Unfortunately for the Group of Six, many of those schools lose a lot of their best players to the transfer portal. And some of those athletes become stars at Power Four schools and go on to be highly-rated NFL prospects.
But that also provides opportunities for G6 schools, as they can offer playing time for backups at P4 schools and give them chances to shine on the field rather than sit on the sideline.
The transfer portal is open just once this year, which is a change from years past and makes the upcoming days a bit more urgent for all college football programs.
Here’s a look at some of the most significant recent moves in the transfer portal:
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Xion Chapman & Sid Kaba To Minnesota
Minnesota added two standout transfer prospects to its defensive line through the portal.
Xion Chapman is becoming a Gopher after his redshirt sophomore season at FIU. At 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, he totaled 15 tackles, three for loss, with two sacks, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 2025.
Chapman is the 96th best overall prospect and has four stars, per 247Sports. He’s the 11th-best prospect at his position.
Sid Kaba is also headed to Minnesota after spending his redshirt sophomore season at Marshall. At 6-3, 289 pounds, he recorded 18 tackles and three TFLs this past season.
With three stars, Kaba is the 165th-best transfer prospect and the 18th-best D-lineman in the portal.
JMU’s Sahir West & Riley Robell To UCLA
UCLA, now being led by former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney, continues to add players from JMU.
Sahir West, who was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, is going to UCLA. The 6-3, 269-pound EDGE defender recorded 45 tackles, seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss, four passes defended, and one forced fumble in 2025.
West is the 23rd-best EDGE transfer prospect, has three stars, and is the 177th-best overall prospect.
Riley Robell is also going to UCLA. At 6-2, 290 pounds, he was 97th among guards in Pro Football Focus’ grades (min. 540 snaps) while ranking 54th for run blocking. He’s a three-star prospect who’s ranked 187th overall and eighth among interior O-linemen.
Those two are among the 10 JMU players who have committed to transferring to UCLA. That includes HERO Sports Group of Five All-American Wayne Knight. He was seventh in the country this past season with 1,373 rushing yards while scoring nine touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 40 passes for 397 yards and one TD.
East Carolina’s London Montgomery & Emmanuel Poku Go To Florida & South Carolina
East Carolina has lost several of its top players to Power Four schools thus far.
London Montgomery is going to Florida. At 5-11, 197 pounds, the redshirt sophomore running back ran for 742 yards and seven touchdowns while catching 15 passes for 76 yards. He ran for 359 yards and two TDs with 29 yards on five receptions in 2024.
Montgomery has three stars and is the 156th-best transfer prospect, ranking ninth among running backs.
A 6-5, 326-pound interior offensive lineman, Emmanuel Poku is leaving ECU for South Carolina. A redshirt junior last year, Poku ranked 133rd among guards in PFF’s grades (min. 540 snaps) while ranking 124th for pass blocking. He gave up zero sacks and 12 quarterback pressures in 2025.
With three stars, Poku is the seventh-best interior O-lineman in the portal and is the 186th-best overall transfer prospect.
Cade Wolford To Cincinnati
After making the All-MAC third team as a freshman, wide receiver Cade Wolford is departing Kent State for Cincinnati. Wolford is a four-star prospect who’s the 137th-best transfer prospect and is the 37th-best wide receiver in the portal.
At 5-10, 190 pounds, Wolford caught 19 passes for 509 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 96 yards and one TD in 2025.
Cole Best To Auburn
Cole Best, a 6-4, 315-pound center, is following head coach Alex Golesh from USF to Auburn. With three stars, he’s the 150th-best overall prospect and is fifth among interior offensive linemen.
He’s played at guard and center in his career. Best was the 20th-best center in PFF’s grades (min. 550 snaps) while ranking 29th for run blocking.
