Top 5 Defensive Transfers to Watch This Season

Recently, college football has seen a number of elite defenders make an impact through the transfer portal. Defensive end Laiatu Latu moved from Washington to UCLA before being named a unanimous All-American at the end of the 2023 season. Similarly, former Florida State edge defender Jared Verse began his collegiate career at the University of Albany before warranting a first-round selection from the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 NFL Draft. When thousands of athletes put their names in the portal, programs began to search for guys who could have a similar impact. The five listed below have the chance to put forth enormous breakout seasons, ones that far outpace any projection for them.

5. S Marcus Neal, Penn State

It has become commonplace for players to follow their head coaches to new schools, which is exactly what Neal was doing in the transfer portal. Former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell recruited Neal to Ames and managed to entice him to follow once more to Penn State.

This time, following his head coach makes sense in more ways than one. Both starting safeties from the Nittany Lions' 2025 team are no longer on the roster, with Zakee Wheatley in the NFL and King Mack taking his talent to NC State. Neal will have every snap he can handle, which should result in eye-popping numbers when considering Penn State's incoming defensive scheme.

Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn is nearly as important an addition as Campbell. Formerly of UCLA and USC, Lynn has always placed a premium on the playmaking ability of his safeties. Last season with the Trojans, Lynn gave safety Kamari Ramsey play-calling responsibilities, demonstrating the value he places on having an intelligent defender in the back end. During his time at Iowa State, Neal consistently displayed excellent play recognition, communication skills, and the athleticism to capitalize on his cerebral advantages, making him an ideal pairing with his new defensive coordinator.

Neal's fit in College Station combines just about everything a transfer player could want: a fantastic pairing with both of his coaches, plenty of playing time, and a scheme that will allow him to put it all together. Add in the fact that Penn State has a legitimate shot of making the College Football Playoff, and Neal's opportunity becomes a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make himself a household name.

4. CB Rickey Gibson, Texas A&M

Cornerback is typically one of the most difficult positions to evaluate in the transfer portal, and Gibson's 2025 injury does not make things any easier. Despite both factors, there are ample reasons to be confident in Gibson's abilities as he prepares for his first season in maroon.

The Aggies' defense is known as one of the most aggressive in the nation, largely thanks to head coach Mike Elko. He consistently finds creative ways to heat up opposing passers, forcing numerous hurried decisions and bone-headed throws. However, with all of that creative pressure up front comes plenty of one-on-one on the back end of the coverage.

In short, it is a match made in heaven for Gibson. Standing at 6-foot-even with a wingspan four inches longer than his height, the corner is built for man coverage, particularly in situations where he is able to be physical with opposing receivers. The Aggies' defensive scheme should give him plenty of opportunities to do so. Additionally, there will be plenty of balls thrown up for grabs because of the endless pressure from Texas A&M's front, increasing the chances that Gibson is able to force turnovers. This is a massive opportunity for the senior, one he seems likely to convert into high NFL draft standing.

3. DE John Henry Daley, Michigan

Like Neal, Daley is following his former head coach to a new program. Kyle Whittingham moved from Utah to Michigan and brought one of his best defensive players along with him. While carrying a small frame for a defensive end, Daley has shown a consistent burst off the edge to pair with what seems to be a never-ending motor, making him a threat to opposing offenses for 60 minutes. Individually, Daley is a handful for whatever offensive lineman is unlucky enough to line up across from him.

Playing at Michigan should allow Daley plenty of opportunities to work in one-on-one situations. Fellow starting edge Cameron Brandt presents a potent threat of his own, while a couple of stellar interior defenders in Trey Pierce and Enow Etta should attract their fair share of attention. Opposing offenses will not have a choice but to handle Daley individually on a fair share of snaps.

It also helps that the coverage unit behind Daley should give opposing quarterbacks fits. Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry are both returning as Wolverines, while Smith Snowden also transfers in from Utah. The trio has the chance to be one of the best cornerback groups in all of college football, which should benefit every defensive lineman, but especially one with the pass-rushing chops that Daley brings to the table.

Transferring in as a member of Ann Arbor's defense is no easy task, but Daley should be one of the few to pull it off successfully. Do not be surprised if he plays his way into draft contention as a priority middle-round pick when next April rolls around.

2. DL Mateen Ibirogba, Texas Tech

Texas Tech's 2025 defense is a tough act to follow. Edge defender David Bailey anchored a historically good unit from his edge position before being selected second overall by the New York Jets. The player tabbed for filling Bailey's shoes is Wake Forest transfer Mateen Ibirogba.

However, Ibirogba's potential for success does not have the same qualities as the other players on this list. The Red Raiders have nine starters departing from the defense, leaving head coach Joey McGuire with quite a conundrum on his hands. In an attempt to solve that, he went all-in on rebuilding the defensive line, adding Trey White and Adam Trick to pair with Ibirogba. The rest of the defense is somewhat behind in terms of quality, leaving Ibirogba to lead the best position group on the roster.

That is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when it comes to earning a high profile. Ibirogba will benefit from playing on a loaded line, allowing him plenty of one-on-one matchups just like Daley. As Ibirogba destroys those matchups throughout the year, his position as a leader of one of the better defenses in college football should boost his profile immensely as he prepares for the NFL Draft. A lineman-friendly scheme will also provide another tool for success for Ibirogba, helping him to catapult himself into first-round contention in 2027.

1. LB Qua Russaw, Ohio State

Closing out this list is former Alabama linebacker Qua Russaw. The former four-star recruit was buried on a loaded Crimson Tide depth chart, prompting his move to an Ohio State roster that is nearly as talented, just at different positions. What makes Russaw such an intriguing addition is his versatility. He has the ability to play off the edge and in space, with a combination of skills that brings former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons to mind.

It is unlikely that defensive coordinator Matt Patricia passes on the opportunity to use Russaw to the fullest extent of his skills. That means he will have the opportunity to play in coverage, demonstrate his ability to track and tackle in space, and rush the passer in the same season. It also makes it likely that Russaw always has a spot on the field, increasing his playing time to give him the most possible opportunity to make an impact. Also worth considering is the fact that Patricia was one of the most creative coordinators in college football last season. He consistently found ways to put his players in the right place at the right time, maximizing their skills every time.

The schedule is also playing in the young linebacker's favor. Naturally, Ohio State has a number of massive games on the docket, including matchups with Texas, Oregon, USC, Illinois, and, of course, Michigan. With nearly half of the Buckeyes' games likely to appear on national television, Russaw will have opportunity after opportunity to make an impression on fans and professional coaches alike.

Russaw's situation is the perfect storm for success. Positional versatility nearly guarantees him playing time, especially with a creative play-caller dialing in his plays. Add in several chances to play in front of the entire nation, and the recipe for a monstrous season is complete.

New Places, New Opportunities

A player must weigh a variety of factors to find the right fit in the transfer portal. Neal and Daley both followed their head coaches, nearly guaranteeing their ability to fit with their new team while carving out significant roles for themselves. Meanwhile, Gibson and Russaw both rolled the dice to a certain degree, putting themselves on talented rosters that should allow them capitalize on the strength of their teams, just like Ibirogba at Texas Tech. There are plenty of players with chances to break out, but these five stand out as the biggest candidates.