Group of Five football transfers: Boise State’s Malachi Nelson, Tulane’s Ty Thompson aim for instant impact

The transfer portal does more than it can at Group of Five level, and that can bring its share of frustrations. Coaches who unearth hidden gems in the high school recruiting process and turn them into high-level players in Group of Five leagues must be prepared to lose them to deep-pocketed Power Four programs.

But Group of Five schools have something to offer on the portal, even if they often struggle to compete financially in college football NIL Economy: opportunity. When logjams arise in power conference rosters, talented players looking to spread their wings can look to the Group of Five ranks for a place to shine.

The Liberty went 13-1 last season and were the highest-ranked Group of Five team in the final College Football Playoff rankings, thanks in large part to a Tennessee transfer at quarterback (Kaidon Salter) and a Wake Forest transfer at quarterback. running back (Quinton Cooley). This is just one prominent example of how a Group of Five program has broken even on the portal in recent years.

As the 2024 season approaches, it’s time to take a look at which Group of Five transfers could make the biggest impact next season. The highest-ranked Group of Five team is guaranteed a spot in the 12-team CFP at the end of the season, which puts this contingent squarely in the national debate.

Here are the top 10 Group of Five transfers you should know about.

Nelson, the portal’s #15 QB, has spent a lot of time in the spotlight for a player with just three pass attempts in his career. He was ranked as 247Sports’ No. 13 overall player in the 2023 high school recruiting class and made headlines when he flipped his commitment from Oklahoma to USC when coach Lincoln Riley left the Sooners for the Trojans at the end of 2021. But after One redshirt season at USC, he left Riley and hit the portal looking for a starting job. He will be tasked with leading the offense for a Boise State team expected to compete for automatic Group of Five College Football Playoff contention.

Texas State played some musical chairs at quarterback after an impressive 8-5 debut campaign for coach GJ Kinne. The Bobcats lost current starter TJ Finley to Western Kentucky and brought in former Washington State and Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura. But then Laura dropped out of school, leaving Kinne in need of a QB. He got a gem in McCloud, who led James Madison to an 11-2 season in 2023, throwing for 3,657 yards and 35 touchdowns. McCloud also rushed for eight touchdowns with the Dukes last season. If everything goes well, the portal’s #26 QB could end up being an upgrade over Finley.

Harris comes to UTSA with a bad reputation after being suspended twice as a freshman at Texas A&M before facing more problems as a sophomore at LSU. Now at his third school in three years, the former blue-chipper has another chance to realize his immense talent. The Houston native is ranked as the No. 45 overall player in the 2022 class by 247Sports and is joining the Group of Five’s most stable programs at UTSA. If head coach Jeff Traylor and his staff can manage him properly, Harris, door no. 17 CBI could be an AAC star.

Herring led Tennessee in tackles during the 2023 season and will be instrumental in helping Memphis pursue its AAC title ambitions. The Tigers are expected to be potent offensively and just need their defense to stay strong. If Herring can help the Tigers become an above-average AAC defense, it will go a long way toward legitimizing the program’s aspirations of claiming a Group of Five bid for the College Football Playoffs. Herring was the portal’s 23rd LB.

Thompson never distinguished himself in three seasons at Oregon after ranking as the No. 9 quarterback and a top-100 overall prospect in the class of 2021. Now, he’s headed to Tulane to try to replace program legend Michael Pratt. Thompson will have to battle backup Kai Horton for the job as former Troy coach Jon Sumrall takes over following Willie Fritz’s departure to Houston. Assuming Thompson wins the gig, he could finally realize his potential and help the Green Wave remain AAC title contenders. Thompson was the 33rd QB in the portal.

6. Western Kentucky QB TJ Finley

After starting sporadically at LSU and Auburn during the first three seasons of his career, Finley has thrived as Texas State’s unquestioned QB1 in 2023, leading the Bobcats to their first bowl appearance with 3,439 yards passing and 24 touchdowns. Now, he will play his final season of college football for a program known for producing prolific quarterbacks. WKU has featured a top-15 offense in each of the last three seasons and Finley the portal’s #42 QBwill have a chance to put up monster numbers for the Hilltoppers in 2024.

Williams caught 104 passes for 1,316 yards and 11 touchdowns in one season at Oklahoma and two at USC after ranking as 247Sports’ No. 15 receiver in the high school class of 2021. Tulane is in a new regime under Sumrall and has a ton to fill in offensively for a team that finished the 2023 regular season at 11-1. Despite the departures of Fritz and Pratt, among others, Tulane still has AAC title aspirations. The #31 WR in the portal He can be the main target for passes and should have the best season of his career.

It’s hard to argue with the “failure” label for Foreman, who struggled to make an impact in three years at USC after being ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports. But the #11 edge rusher in the portal will have a chance to rewrite the end of his college career as he heads to the Mountain West with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Foreman hasn’t recorded a sack since December 4, 2021. But there’s still talent and upside to his game, and if the Bulldogs can capitalize on that, they’ll be big winners.

Catalon is reuniting with former Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom, who is entering Year 2 as UNLV’s head coach. Perhaps this will rekindle his once promising trajectory. Catalon made 99 tackles and three interceptions for the Razorbacks in 2020 before a bad run of injuries slowed him down. He started four games for Texas last season and will now use his sixth season of eligibility to prepare for a Rebel team that is coming off a strong 2023 campaign under Odom. Catalon was the portal’s number 46 security guard.

Former James Madison coach Curt Cignetti took his two best running backs with him to Indiana, leaving new JMU coach Bob Chesney with a significant role to fill in his backfield. Pettaway could be a big part of the answer after spending two seasons at North Carolina. The former four-star prospect redshirted in 2023, meaning the No. 43 RB of the portal has three seasons of eligibility remaining. Chesney’s Holy Cross team ranked third in rushing offense at the FCS level last season, so expect Pettaway to shine as he moves from the ACC to the Sun Belt. North Texas transfer Ayo Adeyi will also factor heavily after rushing for 1,017 yards with the Mean Green in 2023.