ESPN's 2024 college football preseason all-transfer team (2024)

More than 2,000 college football players transferred to FBS programs ahead of the 2024 season. But only 26 could earn spots on ESPN's preseason All-Transfer Team.

Our All-Transfer first- and second-team selections, all of them newcomers who joined their current program this offseason, are a mix of high-profile stars, proven veteran starters, young blue-chip talent and under-the-radar pickups ready for breakthrough seasons. How they fare in the months ahead will go a long way toward determining who can contend in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

On Monday, we ranked college football's top 100 newcomers. Here's a closer look at the players poised to emerge as the best of the best.

OFFENSE

QB: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (via Oklahoma)

Gabriel is without question the most experienced and productive quarterback to ever enter the transfer portal as a 49-game starter who'll have an opportunity to break several NCAA career records, including passing yards and touchdowns. The ESPN preseason second-team All-American could also become the first player in the sport's history to earn first-team all-conference honors in three leagues. After shining at UCF and Oklahoma, Gabriel stayed in school for an extra year to make one more run at a national championship. The preseason No. 3 Ducks have surrounded him with an awful lot of talent and look ready for a deep College Football Playoff run.

Second team: Cam Ward, Miami (via Washington State)

RB: Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (via Ole Miss)

Judkins, a former three-star recruit, quickly emerged as one of the SEC's most unstoppable rushers with 3,006 yards from scrimmage (most among all Power 4 backs) and 34 touchdowns in his two seasons at Ole Miss. His 141 forced missed tackles since 2022 also lead all returning P4 rushers, according to TruMedia. The preseason All-American will share carries with TreVeyon Henderson in an absurdly loaded Buckeye offense but should still have another extremely productive year.

Second team: Damien Martinez, Miami (via Oregon State)

RB: Trevor Etienne, Georgia (via Florida)

Etienne has an opportunity to prove he's one of the SEC's best in Georgia's offense and could be the missing piece the Bulldogs needed to win another national title in 2024. The versatile 5-foot-9, 205-pound back averaged 7.8 yards per touch as a rusher, receiver and returner over his two seasons at Florida and has wowed his new coaches with his ability to make defenders miss.

Second team: Raheim Sanders, South Carolina (via Arkansas)

WR: Isaiah Bond, Texas (via Alabama)

Steve Sarkisian adding one of the fastest receivers in college football to Texas' offense should be fun to watch. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound wideout caught 48 passes for 668 yards for Alabama last season, and all four of his touchdown catches came on throws of 30-plus yards. Among SEC receivers, only LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. produced more TDs on those deep shots. The Longhorns brought in a ton of talent at receiver this offseason and have an extremely competitive room, but Bond should see lots of targets from Quinn Ewers.

Second team: Antwane Wells Jr., Ole Miss (via South Carolina)

WR: Evan Stewart, Oregon (via Texas A&M)

The former five-star recruit flashed big-time potential during his two seasons at Texas A&M while catching 91 passes for 1,163 yards and six TDs. His move to Oregon gives him a shot to prove he's a first-round-type talent. The 6-foot, 175-pound wideout had just four 100-yard performances for the Aggies but should benefit from much steadier QB play and could be an excellent complement to top returning receiver Tez Johnson.

Second team: Germie Bernard, Alabama (via Washington)

TE: Ben Yurosek, Georgia (via Stanford)

No one player can replace what first-rounder Brock Bowers brought to the table for Georgia's offense, but the Bulldogs will benefit from picking up the most productive tight end who hit the portal this offseason. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior's 1,337 career receiving yards at Stanford rank third-most among returning FBS tight ends. The trio of Yurosek, Oscar Delp and Lawson Luckie gives Georgia some great options for playing in 12 personnel.

Second team: Justin Joly, NC State (via UConn)

OT: J.C. Davis, Illinois (via New Mexico)

Davis could be one of the great under-the-radar finds of this portal cycle. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound senior was a first-team All-Mountain West performer and two-year starter at New Mexico who bet on himself by opting to move up to Big Ten ball. If Davis is as good as Illinois staffers expect and puts together an All-Big Ten-caliber year at left tackle, he should move up draft boards.

Second team: Fernando Carmona, Arkansas (via San Jose State)

OG: Josh Priebe, Michigan (via Northwestern)

The Wolverines inked only two players out of the portal in December during their run to the national championships, but it sure looks like both will be hits. Priebe, a 6-foot-5, 306-pound grad transfer from Northwestern, brings Big Ten experience with his 28 career starts and was a team captain for the Wildcats. Sherrone Moore has had a nice track record of finding O-line transfers capable of competing at a high level for Michigan, and it looks like Priebe will be a steadying force at guard for a new-look line.

Second team: Kahlil Benson, Colorado (via Indiana)

C: Parker Brailsford, Alabama (via Washington)

New Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer knows exactly what he's getting in Brailsford: one of the best centers in college football. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound lineman became Washington's starter as a redshirt freshman last season and put together an impressive campaign, starting all 15 games for the national runner-up and picking up Freshman All-America recognition as well as second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Brailsford also earned a spot on ESPN's preseason All-America team for 2024.

Second team: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State (via Alabama)

OG: Cayden Green, Missouri (via Oklahoma)

Green, the No. 2-ranked guard and No. 55 overall recruit in the 2023 ESPN 300, moved into the starting lineup as a true freshman at Oklahoma with five starts and 541 snaps in his debut season. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound guard from Lee's Summit, Missouri, surprised many by opting to transfer home and will start at left guard for the Tigers. Coach Eli Drinkwitz believes Green has the size, toughness and instincts to become an elite player.

Second team: Vinny Sciury, Texas Tech (via Toledo)

OT: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama (via Iowa, Alabama)

It's not easy to be a true freshman starting left tackle in the SEC, and Proctor endured some early struggles as expected with nine sacks allowed, according to TruMedia. But the massive 6-foot-7, 369-pound lineman turned the corner late in the year and is in much better shape as a sophom*ore. He's re-earned his role with the Crimson Tide after his three-month stint at Iowa and needs to take a big step forward in his career this fall.

Second team: Lance Heard, Tennessee (via LSU)

All-purpose: Deion Burks, Oklahoma (via Purdue)

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound wideout from Purdue enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 with a team-high 47 catches for 629 yards and seven touchdowns. He joins an Oklahoma squad that will give him every opportunity to be new starting QB Jackson Arnold's go-to guy. The Sooners should put Burks' elite blend of strength and speed to good use by getting the ball in his hands in a variety of ways.

Second team: Dylan Edwards, Kansas State (via Colorado)

DEFENSE

DE: Nic Scourton, Texas A&M (via Purdue)

The talented 6-foot-4, 285-pound pass rusher from Bryan, Texas, decided to come home and play for Texas A&M under new coach Mike Elko after a dominant season at Purdue. The Aggies didn't offer Scourton when he was a three-star high school recruit, but he got everyone's attention by leading the Big Ten in sacks (10) last season. His 18.5% pressure rate in Big Ten play was best in the conference, too, according to TruMedia. Now Scourton is a preseason All-American who's garnering serious first-round draft hype.

Second team: Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss (via Florida)

DT: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (via Texas A&M)

Ole Miss won a big-time recruiting battle against Oregon in December to bring in Nolen, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 class. He flashed that elite-level potential in his two seasons at Texas A&M with 66 tackles, 33 pressures, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks, but now Nolen is a junior with NFL ambitions. It's time for him to play his best and most consistent football on a Rebels defense that imported a ton of veteran talent this offseason.

Second team: Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon (via Houston)

DT: Damonic Williams, Oklahoma (via TCU)

Williams emerged as TCU's starting nose tackle as a true freshman during the Horned Frogs' run to the national title game in 2022 and made 27 consecutive starts up front for them. The 6-foot-1, 312-pound lineman hit the portal in April and chose Oklahoma over LSU, Texas and Missouri. He was a must-get for Brent Venables and a Sooner defense that lacked experience at that critical position entering their first season in the SEC. Williams recorded 9.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in his time at TCU and should get more opportunities to rush the quarterback this fall.

Second team: Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech (via Duke)

DE: Trey Moore, Texas (via UTSA)

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound edge rusher earned AAC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophom*ore after racking up 14 sacks (third-most in FBS) and 46 pressures last year with the fourth-best pressure rate (19.9%) in the country. The former zero-star recruit turned Freshman All-American is ready to be a difference-maker in the SEC on a Texas team with national title aspirations.

Second team: Tyler Baron, Miami (via Louisville, Tennessee)

LB: Jaishawn Barham, Michigan (via Maryland)

The Wolverines' hit rate on the transfers they brought in last year for their national title run proved to be extremely high. Barham is already looking like another win for them. The 6-foot-3, 248-pound linebacker comes in with two seasons of Big Ten starting experience and recorded 98 tackles, 28 pressures, 9.5 TFLs and 7 sacks at Maryland, earning Freshman All-America honors in 2022.

Second team: Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, USC (via Oregon State)

LB: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky (via Georgia)

"Pop" Dumas-Johnson was one of Georgia's most valuable players on its 2022 defense that featured 10 current NFL players and won the national title. He earned first-team All-America recognition for that sophom*ore season and went on to start 24 games for the Bulldogs before moving on to Kentucky this offseason. The Wildcats should greatly benefit from his experience and leadership.

Second team: Cam Riley, Florida State (via Auburn)

LB: John Pius, Wisconsin (via William & Mary)

The Badgers found a steal at the FCS level in Pius, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge rusher who shouldn't have trouble adjusting to the Big Ten. The two-time FCS All-American produced 35 TFLs and 21 sacks over the past two seasons and stood out against Virginia, recording two sacks and a forced fumble he took back 57 yards. He's an invaluable addition for Luke Fickell's program who makes the Badgers defense more dangerous in Year 2.

Second team: Jaheim Thomas, Wisconsin (via Arkansas)

CB: Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon (via Washington)

Muhammad transferred from Oklahoma State to Washington last season and became an instant impact performer for the Huskies' defense, recording 16 pass breakups and three interceptions with only one touchdown allowed on 550 snaps in coverage, according to TruMedia. The second-team All-Pac-12 selection and his College Football Playoff experience will be a big help in bolstering the Ducks' secondary.

Second team: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee (via Oregon State)

CB: Trey Amos, Ole Miss (via Alabama)

Amos played 324 snaps for Alabama as a reserve last season and earned one start after transferring in from Louisiana, but he's poised to play a far more significant role for Ole Miss' defense in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback has wowed Rebels coaches this offseason and could be the best cornerback Lane Kiffin has had in his tenure in Oxford.

Second team: A.J. Harris, Penn State (via Georgia)

S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State (via Alabama)

The preseason All-American and No. 1 player in ESPN's top 100 newcomers rankings has to play two more college seasons before he can go pro but is already viewed as a sure-fire first-rounder. Downs was extremely impressive as a true freshman starter for the Crimson Tide with his team-high 107 tackles, and his presence as a 6-foot, 205-pound playmaker in Jim Knowles' defense only raises the Buckeyes' title-or-bust expectation.

Second team: Keon Sabb, Alabama (via Michigan)

S: Andrew Mukuba, Texas (via Clemson)

After starting 31 games over three seasons at Clemson and earning Freshman All-America honors in 2021, the Austin native opted to transfer home for his senior year and chase a national championship with the Longhorns. Mukuba has produced 129 career tackles, 13 pass breakups and one interception and brings an important veteran presence to a Texas secondary with a ton of young blue-chip talent.

Second team: Jordan Riley, Kansas State (via Ball State)

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK: Graham Nicholson, Alabama (via Miami-Ohio)

The kicker that Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin claims Alabama "illegally recruited" and "stole" off his roster is a pretty darn good one. Nicholson won the Lou Groza Award last season as the nation's top place-kicker after converting 27 of his 28 field goal attempts, with 10 makes from 40-plus yards including a career-best 52-yarder. Alabama needed a replacement for four-year starter and NCAA career points leader Will Reichard and couldn't have found a better one.

Second team: Mitch Jeter, Notre Dame (via South Carolina)

P: Bryce McFerson, Maryland (via Notre Dame)

McFerson took over as Notre Dame's punter as a redshirt freshman last season and averaged 45.05 yards per punt, which would've ranked among the top 20 nationally if he had enough attempts to qualify. He's been a solid pickup to replace Colton Spangler, the Terps' punter for the past five years.

Second team: Jack Burgess, Texas Tech (via Weber State)

Returner: LaJohntay Wester, Colorado (via FAU)

Wester earned AAC Special Teams Player of the Year last season after averaging 19.9 yards per punt return (second-best in FBS), with seven returns of 20 or more yards and a 67-yard touchdown against USF. The 5-foot-11, 167-pound speedster also led the AAC in receiving and will be a go-to target in the slot for Shedeur Sanders and the Buffs.

Second team: Chris Tyree, Virginia (via Notre Dame)