The 2024-25 transfer portal cycle is officially underway and could be more chaotic than ever before, with thousands of FBS scholarship players expected to enter the portal in December.

As college football moves into the revenue-sharing era in 2025, we could see more big-name players than usual make themselves available during the winter transfer window from Dec. 9 to Dec. 28. Teams with College Football Playoff ambitions are preparing to spend big for next season.

Who are the top players you need to know? In an effort to keep track of the most coveted players on the move, ESPN is ranking the best available players in the transfer portal. The following players have entered the portal or have announced their intentions to transfer and should be among the most highly recruited players on the market. We’re also adding scouting reports from ESPN analysts Tom Luginbill and Billy Tucker.

Transfers are ranked based on their production, experience, potential and demand, as well as feedback from coaches throughout the sport. This is a fluid list we’ll update frequently as more players enter the portal and make commitments.

More portal coverage:
Ranking the top transfer QBs (ESPN+)
Live updates on who’s entering the portal

1. Darian Mensah, QB

Transferring from:Tulane
Seasons remaining: 3

HT: 6-3 | WT: 200 | Class: Redshirt freshman

Background: Mensah was a completely under-the-radar two-star recruit out of San Luis Obispo, California, when the Green Wave found him and extended his first scholarship offer. He was their scout team QB last year and was expected to be their third-string option this fall. But the redshirt freshman earned the starting job and proved he’s one of the best young QBs in the country in 2024.

Mensah threw for 2,723 yards with 23 total touchdowns and six interceptions in his first season as a starter, leading Tulane to a nine-win season and a trip to the American Athletic title game in coach Jon Sumrall’s debut season. His 76.5 QBR ranks fourth among Group of 5 starters and 20th in the FBS, and he led all AAC starters in yards per attempt (9.5) and completion percentage (66%). Opposing coaches see elite arm talent and exciting upside. Tulane fought hard to keep Mensah, but he’ll have several Power 4 contenders battling for his services.

Scout’s take: Mensah reminds us of former Cincinnati passer Desmond Ridder. Mensah is poised, composed and extremely accurate. He has good — not elite — arm strength, and his ball placement and ability to change speeds to suit the throw is impressive. He’s a good runner as well. — Luginbill

2. Eric Singleton Jr., WR

Transferring from:Georgia Tech
Seasons remaining: 2

HT: 5-11 | WT: 190 | Class: Sophomore

Background: Singleton was an instant difference-maker for Georgia Tech’s offense when he arrived, earning Freshman All-America honors in 2023 and finishing second for the ACC’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honor.

The three-star signee from Douglasville, Georgia, caught 104 passes for 1,468 yards and scored 10 offensive touchdowns over the past two seasons. Singleton also ran track for the Yellow Jackets with a PR of 10.32 in the 100-meter dash this spring.

He has the talent to become an early-round draft pick and will be one of the most coveted players in the portal.

3. Dillon Thieneman, S

Transferring from:Purdue
Seasons remaining: 2

HT: 6-0 | WT: 207 | Class: Sophomore

Background: One of the best young safeties in college football is now on the market following Purdue’s coaching change. Thieneman, a three-star recruit from Westfield, Indiana, became a Day 1 starter for the Boilermakers in 2023 and had a phenomenal debut season, earning Freshman of the Year honors from the Big Ten and the FWAA after recording 106 tackles and six interceptions. He was Purdue’s leading tackler again this season with 104 stops and seven pass breakups while also handling punt return duties.

Scout’s take: See ball, hit ball — it’s hard not to love Thieneman’s old-school playing style. An excellent tackler, he’s constantly around the ball making plays against the run, pass and on special teams. His size and speed won’t wow you on paper, but he plays bigger and has excellent pursuit speed with tight angles and little wasted motion. Thieneman excels in zone coverage, understands concepts and has great timing on his break. — Tucker

4. Kevin Concepcion, WR

Transferring from:NC State
Seasons remaining: 2

HT: 5-11 | WT: 189 | Class: Sophomore

Background: Concepcion earned ACC Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-America honors in 2023 after catching a team-high 71 passes — the most by a freshman in school history — and putting up 839 receiving yards and 320 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. He followed that up with 53 catches for 460 yards and six TDs this season.

He’ll have plenty of strong options in what should be a loaded portal wide receiver class.

Scout’s take: Concepcion’s production dipped as a sophomore with fewer targets and inconsistent QB play. He’s still a great route runner and an elusive threat with the ball in his hands. He’s quick to snatch passes and transition up the seam for big chunk plays. He’s difficult to mirror in off-coverage. Concepcion has the versatile skill set to create mismatches and all-purpose yards from different alignments. — Tucker

5. Jehiem Oatis, DT

Transferring from:Alabama
Seasons remaining: 2

HT: 6-5 | WT: 320 | Class: Junior

Background: The massive defensive lineman was the No. 38 recruit in the 2022 ESPN 300 and started 13 games over his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide. Offseason surgeries for shoulder, knee and ankle issues forced him to miss spring practice and limited him at the start of preseason camp, so he played a rotational role early on and averaged 17 snaps per game under Alabama’s new coaching staff.

Unsatisfied with his playing time, he opted to redshirt and sit out the rest of the season to enter the portal. Oatis had 52 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 1.5 sacks during his time in Tuscaloosa and certainly has the size and potential to be an NFL talent at his next stop.

Scout’s take: Oatis battled injuries during his time at Alabama but showed he could be a dominant force on the interior. He has massive size and powerful strength to take on the double-team and eat up space. He has good burst off the snap with low pad level to get an upfield push. Oatis is a strong bull rusher with powerful hands who will collapse the pocket versus the pass. — Tucker

6. Keeshawn Silver, DT

Transferring from:Kentucky
Seasons remaining: 1

HT: 6-4 | WT: 336 | Class: Redshirt junior

Background: Silver began his career at North Carolina and was a massive recruiting win for Mack Brown and the Tar Heels as the No. 8 recruit in the 2021 ESPN 300. He struggled to earn a significant role in Chapel Hill, playing a total of 29 snaps over two seasons, but he turned his career around at Kentucky.

The massive noseguard started 11 games this season and had 43 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack during his two seasons with the Wildcats. Interior defensive linemen of Silver’s caliber are hard to find in the portal, so he’ll have plenty of options.

7. Ethan Onianwa, OT

Transferring from:Rice
Seasons remaining: 1

HT: 6-6 | WT: 345 | Class: Redshirt junior

Background: Onianwa is one of the most experienced offensive tackles in the portal. The former three-star recruit from Katy, Texas, moved into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman for the Owls and developed into a three-year starter who logged more than 2,200 career snaps.

Onianwa made the switch from right tackle to left tackle as a junior and had his best season yet with one sack allowed. Oklahoma is a school to watch for Onianwa following its seasonlong struggles on the offensive line in 2024.

8. Dane Key, WR

Transferring from:Kentucky
Seasons remaining: 1

HT: 6-3 | WT: 210 | Class: Junior

Background: Key is one of the most accomplished wideouts on the market, a three-year starter who has 126 receptions for 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns during his career. The former ESPN 300 recruit and Lexington, Kentucky, native became a difference-maker right away as a true freshman in the SEC and departs as the fifth-leading receiver in school history.

Key produced a career-high 715 receiving yards in 2024 despite inconsistent quarterback play, including a 105-yard performance in Kentucky’s upset win over Ole Miss. He’ll have a chance to boost his draft stock if he can find a good fit for his final season of eligibility. His receivers coach at Kentucky, Daikiel Shorts Jr., just left to join Nebraska’s staff.

Scout’s take: Key has a big frame and great hands. He’s a polished route runner who understands coverage and how to create separation despite not being the fastest player on the field. His best asset is his ability to catch in traffic and come down with the contested ball away from his body. He wins with body control and a feel for the position more than explosive speed. Key is a good plug-and-play No. 1 or No. 2 receiver on Day 1 at his new school. — Tucker

9. Barion Brown, WR

Transferring from:Kentucky
Seasons remaining: 1

HT: 6-1 | WT: 182 | Class: Junior

Background: Brown established a reputation as one of the most electric playmakers in the SEC during his three seasons at Kentucky. The former ESPN 300 recruit from Nashville caught 122 passes for 1,528 yards with 13 total touchdowns, and he’s an All-America caliber talent in the return game.

Brown has 1,550 return yards during his career and leads all active FBS players with five kickoff returns for touchdowns. That proven all-purpose production will make him a serious asset for a contender next season.

Scout’s take: Brown has the complete package of size, speed and ball skills. A 10.49-second 100-meter sprinter out of high school, he used that speed in all-purpose fashion during his career at Kentucky. He has great acceleration to take the top off the defense or make big plays from scrimmage or as a returner. Brown was moved around a lot to create mismatches, and he excelled in one-on-one situations, consistently winning jump-ball matchups. — Tucker

10. Miller Moss, QB

Transferring from:USC
Seasons remaining: 1

HT: 6-2 | WT: 205 | Class: Redshirt junior

Background: Moss paid his dues over his first three years with the Trojans, including two seasons behind 2024 NFL draft first overall pick Caleb Williams, before earning his opportunity to start this season. Moss led the Big Ten in passing yards per game, throwing for 2,555 yards and completing 64% of his attempts with 20 total touchdowns, 9 interceptions and a 73.5 QBR that ranked 28th in the FBS. USC went 4-5 in his starts, with all five losses coming by one score, prompting coach Lincoln Riley to bench Moss and see what he had in UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava over the team’s final three games.

Given his limited game experience, Moss needs to find a spot where he can get 12 more starts under his belt and prove he’s an NFL passer. Louisville and Missouri are two of many schools pushing for visits.

Scout’s take: Moss is mature, seasoned and has played good football and showed flashes of being extremely productive. He has competed in his career and didn’t just bolt for the portal when Williams arrived. He can escape and keep plays alive and is solid on designed rollouts. He is an ideal spread passer, but he’s not the runner some would like him to be. — Luginbill

11. Jackson Arnold, QB

Transferring from:Oklahoma
Seasons remaining: 2

HT: 6-1 | WT: 210 | Class: Sophomore

Background: After backing up Dillon Gabriel as a freshman, the former five-star recruit was expected to have a breakout year in 2024. Arnold endured a frustrating season as the Sooners’ starter. He was benched during his SEC debut against Tennessee and sat out two games before regaining the job against South Carolina.

Arnold threw for 1,421 yards on 63% passing, rushed for 444 yards and scored 15 total TDs with eight turnovers and a 47.8 QBR in an Oklahoma offense that struggled along the offensive line (46 sacks allowed), lost its top five wide receivers to injuries and fired its OC at midseason. A fresh start is needed, and he’ll have plenty of options. Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are three schools to keep an eye on early in his recruitment.

Scout’s take: Arnold needs a fresh start. The vast majority of his play this fall was without the services of Oklahoma’s top five wide receivers. He’s talented, accurate and can really run, as we saw when he had 131 rushing yards against Alabama. Arnold should be widely coveted given his physical tools and pedigree. — Luginbill