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 actual 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.
The 2024 season isn’t even technically over yet, but there’s been plenty of transfer portal movement already. 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, according to On3.
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Transfer Portal QB News
Baylor QB Dequan Finn To Miami (Ohio)
Dequan Finn, the MAC MVP in 2023, is returning to the conference – but with a different team this time.
Finn, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback from Detroit who previously played for Toledo, committed to Miami (Ohio) after spending the 2024 season at Baylor. He applied for a medical hardship waiver after playing just three games this past season due to injury. He threw for 307 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions while completing 23 of 43 passes and rushing for 66 yards and two touchdowns this past year.
In 2023, Finn threw for 2,657 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine picks as he completed 64% of his throws. He also rushed for 563 yards and seven scores. With the Rockets, he threw for 7,079 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions on a 60.3% completion rate to go with 1,837 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground.
Iowa State QB JJ Kohl Goes To App State
After losing star quarterback Joey Aguilar to UCLA, App State added a quarterback in the transfer portal.
JJ Kohl is becoming a Mountaineer after the 6-7, 250-pound passer spent the last two years at Iowa State. The former four-star quarterback from Ankeny, Iowa, will be a sophomore in 2025. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 23 yards and ran for 32 yards on six attempts in four appearances at ISU.
Boise State QB Malachi Nelson To UTEP
Malachi Nelson, who was ranked the No. 1 recruit in the nation by ESPN when he was going to high school in Los Alamitos, California, is playing for this third school in as many seasons.
Nelson is transferring from Boise State to UTEP after losing the battle for the starting quarterback job to Maddux Madsen last offseason. In limited action, the 6-3, 193-pound Nelson was 12-for-17 passing for 128 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in three games during the 2024 campaign.
In 2023, he was a true freshman at USC and sat behind Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Nelson played in just one game and completed 1 of 3 passes for no yards against San Jose State. Going to Los Alamitos High School, he was California’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 and an Under Armour All-American.
More Transfer Portal News
Tulane RB Makhi Hughes To Oregon
Makhi Hughes, a third-team 2024 HERO Sports Group of Five All-American running back, is leaving Tulane for Oregon.
Hughes, a 5-11, 210-pound versatile playmaker from Birmingham, Alabama, has been electric the past two seasons for the Green Wave, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he ran for 1,378 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 67 yards on 11 receptions. This past season, he was even better as he racked up 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground to go with 176 yards and two touchdowns on 19 catches.
UTEP EDGE Maurice Westmoreland To Tulane
Maurice Westmoreland, another G5 All-American, is going to another Group of Five program as he is heading to Tulane.
Westmoreland, a two-time All-Conference USA first-team honoree, tallied eight sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 46 tackles last season. Over the past three years at UTEP, the 6-2, 250-pound EDGE rusher totaled 100 tackles, 20 for loss, with 15.5 sacks, four passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
He could be one of the top pass rushers in the AAC next season.
UConn EDGE Pryce Yates To North Carolina
Pryce Yates, another talented G5 pass rusher, is transferring from UConn to North Carolina.
A preseason G5 All-American, Yates didn’t see the field in 2024 until October due to injury, but he totaled 21 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, and one pass breakup in seven games. Going back to 2022, the 6-4, 265-pound defensive lineman has recorded 108 tackles, 29.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
