Following headliner decisions from former TCU wideout Jordan Hudson (SMU) and ex-Michigan State playmaker Keon Coleman (Florida State), the number of difference-makers available in college football’s transfer portal dwindles. The slew of wide receiver commitments followed a string of decisions from running backs earlier this month, leaving much of the top transfers finalized.
There are potential hidden gems elsewhere, but the pickings are slim for teams in need of plug-and-play starters at key positions. Only nine of the top 500 players according to the 247Sports transfer portal individual rankings are uncommitted approaching the summer.
Those still undecided face an uphill climb to find a spot on respective two-deeps given the spring practice head start at programs figuring out what their lineups are going to look like this fall.
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Here is a glance at college football’s 10 best available players in the transfer portal as of Monday morning.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 112
Franklin is the best player available after the four standouts ahead of him all committed in the last week to major programs. UTSA’s top pass-catcher from the 2022 season, Franklin finished with 93 receptions for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns last year, setting him up to be a sought-after talent for teams looking to add an explosive and experienced pass catcher. He was an All-Conference USA selection this past year for his efforts. The 2022 season was Franklin’s second 1,000-yard campaign at UTSA, as he previously had 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns during the program’s run to its first of back-to-back Conference USA titles in 2021. Franklin enters the portal with well over 3,000 yards total in his time with the Roadrunners program.
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Transfer portal player ranking: No. 114
Traore plans to play wide receiver next season and did not want to stay at the tight end spot at Colorado. One of the best receiving tight ends in college football last year for Arkansas State, Traore caught 50 passes for 655 yards and four touchdowns on the way to first-team all-conference honors. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound London native posted an 89.6 PFF receiving grade last season, which ranked fourth among tight ends and seventh among all FBS pass catchers.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 147
White started every game at left guard for Florida and looked to be a huge transfer addition for USC. But White, who graduates at the end of the spring semester, never made it to Los Angeles. Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley said an injury might prevent White from playing football in the future. His status, right now, is unknown for the 2023 season.
“Unfortunately, there’s an injury there that to the best of my knowledge right now, I think the plan is to reevaluate if he’s gonna play football further,” Riley said in April.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 187
Cincinnati trends for one of the most underrated players still available in the portal. Henderson led Florida with 38 receptions last season, but most of his targets were at or near the line of scrimmage from Florida’s “X” position. Prior to his entry into the portal, Henderson was having a terrific spring with several big-time plays during scrimmages, according to Gators coach Billy Napier. Whether that was “coach speak” to keep him in the fold at a competitive position or on the mark, it’s clear the Gators could have used Henderson to pair with Ricky Pearsall, among others. Henderson’s excellent speed is a welcomed addition to an offense lacking a burner in its wideout room.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 331 overall
Robinson appeared in the portal multiple times during his Auburn career, but this time appears to be his final departure from the Plains. Robinson entered in December and his recruitment has been quiet. Robinson, one of the highest-rated players in Auburn’s 2021 signing class, entered the portal last January before withdrawing his name three months later. He missed all of spring practice in 2022 as a result. Robinson appeared in only two games this season, registering just two tackles.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 420
This redshirt freshman from Indiana and former four-star recruit did not record any stats as a true freshman during the 2022 Indiana season. Mullen entered the transfer portal during April’s two-week window. He won special teams scout team player of the week against Western Kentucky, and co-defensive scout team player of the week against Rutgers.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 423
Per Chris Hummer, Wright originally departed Purdue’s program last spring after reportedly being ruled academically ineligible. In 2021, Wright’s most recent season, the former 4-star recruit was Purdue’s second-leading receiver under former coach Jeff Brohm, making 57 receptions for 732 yards and seven touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder is a big target who played immediately for Purdue in 2019 as a true freshman and was a contributor during each of his three seasons on the field. Wright came to Purdue out of Christian Academy of Louisville (Ky.) in the 2019 class, choosing the Boilermakers and Brohm over offers from Alabama, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, South Carolina and others.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 109
The top running back available after a slew of recent commitments at the position, the former Jackson State running back drew considerable interest since entering the portal in April. A 2022 transfer to Jackson State via Delaware State, Wilkerson had a breakout season for the Tigers with 1,167 yards and 9 touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry. He also forced 59 missed tackles (15th-most in the FCS) and averaged a healthy 3.51 yards after contact. Per Hummer, Wilkerson’s been in regular contact with nearly a dozen other schools: Missouri, Louisville, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Cincinnati, California, Marshall, Virginia Tech, Texas State, BYU and Northern Illinois.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 497
One of more than three dozen Colorado players to enter the portal at the conclusion of spring practice, Beasley transferred to the Buffaloes from Jackson State after the 2022 season. The California native played in nine games for Jackson State last season, making eight tackles with one interception. Chances are high that Beasley likely ends up at a Group of Five program, or at least somewhere where the likelihood of cracking the two deep is high.
Transfer portal player ranking: No. 532
The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman left during the spring after playing in one game as a freshman during Georgia’s 2022 national championship season, recording a solo tackle against Samford. A former three-star prospect out of New Orleans Warren Easton, Shone Washington announced his commitment to Georgia in late Nov. 2021. A former LSU commitment, Washington chose the Bulldogs over Florida and a host of other programs.