Top 25 FCS to FBS Transfer Portal Additions
Mark Pszonak
Cameron Ward FCS FBS Transfer Portal
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The transfer portal is always churning, but in the meantime, here are the top 25 players who jumped from the FCS level to FBS ahead of the 2022 season.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]
1. DE Jared Verse
Transfer Portal Move: Albany to Florida State
6-foot-4, 251 pounds
The skinny: The Seminoles won one of the more heated transfer portal recruiting battles of the cycle when they were able to reel in Verse. In 15 games with Albany, Verse finished with 74 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, 13.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Was named an FCS Freshman All-American after the 2021 fall season. Arriving in Tallahassee with a great deal of hype, he has not disappointed leading up to the 2022 season.
2. QB Cameron Ward
Transfer Portal Move: Incarnate Word to Washington State
The skinny: Ward was one of the more productive quarterbacks over the last two FCS seasons, finishing his time at Incarnate Word with 6,908 yards, 71 touchdowns, and only 14 interceptions. He was named the top freshman in the country after the spring 2021 season and was Second Team All-American after the fall season. There's a lot of buzz around Ward and his potential heading into 2022 for the Cougars.
3. OL Tre'Mond Shorts
Transfer Portal Move: East Tennessee State to LSU
The skinny: Shorts earned Freshman All-American honors in 2018 and then All-American honors after the 2021 season. He finished off his time with the Buccaneers by starting 40 consecutive games. Through the early parts of summer camp in Baton Rouge, Shorts seems to have already entrenched himself as the starter at left guard.
4. WR Antwane Wells
Transfer Portal Move: James Madison to South Carolina
The skinny: Wells earned Freshman All-American honors after the spring 2021 season when he had 33 receptions for 603 yards and six touchdowns. He then took his game to the next level during his All-American fall season with 83 receptions for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns. After arriving in Columbia in time for spring practice, Wells has impressed during his time in Columbia.
5. CB Jordan Perryman
Transfer Portal Move: UC-Davis to Washington
6-foot, 202 pounds
The skinny: Perryman proved himself to be one of the top cover corners in the FCS level during his time at UC-Davis while totaling 140 tackles, four interceptions, and 22 pass breakups. Possessing NFL size and skills, Perryman has already established himself as the top cover corner in the Huskies' secondary.
6. LB Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey
Transfer Portal Move: James Madison to Texas
5-foot-10, 214 pounds
The skinny: Tucker-Dorsey earned All-American honors after his final season with the Dukes when he totaled 116 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and four interceptions. Through the early part of summer camp, the linebacker play in Austin has been a pleasant surprise. This is partly due to Tucker-Dorsey, whose experience should be very valuable in 2022.
7. CB Omar Brown
Transfer Portal Move: Northern Iowa to Nebraska
The skinny: Brown played in 29 games at Northern Iowa and totaled 140 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and eight interceptions. He was the FCS Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2019. While he was initially recruited as a cornerback, he is now getting looks at safety during summer camp.
8. WR Tyler Hudson
Transfer Portal Move: Central Arkansas to Louisville
The skinny: Hudson made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2019 by grabbing 55 receptions for 975 yards and 12 touchdowns. Over his three seasons at Central Arkansas, he totaled 167 receptions for 3,062 yards and 27 touchdowns while earning multiple All-American honors. An expected starter with the Cardinals, look for a big season out of Hudson in 2022.
9. DL Kobie Turner
Transfer Portal Move: Richmond to Wake Forest
The skinny: In 37 career games with the Spiders, Turner totaled 158 tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 15 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles. He was named the Co-Defensive Conference Player of the Year after the 2021 spring season. Turner has already shown leadership during his time at Wake, while possessing a non-stop motor that will serve both him and the Deacons very well in 2022.
10. DE DJ Coleman
Transfer Portal Move: Jacksonville State to Missouri
The skinny: Coleman earned Third Team All-American honors in 2019, Second Team All-American honors in 2020, and then totaled 55 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks in the fall of 2021. With both starting defensive ends (Trajan Jeffcoat and Isaiah McGuire) back this season, Coleman may not receive an abundance of time immediately, but look for him to make a mark throughout the season.
11. OL J.D. DiRenzo
Transfer Portal Move: Sacred Heart to Rutgers
The skinny: DiRenzo started his career at right tackle, but then moved to left tackle prior to the 2019 season. After the move, he started his final 29 games and earned All-American honors after both the 2021 spring and fall seasons. Making the move from tackle to guard, look for DiRenzo to be an important part of the 2022 season in Piscataway.
12. S Darius Joiner
Transfer Portal Move: Western Illinois to Duke
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The skinny: Joiner transferred from Jacksonville State to Western Illinois last summer, where he earned FCS First Team All-American honors after totaling 142 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, and one sack. In Durham, Joiner will be expected to help immediately, as the Blue Devils secondary was one of the weak spots during the 2021 season.
13. S Chris Edmonds
Transfer Portal Move: Samford to Arizona State
The skinny: Edmonds was named a first-team All-American during the 2021 FCS spring season and then followed that up by totaling 40 tackles and three interceptions during the fall. Since his arrival in Tempe, Edmonds has been one of a handful of transfers who looks likely to make a big impression this fall. Likely a starter at safety, he has performed like a veteran.
14. OL Hunter Nourzad
Cornell to Penn State
The skinny: Nourzad started his last 20 games with Cornell at right tackle, including all 10 during a 2021 season when the Big Red offensive line only gave up nine sacks all season. He earned All-American honors after his final season in Ithaca. He is currently battling with Sal Wormley for the starting right guard spot.
15. DE George Tarlas
Transfer Portal Move: Weber State to Boise State
The skinny: Tarlas returned home to finish his collegiate career, as he played his high school football in Boise. During his time at Weber State, he totaled 121 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks, and seven forced fumbles. In search of a pass rusher in the portal, the Broncos will find ways to get Tarlas on the field.
16. OL Spencer Rolland
Transfer Portal Move: Harvard to North Carolina
The skinny: Rolland started 20 games while at Harvard. In 2021, he was named first-team All-Ivy League by the league after starting all ten games. The Tar Heels had to show patience until Rolland graduated from Harvard in May before they could get him on campus, but since his arrival, he has impressed. He is already battling for the starting right tackle position after a little more than a week of summer camp.
17. RB Ramon Jefferson
Transfer Portal Move: Sam Houston to Kentucky
The skinny: There is a question mark as to how much action Jefferson will see this season due to another question mark regarding Chris Rodriguez's playing status this fall. But even if Rodriguez is a full go to play in 2022, Jefferson is good enough to make his mark on the field in Lexington.
18. LB Colby Reeder
Transfer Portal Move: Delaware to Iowa State
The skinny: Reeder played in 35 games with the Blue Hens, totaling 173 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, four interceptions, and four fumble recoveries. It will be a tough order to replace Mike Rose, a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, but that is what will be expected from Reeder. While he battled through some injuries in Delaware, when healthy, he was extremely productive.