Who are the best FCS and Division II transfers heading to the Power 4 ranks?

Every year in college football, there’s a collection of transfers from the lower levels of the sport who make an impact on the Power 4 stage.

Last season, the group was headlined by Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who rose from relative obscurity at Division II Ferris State to lead the Rebels to within a win of the national championship game. In all, 50 players made the jump from the lower divisions and became starters (six games or more) at the Power 4 level, including 16 receivers, eight safeties, eight offensive linemen and six defensive linemen.

There might not be anyone quite like Chambliss in 2026, but there will no doubt be some significant contributors among the more than 180 transfers from the FCS, Division II and Division III ranks who signed with Power 4 programs during the winter portal window.

Here’s our list of the best of the best. (And for some fun, check out last year’s list.)

1. Jaden Craig, QB, Harvard → TCU

Craig, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound graduate transfer and two-time Walter Payton Award finalist, is taking over for three-year starter Josh Hoover. Considered a potential Day 3 pick had he entered the NFL Draft, Craig became Harvard’s all‑time leader in passing yards (6,074 yards) and touchdown passes (52) while leading the Crimson to a 19-5 record as a starter. He’s completed 60.9 percent of his pass attempts, with only 12 interceptions and three fumbles lost.

TCU got their QB in Jaden Craig 🐸 pic.twitter.com/zMM2b8Cvei

— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) January 5, 2026

2. Malachi Henry, WR, Central Arkansas → Cincinnati

The 6-foot, 205-pound redshirt junior has been a standout since arriving on campus at Cincinnati, scoring multiple touchdowns in the team’s first scrimmage of the spring, according to reports. The Bearcats have to replace their top five receivers from last season. Over the last two years at Central Arkansas, Henry produced 110 catches and 15 touchdowns, including 69 receptions for 889 yards and 10 scores in 2025 to earn first‑team All‑United Athletic Conference honors.

3. Keyshawn Johnson, edge, UT Martin → Syracuse

The 6-3, 230-pound senior began his career at Grambling before becoming an FCS first-team All-American last season at UT Martin. Johnson was the Ohio Valley Conference-Big South Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 after recording a school-record 13.5 sacks. Over two years, he totaled 77 tackles, 24 TFLs and 17 sacks. Syracuse has to replace five of the top six players on its defensive line, and the opportunity is there for Johnson to make a big impact.

4. Beau Johnson, OT, North Dakota State → Vanderbilt

Johnson, a 6-6, 305-pound junior, is expected to be the Commodores’ starting quick tackle this fall. The 2025 second-team FCS All-American said he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Bryce Henderson, one of the leaders on Vanderbilt’s offensive line a year ago and a transfer from South Dakota.

5. Cedric Jefferson, OT, Montana State → Utah

The Utes have to replace all five starters on their offensive line, including potential first-round picks Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano at tackle. Jefferson, a 6-5, 300-pound junior, started all 16 games for the FCS national champions at right tackle and is expected to fill one of those tackle slots. Five-star freshman signee Kelvin Obot will likely fill the other.

6. Jared Richardson, WR, Penn → Duke

Three FCS transfers became full-time starters for the ACC champions last season, including receiver Cooper Barkate, a former Ivy League star who earned second-team All-ACC honors and is now at Miami. Richardson was a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection who led the league with 80 catches for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025.

Head Coach Scott Frost on the defensive side of the practice fields. Coaching up safeties as you can see, giving word of advice to Harvard transfer Ty Bartrum (r-Sr.). @SonsofUCF #UCFFootball pic.twitter.com/L3iQeHKzvr

— Nick Williams (@NickWilliamsUCF) April 3, 2026

7. Ty Bartrum, S, Harvard → UCF

The 6-1, 205-pound senior was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award last season — the FCS defensive player of the year award — and is a back-to-back first-team All-Ivy League selection. UCF brings back four starters in its secondary, but the buzz out of Orlando is that Bartrum is the favorite to be a starter at safety alongside Demari Henderson.

8. Caden Crawford, edge, South Dakota → Iowa State

New Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers is bringing in 13 transfers who played at the FCS level or lower. Crawford, a 6-4, 265-pound redshirt senior, is arguably one of the best of the Cyclones’ 47 total transfers. Defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit said Crawford, who started his career at Iowa, has “been what we would hope for” in camp. Last year at South Dakota, he started 15 games and earned second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors with 78 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and five sacks.

9. Netinho Olivieri, OT, Penn → Pittsburgh

The 6-4, 305-pound fifth-year senior has been running with the first team at left tackle in the spring for the Panthers, who ranked last in the ACC in sacks allowed per game last season (3.39). Olivieri started 28 games in his career at Penn and earned first-team All-Ivy League honors each of the last two seasons. He allowed only two sacks and nine pressures combined in 2024 and 2025, according to Pro Football Focus.

10. Shane Carr, WR, Southern Utah → Kentucky

New coach Will Stein has promised to inject some excitement into the Kentucky offense. Quarterback Kenny Minchey has apparently been building strong chemistry with Carr, a 6-2, 185-pound junior who had 81 catches for 1,371 yards and 10 touchdowns over two FCS seasons. Stein said Carr has “a huge catch radius.” He’s the most experienced college receiver on the roster, with 20 career starts and 1,285 snaps.

11. Josh Derry, WR, Monmouth → UCF

UCF returns two veteran receivers in sophomore Waden Charles and senior Duane Thomas, as well as its top receiving tight end in Dylan Wade. But Derry, a 5-9, 182-pound senior and first-team FCS All-American in 2025, has a chance to be a big-time producer in coach Scott Frost’s offense. Derry had 1,123 receiving yards — including 579 after the catch, according to TruMedia — with 13 touchdowns on 76 catches last season.

12. DeSean Watts, DL, Sacramento State → Washington

Jedd Fisch brought in Watts and Ball State transfer Darin Conley to help plug holes on the run defense. Watts, a 6-foot, 313-pound junior, has been really tough to move in spring camp, according to reports out of Seattle. He earned first-team All-Big Sky honors last season, starting 11 games for the Hornets and totaling 36 tackles, including four for loss with two sacks.

13. Tony Diaz, WR, Texas-Rio Grande Valley → Iowa

Diaz, a 5-11, 176-pound redshirt sophomore, caught 67 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns last season for the Vaqueros. He is expected to contend with Furman transfer Evan James and returning juniors Dayton Howard and Reece Vander Zee to be the top receiving option for the Hawkeyes in 2026.

14. Racin Delgatty, C, Cal Poly → Alabama

Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said at the start of spring practice that Delgatty has “taken the reins quickly” at center for the Crimson Tide, who are replacing four starters on the offensive line. Delgatty, a 6-3, 301-pound redshirt junior, is the second-most experienced offensive lineman on the roster, with 20 career starts and 1,316 career snaps. Only Jayvin James, a transfer from Mississippi State with 21 career starts and 1,369 career snaps, has played more in college.

15. Reed Swanson, WR, Colgate → Boston College

Eagles coach Bill O’Brien has been trying to keep Swanson, a 6-6, 205-pound redshirt junior, a secret in spring camp. He caught 57 passes for 939 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and the BC offense is desperate to find some new offensive stars after losing receiver Reed Harris (Arizona State) and running back Turbo Richard (Indiana) in the portal.

16. Peyton Seelmann, LB, Richmond → North Carolina

A large void opened in the Tar Heels defense when leading tackler Khmori House transferred to Arkansas this winter. Seelman, a 6-1, 225-pound junior, tied for seventh last season among FCS linebackers with 120 tackles. He also had 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. Seelman and Syracuse transfer Derek McDonald are the only linebackers on the UNC roster with collegiate starting experience.

Minnesota-Duluth TE Luke Dehnicke(@LDehnicke) has been a nightmare for defenses all season.

He finished with 61 catches for 1,119 yards and 14 TD’s — one of the top TEs in D2 football. Here is a season-long cutup⬇️#D2Football #EarnIt #BulldogCountry pic.twitter.com/WA7oxljyCG

— Bryan (@RealBGauvin23) November 24, 2025

17. Ja’Quavion Smith, LB, Howard → Arkansas

New Razorbacks coach Ryan Silverfield singled out Smith, a 6-1, 227-pound junior, after the team’s first spring scrimmage for playing with an edge. Smith and returning junior Bradley Shaw are competing to start alongside North Carolina transfer Khmori House on the new-look Arkansas defense, which is employing an odd-man hybrid front.

18. Luke Dehnicke, TE, Minnesota-Duluth → Northwestern

There’s a lot of excitement over what the 6-6, 230-pound redshirt sophomore could become in the Wildcats offense. He is coming off a monster 2025 season in which he was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Newcomer of the Year after amassing 1,119 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 61 catches at the Division II level.

19. Mason McKenzie, QB, Saginaw Valley State → Boston College

O’Brien still has to decide on a starting quarterback between McKenzie and Arkansas transfer Grayson Wilson. McKenzie, a 6-1, 180-pound redshirt junior, is by far the more experienced option. He threw for 4,301 yards, 31 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 25 games over the last three seasons and is a dynamic run threat with 1,673 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns at the Division II level.

20. Joshua Dye, RB, Southern Utah → Ole Miss

Dye, a 5-11, 205-pound redshirt junior, led the FCS in the regular season with 1,831 yards and 28 touchdowns on 295 carries in 12 games. That’s a nice insurance policy in case something happens to starter Kewan Lacy, who ranked third in the FBS with 1,567 yards in 2025.