There was no shortage of transfers that left the American during January’s transfer portal window. Among Group of Six conferences, it had the highest percentage of starters leave.
Some of them followed head coaches to new opportunities while new faces transferred into the league with incoming head coaches. Here are some of those guys that should come in and have an immediate impact:
RB Ashton Gray, East Carolina
Gray enrolled at ECU in January meaning he likely got a head start with the program. The redshirt sophomore is only in his second year playing running back after transitioning from quarterback. It sounds like he’s going to have a big role after the Pirates lost their two leading rushers from last year. Gray rushed for 383 yards and five touchdowns on 58 carries in 2025.
EDGE Kenyon Garner, FAU
There weren’t many players in Division II who were more disruptive than Garner last season. Playing for Livingston College, he led D-II with 15 sacks and 28 tackles for loss – and did so in only 10 games. He’s not just a pass rusher but is also solid against the run. The junior is already making himself known and has reportedly had a strong spring.
DL J’Mond Tapp, Memphis
There are a handful of transfers from Southern Miss who made the trip north with new coach Charles Huff who could be on this list, but Tapp’s dominance on the defensive front should have no problem translating from the Sun Belt to the American. He finished with 7.5 sacks and 12 TFLs in 2025 and was named first-team all-conference.
QB Marcus Stokes, Memphis
Another D-II product on this list, Stokes is in a QB competition with Air Noland, but I think Stokes will be the Week 1 starter. He passed for 3,297 yards and 30 TDs at the University of West Florida last year and added 367 yards and 10 scores on the ground. He was the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year and should be another dual-threat QB who excels under Huff.
RB Jahiem White, North Texas
White spent three seasons with West Virginia where he started 16 games and appeared in 27. He had back-to-back seasons with 800-plus rushing yards before only playing in two games last season. The junior also added 262 yards and three TDs receiving. Nearly all of the RB production is gone from last year, meaning White will have the opportunity to and should own a large role in the offense.
RB DJ McKinney, Tulsa
McKinney will return to his hometown after spending one season in the Mountain West with New Mexico. There, McKinney totaled 625 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, which led the team. Prior to his stint with the Lobos, the redshirt junior was with Sam Houston where he earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors.
EDGE Blanche Gold, UAB
A first-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection last year, Blanche posted 14 TFLs and 7.5 sacks at Morgan State. He also registered one forced fumble and 45 total tackles. The graduate transfer has already been making some noise this spring and should bolster a defense that had the fourth-fewest sacks in the American last season.
S Nate Robinson Jr., UTSA
Robinson was tabbed an FCS All-American last season following a campaign where he had 64 total tackles, 11 pass breakups, and four interceptions for Marist. He was voted first-team All-Pioneer League and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is awarded to the best defensive player in the FCS. The San Antonio product is also returning home.
EDGE CJ Hicks, USF
Per 247Sports, USF had the No. 1-ranked recruiting class under first-year head coach Brian Hartline. Included in that haul is Hicks, who joins Hartline from Ohio State. Hicks spent four seasons with the Buckeyes but didn’t see a ton of playing time. He’s a former five-star prospect and should take advantage of increased snaps.
WR Kenny Odom, USF
Odom brings a lot of experience at wideout after starting in a combined 24 games over the past three seasons. The previous two years, he was at UTEP where he earned All-CUSA second-team honors both seasons. Last year, he had a league-high 62 catches to go with 582 yards and six TDs. The redshirt senior had 741 yards and eight scores in 2024.
