10 players from college football’s transfer portal that will have biggest impact in 2025

Quarterback, offensive tackle, edge rusher — these are the positions that Power Four programs are willing to pay top dollar to acquire in the transfer portal.

A list of this season’s most important transfers is dotted with these three position groups, beginning with Oregon left tackle Isaiah World, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer and Missouri edge rusher Damon Wilson II.

Spring football provides the first glimpse at these high-profile newcomers in their new colors. Based on these past few years and how the portal has come to define roster management in the Bowl Subdivision, transfers will compete for All-America status, contend for the Heisman Trophy and shape the 2025 season.

World, Mateer and Wilson top our list of the transfers set for the biggest impact this season:

1. OT Isaiah World, Oregon (Nevada)

The 6-foot-8, 300-pound senior is an upper-level NFL prospect at a premium position. Across three seasons at Nevada, World developed into an elite pass protector who should flourish in Oregon’s explosively physical scheme. The Ducks added another top transfer to the offensive line in former Southern California left guard Emmanuel Pregnon, a second-team all-conference pick who started his college career at Wyoming.

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2. QB John Mateer, Oklahoma (Washington State)

No single transfer may have a bigger impact on the College Football Playoff race — if you believe in Oklahoma’s defense. Mateer could transform the Sooners’ middling offense along with his former coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who was hired in early December, and turn the Sooners into a legitimate contender in the SEC. Last season, the junior threw for 3,139 yards, ran for 826 yards on 4.6 yards per carry and had 44 combined scores.

3. EDGE Damon Wilson II, Missouri (Georgia)

Wilson saw his role expand last season, his second with the Bulldogs, and the former five-star recruit flashed his deep potential with 22 tackles, six for loss, along with three sacks and a pair of forced fumbles and recoveries. The junior chose Missouri over Ohio State and will slot right into a starting job opposite returning starter Zion Young.

4. DB Dillon Thieneman, Oregon (Purdue)

Buried amid Purdue’s miserable run at the bottom of the Big Ten, Thieneman has played at an All-America level as one of the league’s top defensive backs. The junior had six interceptions as a freshman in 2023 and led the Boilermakers in tackles in each of his two seasons with the program. With two more years of eligibility, Thieneman is expected to solidify the back end of the Ducks’ defense thanks to his ability to play in the box and defend in space.

5. EDGE Patrick Payton, LSU (Florida State)

Payton is a safe and steady addition at edge rusher after putting up solid numbers across three years with the Seminoles, including a team-high 11 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2024. The senior will have more one-on-one opportunities given the talent on the Tigers’ defensive front, including the return of edge rusher Harold Perkins from an ACL tear.

6. WR Eric Singleton Jr., Auburn (Georgia Tech)

Singleton is one transfer capable of transforming Auburn’s offense, along with former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold. Georgia Tech’s leading receiver in each of the past two seasons, Singleton will join sophomore Cam Coleman to give the Tigers a very strong one-two punch to spark the passing game.

7. QB Carson Beck, Miami (Georgia)

Beck is still working his way back from the elbow injury suffered against Texas in last year’s SEC championship game and may not begin full team activities until the summer. Should he make a full recovery, the senior will step into Cam Ward’s shoes and make Miami one of the favorites in the ACC. But even then, Beck will need to button up the turnovers that came to define his final year in Athens.

8. OT Howard Sampson, Texas Tech (North Carolina)

Sampson is a bit of a developmental prospect after starting just one season at UNC, though his arc in 2024 speaks to the junior’s immense potential. With both tackle spots available, look for Sampson to compete with Miami (Ohio) transfer Will Jados at left tackle, with the loser potentially shifting to the right side. Jados was a three-year starter in the MAC and one of the most experienced offensive linemen in the FBS.

9. WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia (Southern California)

Branch will definitely help the Bulldogs at receiver after pulling down 47 grabs for 503 yards in 2024. He’s part of a major offseason influx of talent at the position, including Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas and four touted incoming freshmen. But where Branch could make his biggest impact is in the return game. The junior was an All-America pick in 2023 after averaging 22.1 yards per punt return with two combined return touchdowns. Last year, the Bulldogs ranked 67th in punt returns and 124th in kickoff returns.

10. WR Dane Key, Nebraska (Kentucky)

Key is a reliable, high-value target who put up strong numbers across three seasons in the SEC despite Kentucky’s often middling quarterback play and will help Nebraska sophomore Dylan Raiola develop into one of the top passers in the Big Ten. He had 47 catches for 715 yards as a junior, accounting for more than a quarter of the Wildcats’ total receptions and nearly a third of the team’s total receiving yardage. Playing with the Cornhuskers reunites Key with former Kentucky receivers coach Dakiel Shorts.

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