Hundreds of players have officially entered the transfer portal since college football’s spring window opened on Wednesday, with none more scrutinized than former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The rising third-year sophomore may end up as one of the cautionary tales of the early NIL era after his efforts to secure an updated contract with the Volunteers by sitting out of team activities resulted in Tennessee and coach Josh Heupel quickly moving on from last year’s starter.
“There’s no one that’s bigger” than the program, Heupel said.
Iamaleava is now on the open market as the top prospect currently available in the portal. The Volunteers will focus the search for his replacement on two internal candidates but will almost certainly end up adding a transfer themselves, potentially an established Power Four starter.
Let’s break down the top players available in this spring window, which remains open through April 25:
QB Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee)
Iamaleava’s appeal is obvious. He has the experience of starting in the SEC after leading the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman. He has the size, athleticism and arm strength to develop into one of the top passers in the Bowl Subdivision. It’s extremely rare for a quarterback of his caliber to be on the market, period, especially at this time of year. The scrutiny over his departure from Tennessee will eventually fade into the background, replaced by two more pressing concerns. One, Iamaleava put up the bulk of his production against the weakest teams on last year’s schedule and averaged only 5.1 yards per attempt against ranked competition. And two, his next program will have measurably less talent than the one he left behind, putting even more pressure on him to quickly deliver on his obvious potential.
EDGE Beau Atkinson (North Carolina)
Atkinson is only tapping into his own potential after pulling down a team-high 7½ sacks for the Tar Heels in 2024. He still needs to develop into more of a three-down lineman after being used largely in situational duty for North Carolina. But edge rushers are at a premium, so look for the junior to draw significant interest from some of the top programs in the Power Four. That Atkinson has two more years of eligibility increases his appeal.
OT Joe Cotton (South Dakota)
Offensive tackles are valuable commodities, too. Cotton turned into an all-conference pick in his two seasons at South Dakota and has the frame to compete in the Power Four from a physical perspective. The transition from the Champion Subdivision is intense, however, and Cotton may need time to acclimate himself to the higher level of competition. But there are few in the Bowl Subdivision without a need for additional bodies on the outside of the offensive line.
EDGE Elo Modozie (Army)
Modozie might be the most intriguing defender in the portal after earning all-conference honors for one of last season’s top defenses as a sophomore. He totaled 34 tackles and 6½ sacks for the Black Knights, who finished the year ranked fourth nationally in scoring. Modozie has the burst to be an effective pass rusher and the coverage skills to slide into the starting lineup in the Power Four.
WR Trebor Pena (Syracuse)
Pena is the top receiver in the portal after pulling down 84 catches for 941 yards and a team-best nine scores for the Orange in 2024. While the sixth-year senior can also contribute in the return game, he’s most valuable as a move-the-chains security blanket: Pena earned a first down on 16 of his 21 third-down receptions. This would make him a welcome fit at nearly any Power Four stop. One obvious destination would be Miami, which could make Pena the replacement for Xavier Restrepo.
TE Tanner Koziol (Wisconsin)
Koziol is a double-dip transfer who played last season at Ball State and joined Wisconsin in the winter before leaving the program midway through spring drills. (Another key transfer, former Idaho receiver Mark Hamper, also left the Badgers after signing in December.) Koziol had 94 catches for 839 yards last season, earning all-conference honors for the third time, and has the size and ball skills to be extremely productive on the Power Four level.
CB Julian Neal (Stanford)
Like Koziol, Neal left Fresno State for Stanford in December but will transfer for a second time following former coach Troy Taylor’s dismissal last month. The 6-foot-2 senior had two interceptions for the Bulldogs last season in his first stretch of extended playing time. He probably ends up moving to safety or into the slot in the Power Four, which would play to Neal’s size and willingness to attack the football while offsetting any concerns over his ability to turn and run with receivers on the outside.
EDGE TJ Bush (Liberty)
A lack of prototypical size held Bush under the radar as a traditional recruit but didn’t prevent him from making a big impact across two years as a starter for the Flames. He earned second-team all-league honors in 2024 after leading Liberty with 9½ tackles for loss and 5½ sacks. Bush doesn’t translate as an every-down lineman in the Power Four but would have value as an impact rusher with an infectiously high motor.
DT De’Marion Thomas (Vanderbilt)
The 335-pound junior fits a specific need as a blocker-engulfing nose guard in a 3-4 base defense. That’s a role he filled admirably last season for the Commodores, starting every game for one of the biggest success stories in the Power Four. While his style of play might put a cap on the number of interested programs, Thomas will have his share of suitors searching for size and experience on the interior of the defensive front.
WR Micah Hudson (Texas A&M)
The former five-star recruit had 123 receiving yards as a freshman at Texas Tech before transferring to Texas A&M in the winter. Back in the portal months later, Hudson’s recruiting profile alone should make him an attractive option for programs looking for immediate depth. But teams will also have to see Hudson as a bit of a developmental prospect given the questions over his ability to create separation on the Power Four level.
