The transfer portal can be problematic for even the best Group of Five schools. When some of their best players thrive, that usually leads to Power Four teams expressing interest and those stars transferring.
But the best G5 programs in this era also know how to identify talented players from P4 rosters who haven’t gotten a shot to see substantial playing time at the college level yet. Setting those players up for success is often instrumental for G5 programs seeking to win conference championships and win bowl games.
Here’s a look at standout college football players who have decided to either transfer to G5 schools or to leave Group of Five programs over the past few weeks, according to On3.
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Transfer Portal News
Baylor LB JaQues Evans To Colorado State
JaQues Evans, a former Group of Five star, is transferring to another G5 team this offseason.
Evans, after playing in just three games and recording one tackle while at Baylor last season, is going to Colorado State. Evans previously was at Western Kentucky, which is where Tyson Summers was the defensive coordinator before becoming the DC at Colorado State.
Evans, a 6-foot-2, 249-pound linebacker from Dublin, Georgia, was an All-Conference USA first-team selection in 2022. He led WKU with 106 tackles and added 14 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four pass breakups, eight quarterback hurries, and two fumble recoveries. He played in six games in 2023, recording 30 tackles, one sack, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
In 2021 while at WKU, he tallied 44 tackles, four for loss, with two sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass defended. He played in seven games in 2020, recording two tackles.
Baylor RB Dominic Richardson To New Mexico State
Dominic Richardson, who’s been a consistent contributor for Power Four schools, is going to New Mexico State.
For his career, he’s averaged 4.1 yards per carry while racking up 1,767 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground to go with 52 catches, 457 yards, and a score through the air. NMSU is looking to be even better on the ground in 2025 after averaging 180 rushing yards per contest in 2024.
Richardson, a 6-1, 204-pound running back from Oklahoma City, began his career at Oklahoma State. He ran for 223 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman in 2020, then added 373 yards and four touchdowns while catching seven passes for 54 yards in 2021. The following season was arguably his best as he ran for 543 yards and eight touchdowns on 149 carries while totaling 220 yards on 22 receptions.
He played the next two seasons at Baylor, where he ran for 519 yards and one score on 125 attempts and tallied 152 yards and one touchdown on 21 catches. He only played in four games last season due to injury, finishing the year with 109 yards on the ground.
Kent State DL Kaden Beatty To Washington State
Kaden Beatty, a standout defensive lineman for Kent State, is intending on transferring to Washington State.
At 6-foot, 270 pounds, the Chesapeake, Virginia, native totaled 19 tackles, 2.5 for loss, with one sack and one pass breakup as a redshirt freshman in 2024. He was a three-star high school prospect after playing at Atlantic Shores Christian.
He’ll be a welcome addition for Wazzu, which ranked 96th in the FBS with 172.1 rushing yards allowed per contest.
Marshall WR Christian Fitzpatrick Enters The Transfer Portal
Christian Fitzpatrick, Marshall’s leading receiver in 2024, has entered the transfer portal.
He was first on the team with 34 catches, 576 yards, and six touchdowns through the air last season. That helped him earn All-Sun Belt honorable mention recognition.
The 6-4, 217-pound wideout from Southfield, Michigan, previously played for Michigan State and Louisville.
Transfer Portal QB News
Charlotte QB Deshawn Purdie To Wake Forest
After initially signing with Florida, former Charlotte quarterback Deshawn Purdie is going to another Power Four program instead.
Purdie is transferring to Wake Forest. That’s despite his prior intentions to play for the Gators and after receiving interest from other SEC schools like Georgia and Auburn.
Purdie, a 6-4, 220-pound signal caller from Baltimore, was a three-star prospect out of Millford Mill Academy. During his freshman season for the 49ers, he completed 100 of 200 passes for 1,802 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions while adding a rushing touchdown.
