College football’s spring transfer portal opened Wednesday, and the biggest news of the 10-day free agency window involved former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamalaeava expecting to land at UCLA.
In December, the Bruins signed former Appalachian State starter Joey Aguilar, who threw for 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions over the past two seasons. Aguilar could become the best QB available if he decides to re-enter the portal, but a source briefed on the player’s thinking insists Aguilar intends to stay at UCLA and compete for the starting job.
It’s not a great crop of recent portal additions at the QB position. The list includes Mike Wright (16 career starts at Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Northwestern), Gio Lopez (12 career starts at South Alabama), Brendan Sullivan (11 career starts at Northwestern and Iowa), Quentin Hayes (six career starts at Air Force) and Santino Marucci (five career starts at Wake Forest and New Mexico State).
Iamaleava and former Cal running back Jaydn Ott are among the top spring portal entrants who have already found a new home. Ott signed with Oklahoma on Tuesday night, less than 24 hours after he announced his departure from Cal. As a graduate transfer, he did not have to wait until the spring portal window opened on Wednesday.
Wednesday commitments
• North Carolina picked up a pledge from former Nebraska starting linebacker Mikai Gbayor, who spent the spring at Missouri. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder started 11 games and set career-highs with 49 tackles, including six for loss, as a junior in 2024. Gbayor has one season of eligibility left and will spend it under the tutelage of Bill Belichick.
• It’s been mostly bad news for Cal (see below), but the Bears added former Chattanooga edge rusher Chris Victor. A 6-4, 235-pound graduate transfer, Victor had 54 tackles, including 12 for loss and 4.5 sacks, in 12 starts at the FCS level last season.
• Former Clemson blue-chip cornerback Tavoy Feagin, who played nine snaps for the Tigers as a freshman in 2024, became the 24th transfer addition at Ole Miss. The Rebels have signed five defensive backs out of the portal since December.
HOTTT TODDY🦈 pic.twitter.com/1zQ9JGv2xQ
— Tavoy “Seatbelt” Feagin (@feagin_tavoy) April 16, 2025
Cal’s backfield attrition
There might not be a position group more decimated by the portal than the one Marshawn Lynch used to lead.
One day after Ott signed with Oklahoma, Cal’s 2024 leading rusher, Jaivian Thomas, entered the portal. Thomas, who scored a touchdown in the team’s spring showcase over the weekend, was the Bears’ fifth running back to exit this spring.
Cal isn’t just losing running backs. Tight end Jack Endries, a former walk-on turned two-year starter, is expected to visit Texas soon after entering the portal on Wednesday. Endries caught 91 passes for 1,030 yards and four touchdowns over the last two seasons and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Cal has lost a total of 20 players to the portal dating back to December.
Quality edge rushers
Several talented edge rushers entered the portal on Wednesday.
• Beau Atkinson, who led North Carolina with 12 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, should be in high demand. He has two years of eligibility left.
• Former Maryland edge Kellan Wyatt, a 28-game starter in three seasons with the Terrapins, entered his name into the portal Wednesday after telling reporters he would do so over the weekend. Wyatt led the Terrapins in tackles for loss in each of the last two seasons. He’s among the most experienced defensive players available.
• Former Army outside linebacker Elo Modozie started 14 games and earned third-team All-AAC honors after leading the team with 6.5 sacks. In December, the Cadets lost star running back Kanye Udoh, who ran for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns, to Arizona State.
Dynamic pass catcher available
Wisconsin suffered a blow when tight end Tanner Koziol entered the portal on Wednesday after spending only three months in Madison. Koziel starred at Ball State last season, catching 94 passes for 839 yards and eight touchdowns. He is one of the top pass catchers available.
FCS stars
We’ve seen Power 4 programs dip into the FCS level and find stars. Miami’s Cam Ward and Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo are the two most recent examples.
We shared a list in March of the top former FCS players who signed with P4 schools during the winter window. A few more will likely need to be added in the weeks ahead.
CharMar Brown, who won the Jerry Rice Award (top freshman at the FCS level) this past season at North Dakota State, entered his name into the portal on Wednesday. Brown ran for 1,181 yards and 15 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. He’s expected to receive plenty of P4 attention.
Another name to watch is former Missouri State linebacker Michael Teason, who had 51 tackles (seven for loss) en route to earning FCS Freshman All-America honors.
(Photo of Gio Lopez: Stephen Lew / Imagn Images)
