped lead Toledo to the conference championship as part of his impressive 2023 season. He led the league in passing yards as a redshirt junior, but he’ll now use his last year of eligibility elsewhere.
Finn took a visit to Wisconsin last week before the Badgers got a commitment from Van Dyke, so his recruitment is still ongoing. He totaled 2,657 passing yards and 22 touchdowns for Toledo while also doing work in the running game with 563 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
7. Maalik Murphy, Texas
Maalik Murphy served as Texas’ primary backup quarterback behind Quinn Ewers and even saw some action after Ewers suffered an injury. However, he decided to enter the transfer portal earlier this week and confirmed he won’t be with the Longhorns for the College Football Playoff as a result.
Multiple teams are expected to express interest in Murphy, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Southern California, South Carolina, Baylor, Georgia, Oregon State, Syracuse and Duke are all “indicating interest” in the early part of the process, Thamel said.
8. Jordan McCloud, James Madison
Jordan McCloud started his college career at USF and eventually transferred to Arizona in 2021. However, he didn’t play at all in 2022 before again entering the portal and heading to James Madison. This year for Dukes, he threw for 3,413 yards and 32 touchdowns as they became the story of college football with an 11-1 record.
McCloud played high school football at Plant (FL) High School, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 1,710 overall recruit in the 2018 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
9. Will Rogers, Mississippi State
Will Rogers flourished under Mike Leach in the Air Raid scheme at Mississippi State. After Leach’s sudden passing a year ago, Zach Arnett opted to implement a pro-style scheme, and Rogers’ numbers fell off a bit before he decided to enter the transfer portal.
Rogers’ recruitment appears to be picking up steam, though, as he locked in a visit to Washington, Nakos reported. The Huskies will be looking to replace Michael Penix Jr., and Rogers could be the answer.
10. AJ Swann, Vanderbilt
AJ Swann split time with Ken Seals at Vanderbilt this season, but decided to enter the transfer portal afterward. Over two years, he threw for 2,731 yards and 22 touchdowns as one of the lone bright spots for the Commodores.
Swann has heard from multiple teams in the portal, and he’s visiting multiple SEC programs this weekend, according to On3’s Chad Simmons. On Friday, he will take a trip to LSU before visiting South Carolina, as well.
While some big dominoes fell in the quarterback transfer market this week, there’s still no shortage of talent in the portal this year. Just over a week into the portal window, though, it’s safe to say things aren’t slowing down.