2024 ACC Football Transfer Enrollees/Signees/Commitments
(Incoming)

By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
(Last updated April 30, 2024)

(An updated version of this article can be found HERE.)

Thanks to the NCAA’s creation of the transfer portal in 2018, then the organization’s revolutionary 2021 rule change that allowed first-time transfers to be immediately eligible at their new school, the manner in which college football teams are built and sustained has changed dramatically.

The two teams in this year’s Atlantic Coast Conference football championship game, Florida State and Louisville, are the two teams that were most aggressive in the transfer portal during the 2022-23 cycle. It’s not an exaggeration to say that a majority of the Seminoles’ and Cardinals’ best players in 2023 started their college careers elsewhere.

Meanwhile, of the 12 offensive players honored this year on the All-ACC first team, six — exactly half! — were major college transfers: Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis (formerly of Louisville), Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan (Syracuse), Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington (Northwestern), Florida State wide receiver and punt returner Keon Coleman (Michigan State), Florida State guard D’Mitri Emmanuel (Charlotte) and Louisville center Bryan Hudson (Virginia Tech). Interestingly, three of those six standout players were incoming transfers from other ACC programs.

At the quarterback position alone, 11 major college transfers were full-time or part-time starters for ACC teams during the 2023 season, including two each at Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech: NC State’s Brennan Armstrong (formerly of Virginia), Boston College’s Thomas Castellanos (UCF), Virginia Tech’s Kyron Drones (Baylor), Georgia Tech’s Haynes King (Texas A&M), Virginia’s Tony Muskett (Monmouth), Louisville’s Jack Plummer (Purdue and California), Pitt’s Phil Jurkovec (Notre Dame and Boston College), Syracuse’s Garrett Shrader (Mississippi State), FSU’s Travis (Louisville), Pitt’s Christian Veilleux (Penn State) and Virginia Tech’s Grant Wells (Marshall).

The list of ACC teams below includes 2024 newcomers California, Southern Methodist and Stanford because those schools’ incoming transfers will be participating in the league this fall.

At the quarterback position alone, 12 ACC teams have received a commitment from a player with starting experience at another school or schools: Boston College (Grayson James/Florida International), Cal (Chandler Rogers/Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas), Duke (Maalik Murphy/Texas), Florida State (DJ Uiagalelei/Clemson and Oregon State), Louisville (Tyler Shough/Oregon and Texas Tech), Miami (Reese Poffenbarger/Albany and Cam Ward/Washington State and Incarnate Word), North Carolina (Max Johnson/LSU and Texas A&M), NC State (Grayson McCall/Coastal Carolina), Pittsburgh (Eli Holstein/Alabama), Syracuse (Kyle McCord/Ohio State), Virginia (Gavin Frakes/New Mexico State) and Wake Forest (Hank Bachmeier/Boise State and Louisiana Tech).

Uiagalelei played at Clemson for three seasons before transferring to Oregon State in 2023.

Reminder One: Current NCAA rules allow for two standard transfer windows in football: #1-a 30-day stretch that begins the day after the College Football Playoff teams are selected (meaning Dec. 4, 2023, through Jan. 2, 2024, this time), and #2-a 16-day period that arrives soon after schools’ spring practice schedules are completed (April 15-30, 2024).

Reminder Two: The players below are listed with their class/eligibility during the upcoming (2024) season. Under recently revised NCAA rules, virtually all major college transfers are immediately eligible at their new school.

2024 ACC Transfer Commitments/Signees
(Enrolled/Incoming)

Boston College (9)

Texas Tech WR Jerand Bradley, r-Jr. (2-year starter; 6-5, 220 pounds; 1,274 career receiving yards, 19 starts)
Georgia State CB Bryquice Brown, Gr. (3-year starter; 2023 captain; brother of NBA player Bruce Brown)
Florida International QB Grayson James, Jr. (2,349 career passing yards, 13/12 TD/INT; 10 career starts, all in 2022)
Illinois DT Sedarius McConnell, r-Jr. (2-year reserve; 6-3, 285 pounds; 10 career tackles)
Central Florida RB Jordan McDonald, Jr. (2-year reserve; 6-1, 220 pounds)
Vanderbilt WR/KR Jayden McGowan, Jr. (2x 3rd-team All-SEC KR; 2-year starting WR/KR; 18 career starts)
North Carolina TE Kamari Morales, Gr. (2023 backup; 2022 starter; 761 career receiving yards, 15 starts)
Ohio State CB Ryan Turner, r-So. (2023 reserve; 2022 redshirt)
Kansas State RB Treshaun Ward, Gr. (2023 backup; 1,884 rushing yards; 6 career starts at Florida State/2022)

California (17)

Wisconsin LB TJ Bollers^, r-Jr. (2-year reserve; 2021 redshirt)
Colorado WR Cole Boscia, r-So. (2023 reserve; 2022 redshirt; prep star at Monte Vista HS in Bay Area)
New Mexico State WR/KR/PR Jonathan Brady, Jr. (2-year starter; 931 career receiving yards, 20 starts)
Cal-Davis LB Teddye Buchanan^, Gr. (2023/2022 2nd/3rd-team All-Big Sky; 208 career tackles, 8 interceptions)
Old Dominion RB Kadarius Calloway, Sr. (2023 part-time starter; 623 rushing yards; also East Mississippi CC)
North Carolina PK Ryan Coe, r-Sr. (2023 UNC starter before injury; 2022 All-AAC at Cincinnati)
Trinity Valley S Isaiah Crosby, r-Jr. (1st-team NJCAA All-American)
Idaho DB Marcus Harris, r-Sr. (FCS All-American; 2x All-Big Sky; 2-year starter; 24 career starts)
Princeton LB Liam Johnson^, r-Sr. (2x 1st-team All-Ivy; 2022 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year)
Notre Dame DT Aidan Keanaaina, r-Jr. (4-year reserve; 11 career tackles)
Utah WR/KR/PR Mikey Matthews, So. (part-time WR starter, full-time KR/PR starter as true freshman)
Notre Dame WR Tobias Merriweather, Jr. (2023 backup; 325 career receiving yards, 3 TD catches)
Montana State OG Rush Reimer, r-Sr. (2x FCS All-American; 2x All-Big Sky; 2-year starter; 28 career starts)
North Texas QB Chandler Rogers, r-Sr. (7,096 career passing yards, 53/15 TD/INT; 28 starts at ULM/UNT)
San Mateo S Ja’ir Smith, r-Jr. (36 tackles, 3 interceptions in 2023)
Temple OT Victor Stoffel, r-Sr. (2023 HM All-AAC; 2-year starter; 6-7, 295 pounds; 20 career starts)
LSU S Ryan Yaites^, So. (2023 backup; prep A-A from Denton, Texas)

Clemson

none

Duke (10)

Lafayette OL Mike Barr^, Gr. (2023 1st-team All-Patriot League; 2-year starter; 6-4, 306 pounds)
Liberty DT Kendy Charles, Gr. (2-year starter; 6-0, 280 pounds; 77 career tackles, 21 starts)
Old Dominion WR Javon Harvey, Gr. (3-year starter; 1,063 receiving yards, 23 starts)
Texas QB Maalik Murphy, r-So. (2023 backup; 2022 redshirt; 477 career passing yards, 2 starts)
Princeton LB Ozzie Nicholas^, Gr. (2023 FCS All-American; 2x All-Ivy; 2-year starter; 20 career starts)
Stanford OT James Pogorelc^, Gr. (6-8, 302 pounds; 2 career starts)
Pennsylvania OT Jack Purcell, Gr. (3-year starter; 28 career starts; 6-5, 305 pounds)
Cornell OT Micah Sahakian^, Gr. (2023 2nd-team All-Ivy; 2-year starter; 6-6, 328 pounds)
Holy Cross OG Eric Schon^, Gr. (2x All-Patriot League; 2-year starter; 6-3, 311 pounds)
Pennsylvania DT Will Seiler, Gr. (3-year reserve; 6-4, 290 pounds; 45 career tackles)

Florida State (15)

Alabama WR Malik Benson, Sr. (2023 backup; NJCAA All-American at Hutchinson CC)
Miami CB Davonte Brown, r-Sr. (2023 backup; 31 career starts at UCF)
LSU WR Jalen Brown, r-Fr. (2023 redshirt; 4-star prospect from Miami Gulliver)
West Virginia DE Tomiwa Durojaiye, r-So. (2023 backup; 2022 redshirt at UK; 23 career tackles)
Alabama OC/OG TJ Ferguson, r-Jr. (2-year backup; 6-4, 323 pounds; 1 career start)
Georgia LB Marvin Jones Jr., Jr. (2-year backup; son of FSU legend Marvin Jones Sr.; 1 career start)
Colorado State DT Grady Kelly, r-Jr. (2-year starter; 79 career tackles, 22 starts)
Florida OG Richie Leonard IV, Gr. (2023 starter; 6-2, 320 pounds; 14 career starts)
Alabama DB Earl Little Jr., r-So. (2023 backup; 2022 redshirt; 4-star prospect from Fort Lauderdale)
Oregon State DE Sione Lolohea, r-Sr. (2023 2nd-team All-Pac-12; 88 career tackles, 21 starts)
Indiana RB/KR Jaylin Lucas, Jr. (starting RB; 2022 All-American KR; 875 career rushing/receiving yards)
Alabama LB Shawn Murphy, r-So. (2023 reserve; 2022 redshirt; 4-star prospect from Virginia)
Harvard OT Jacob Rizy^, Gr. (2023 1st-team All-Ivy; 2022 2nd-team All-Ivy; 6-5, 305 pounds)
Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei, r-Sr. (3-year starter, including 2021, 2022 at Clemson; 40 career starts)
Alabama RB Roydell Williams, Gr. (4-year backup; 1,165 career rushing yards. 2 starts)

Georgia Tech (12)

Furman DE Jack Barton, Gr. (2nd-team All-SoCon; 2-year starter, 22 starts)
Michigan TE Josh Beetham^, Gr. (4-year backup; 6-5, 242 pounds)
Tennessee CB Warren Burrell, r-Sr. (2023 reserve; injured 2022; 2021 full-time starter; 22 career starts)
Rhode Island DB Syeed Gibbs, r-So. (2023 FCS Freshman All-American; CAA DFOY)
Mississippi State TE Ryland Goede, r-Sr. (2023 part-time starter; 7 career starts at Georgia/MSU; 6-6, 260 pounds)
Louisville LB Jackson Hamilton, r-Jr. (2022/2023 reserve; 2021 redshirt)
Yale TE Jackson Hawes, r-Sr. (2x 2nd-team All-Ivy; 3-year starter; 6-5, 255 pounds)
Georgia LB EJ Lightsey, r-So. (2023 reserve; 2022 redshirt)
Middle Tennessee State OG Keylan Rutledge, Jr. (1st-team All-CUSA; 2-year starter; 6-4, 310 pounds)
Florida State DT Ayo Tifase, r-So. (2023 reserve; 2022 redshirt, 6-4, 300 pounds)
Illinois CB Zachary Tobe^, So. (2023 part-time starter; from Ocoee, Fla.)
Penn State DT Jordan van den Berg^, Gr. (2-year backup; 2020 juco A-A at Iowa Western CC)

Louisville (31)

Tennessee DE Tyler Baron, r-Sr. (2023 starter; 100 career tackles, 26 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 18 starts)
Toledo RB Peny Boone, r-Sr. (MAC Offensive POY; Maryland 2020-21; 2,101 career rushing yards, 10 starts)
Alabama WR/KR/PR Ja’Corey Brooks, Jr. (3-year backup; 896 career receiving yards, 10 TD catches)
Miami RB Donald Chaney, r-Jr. (2-year backup; medical 2021/2022; 852 career rushing yards, 6 TDs)
Kentucky TE Izayah Cummings, r-Sr. (4-year backup at WR/TE; 293 career receiving yards, 4 starts)
Ohio State OL Victor Cutler Jr., r-Sr. (2023 reserve; 2-year starter at Louisiana-Monroe; 21 career starts)
Texas A&M LB Jurriente Davis, r-Sr. (2023 redshirt; formerly Hutchinson CC, MTSU, Jackson State)
Harvard DT Thor Griffith^, Gr. (2x FCS All-American; 2x 1st-team All-Ivy; 3-year starter; 6-2, 320 pounds)
Florida International DT Jordan Guerad, r-Jr. (1st-team All-CUSA; 2-year starter; 83 career tackles, 19 starts)
North Carolina CB Tayon Holloway, r-So. (2023 part-time starter; 6 career starts)
California LB Myles Jernigan^, Gr. (2023 part-time starter; 16 career starts)
Middle Tennessee DE Richard Kinley II^, r-Sr. (2023 part-time starter; 19 career starts)
Rutgers DT Rene Konga^, Gr. (4-year backup; 6-4, 290 pounds)
South Alabama WR/PR Caullin Lacy, Gr. (1st-team All-Sun Belt; 3-year starter; 2,521 receiving yards, 32 starts)
South Florida DE Tramel Logan^, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 91 career tackles, 4 sacks)
Oklahoma S Daeh McCullough, r-Fr. (2023 redshirt; father = Notre Dame assistant; 4-star prospect from Indiana)
Tennessee S Tamarion McDonald, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 115 career tackles, 24 starts)
Tuskegee WR Antonio Meeks, Jr. (2nd-team All-SIAC; 1,437 career receiving yards, 11 touchdowns)
Yale OT Jonathan Mendoza, r-Sr. (2023/2022 1st/2nd-team All-Ivy; 2-year starter; 6-9, 310; 20 career starts)
Georgia Southern OT Rasheed Miller, r-Jr. (2nd-team All-Sun Belt; 6-7, 310 pounds; 14 career starts)
Texas Tech OT Monroe Mills, r-Sr. (2023 HM All-Big 12; 2-year starter; 6-6, 315 pounds; 22 career starts at LT/RT)
Illinois CB Tahveon Nicholson, r-Jr. (2-year starter; 24 years old; 66 career tackles, 23 starts)
Northern Illinois OC Pete Nygra, r-Jr. (2-year starter; 6-4, 295 pounds; 23 career starts)
San Diego State TE Mark Redman^, Gr. (2x 2nd-team All-MWC; 632 receiving yards; 25 starts at UW/SDSU)
Eastern Illinois S Blake Ruffin, r-Jr. (2023 FCS All-American; 1st-team All-Big South/OVC; 2022 medical redshirt)
Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough, r-Sr. (4,625 career passing yards, 36/17 TD/INT; 20 starts at Oregon/Texas Tech)
Miami TE Jaleel Skinner, r-So. (2023 redshirt; 2022 backup; 138 career receiving yards, 2 starts)
Central Florida CB Corey Thornton, r-Sr. (2023 HM All-Big 12; 2x PFF All-AAC; 4-year starter; 39 career starts)
Houston LT Reuben Unije, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 6-5, 310 pounds; 20 career starts)
Ball State PK/P AJ Vinatieri, r-Fr. (son of legendary NFL placekicker Adam Vinatieri)
Tennessee S Wesley Walker, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 25 career starts at UT/Georgia Tech)

Miami (13)

Louisville LB Jaylin Alderman^, r-Jr. (2023 starter; 14 career starts)
Marshall DE Elijah Alston, r-Sr. (3rd-team All-Sun Belt; 18 career starts)
Houston WR Sam Brown^, r-Jr. (2023 HM All-Big 12; 2-year starter; 1,286 career receiving yards, 7 TDs)
Indiana OC Zach Carpenter, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 6-5, 295 pounds; 27 career starts at Michigan/Indiana)
NC State NT/DE CJ Clark, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 6-3, 305 pounds; 72 career tackles, 23 starts)
Middle Tennessee State DT Marley Cook, r-Sr. (2022 All-CUSA; 2-year starter; 6-2, 298 pounds; 27 career starts)
Marshall CB Dyoni Hill^, Jr. (2023 starter; from Gainesville, Fla.)
Oregon State RB Damien Martinez^, Jr. (2x 1st-team All-Pac-12; 2,167 career rushing yards, 16 TDs)
Albany QB Reese Poffenbarger, r-Jr. (2x All-CAA; 5,969 career passing yards, 26 starts)
Washington CB Mishael Powell, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 92 career tackles, 25 starts)
Vanderbilt S Savion Riley, r-So. (2023 backup; 2022 redshirt; 48 career tackles, 2 starts)
Arizona S Isaiah Taylor, r-Jr. (2-year backup; son of NFL/UM legend Jason Taylor; 2 career starts)
Washington State QB Cam Ward, r-Sr. (2-year starter; 6,963 passing yards, 48/16 TD/INT, 25 starts with Cougars)

North Carolina (11)

Northern Iowa LB Jahsiah Galvan, r-So. (2023 FCS Freshman All-American; team-high 77 tackles)
Washington CB Jay Green, Jr. (2-year backup; 15 career tackles)

Syracuse (16)