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The transfer portal used to be an afterthought. Now? It’s the offseason’s main event.

With NIL money flowing and coaches desperate for quick fixes, the transfer portal has become college football’s version of free agency. Whether you’re a player looking for a better scheme fit or a bigger stage, the right move can change your career in an instant.

Here are 10 portal pickups that I’ve got circled heading into the 2025 season.

Remember the name: Ahmad Hardy, Missouri transfer from Louisiana-Monroe. In 2024, Hardy was the bellcow for the Warhawks’ offense, rushing for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns.

I’m not saying he’s going to have an Ashton Jeanty-level impact on the Tigers’ run game (it would be foolish to go that far), but if you look at the advanced metrics, there are some similarities between the two backs.

The big question surrounding Hardy is how he will fare stepping up a level against better competition. I’m betting he settles in just fine and has a strong year for a possibly frisky Mizzou team.

Former Texas tight end Gunnar Helm is off to the NFL. The next man up? Jack Endries, a transfer from Cal.

Endries had a statistically underwhelming season last year for the Golden Bears. But if you watched him closely, it was clear to see he’s got something there. He finished with 56 catches for 623 yards and only two touchdowns.

How does he fit at Texas? I think head coach Steve Sarkisian will have a field day with Endries, lining him up all over the field and using him as a walking mismatch. Arch Manning? Yeah, Endries will be his new best friend as the ultimate checkdown man.

Darian Mensah was a hot commodity during the winter transfer portal cycle. The mobile signal-caller had a strong season for Tulane, finishing with 2,723 passing yards and 22 TDs.

Like any serviceable or good Group of 5 quarterback after a good year, he hopped in the transfer portal. He ultimately landed at Duke, which looked to upgrade on former quarterback Malik Murphy. Head coach Manny Diaz has been effusive in his praise for Mensah.

Mensah commanded a hefty NIL package, which means expectations are high. I think he’s going to adapt to the Power 4 nicely and will help get Duke back to a bowl game in 2025.

Texas Tech had a dreadful defense last season, finishing 122nd out of 134 Division I teams after allowing 34.8 points per game. The defensive struggles were a big reason why the Red Raiders didn’t ultimately make a legitimate push for the Big 12 title.

This offseason, Texas Tech flipped its roster with a bunch of big-money transfer portal acquisitions, chief among them being EDGE David Bailey. Bailey comes from Stanford, where he tallied 22 solo tackles, seven sacks and five forced fumbles in 2024.

If the Red Raiders have any hope of truly competing for a Big 12 title, the defense will need to be much better. And if it is, Bailey will be one of the major reasons why.

A bit of an under-the-radar suggestion, I’m curious to see how Dequan Finn gets on now that he’s Returned to the MAC. Finn threw for just shy of 2,700 yards and chipped in 22 passing touchdowns (plus seven more on the ground) in Toledo’s 2023 MAC title-winning campaign.

Last year, he bet on himself and rolled the dice that he could win the Baylor starting quarterback job. He lost the spot after a few games. Sawyer Robertson became The Dude, and that was all she wrote.

Finn is a perfectly good MAC quarterback. He should be an asset for a Miami (Ohio) team that just lost Brett Gabbert. If everything breaks right, maybe he helps the Redhawks compete for another MAC title.

Oklahoma’s 2024 offense had all sorts of problems. The unit was a walking hospital ward. The offensive line struggled mightily. And neither Jackson Arnold nor Michael Hawkins Jr. played the quarterback position particularly well.

With the hot seat cranked up to a solid 9/10, head coach Brent Venables went for a double transfer portal swoop with the acquisitions of former Wazzu offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer.

Mateer is arguably one of the most important transfer portal pieces from the entire offseason. Last year, he dazzled at the G5 ranks, throwing for over 3,100 yards and 29 touchdowns. If he hits, this offense looks wildly different in 2025.

Let’s give the offensive line some love, shall we?

In 2024, LSU had two highly touted tackles, and now both of them are off to the NFL. This offensive line has undergone a major makeover this offseason. Two key acquisitions were Josh Thompson and Braelin Moore.

It sounds as if one or both might play on the interior of the offensive line. Even if that’s the case, these two need to step in and play well immediately.

If the LSU offensive line can protect Garrett Nussmeier, this group has a chance to make some serious noise at the SEC and national levels. Here’s to hoping this group comes together.

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Iowa State has a knack for churning out big, elite pass catchers, and I think Sowell will be next on that assembly line.

Last year, Sowell hauled in 34 catches for almost 700 yards while at ECU. He only managed three touchdowns, but averaged 19.9 yards per reception. That makes him a legitimate big-play magnet.

The Cyclones lost Jayden Higgins to the NFL. Sowell will do his best Higgins impression and should slot in nicely for the Cyclones.

Speaking of wide receivers that I love that didn’t live up to the billing in 2024…in steps former NC State receiver KC Concepcion.

Concepcion (and the Wolfpack offense as a whole) struggled in 2024. But as a freshman, Concepcion was dynamite, finishing with 71 catches for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He’s not exactly an out-wide deep-threat type of receiver, but man, he can make some plays. I love his fit in Colin Klein’s offense and think he can be a big-time player for an A&M team that lost its top returning pass catcher to Georgia.

All Name Team? Check.

Brusier with an attitude? Check.

The ability to make an impact from Day 1? Double check.

I cannot believe Mississippi State pulled off this coup to secure Bothwell’s services. Last year, Fluff was arguably the most dynamic running back in the G5 ranks, finishing with 832 yards and 13 touchdowns while at South Alabama.

I’m curious to see how he fits alongside this Jeff Lebby offense, but the talent is undeniably there. I hope he gets plenty of carries and can show the SEC (and nation) what he’s all about.