Top 5 Offensive Transfers to Watch This Season

As teams sift through thousands of players in college football's transfer portal, every single one is searching for a diamond in the rough. A guy who wasn't used properly at his last school, or maybe someone who simply did not get enough playing time to show off his abilities. In a pool that has every type of player one can imagine, there are bound to be a few who manage to utilize the transfer portal and break out in a big way. The five offensive players listed below are the best candidates to do so.

5. QB DJ Lagway, Baylor

It should not come as a surprise that the first name on this list is quarterback. Lagway, once hailed as the savior of Florida football, is set to make his presence felt at another southern school in Baylor, but not without a high cost. As a former five-star recruit and a two-year starter in the SEC, Lagway was bound to cost whatever school he went to a pretty penny: the AVI Index projects his total NIL valuation to sit at just over $8 million.

If Lagway is able to improve on Baylor's quarterback play from last year, he will be worth every penny that the Bears forked over for him. Last year's starter, Sawyer Robertson, led the Big 12 in completions, yards, and passing touchdowns, but failed to provide another dimension in the rushing game. Lagway's rushing capability promises to open doors for a ground attack that did not have a player surpass 800 rushing yards last season. The signal-caller's patented ability to stretch the field vertically is a perfect pair to his legs, ensuring that defenses cannot stack the box to stop him or his running backs.

Other incoming talent all along Baylor's offense makes Lagway's arrival even more exciting. Former Florida tight end Tony Livingston followed his quarterback to Waco, and head coach Dave Aranda also brought in wide receivers Gavin Freeman, Jayden McGowan, and Dre'lon Miller. Combined, those four players received an AVI valuation of over $2.4 million. While investment does not always equal results, it seems likely that Lagway and the Bears will be able to tear up notoriously porous Big 12 defenses. Baylor might not be a title contender, but with Lagway, they are liable to beat any given team on any given Saturday.

4. WR DeAndre Moore Jr., Colorado

It feels like centuries since Colorado head coach Deion Sanders had the college football world eating out of his hand. Now that the hype surrounding the Buffaloes has dissipated, they hardly get any headlines, but the addition of former Texas Longhorn DeAndre Moore Jr. should help bring some eyes back to the program. His experience in burnt orange made Moore a massively valuable transfer, with an AVI Index of around $1 million during his time in the portal.

Colorado suffered through much misfortune in 2025, and much of it stemmed from a lack of passing production. Quarterback play was the obvious candidate to take much of the blame, but the Buffaloes' receivers did not do much of anything to help out. Aside from receiver Omarion Miller, who transferred to Arizona State, not a single other pass-catcher surpassed 500 receiving yards. In short, fans would be hard-pressed to find a receiving room with as little talent as Colorado's.

Enter one of 2025's most dynamic SEC targets. Standing at 6-foot-0 and weighing nearly 200 pounds, Moore provides an excellent combination of size, physicality, and quickness. His speed allows him to threaten every level of the field, providing projected starting quarterback Julian Lewis with a multifaceted threat. Without many other options, it seems likely that Moore receives the lion's share of the targets against mediocre conference defences. It doesn't hurt that Moore will likely be the most talented player on the field in most contests, offensive or defensive. It is hard to think of a better breakout setup for a transfer than Moore's situation in Boulder.

3. QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

Quarterbacks coming off a year like Mestemaker's seldom enter the transfer portal. The rising sophomore was the engine of North Texas's offense, throwing for 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions. With a cannon of an arm, two years of eligibility, and room to grow, Mestemaker should hit the ground running when he joins the Cowboys for the 2026-27 campaign.

It should, of course, be noted that Oklahoma State is coming off a season with exactly one win. Luckily, Mestemaker is not the only important addition the Cowboys made over the offseason. Five three-star receivers are also on the way to help revamp the offense, along with five offensive linemen and two tight ends of the same caliber. Mestemaker himself fetched an AVI valuation of nearly $4 million, making the overall investment in the offense a truly astounding one from the Cowboys.

The schedule is also playing in Mestemaker's favor. Oklahoma State has an intriguing combination of complete cupcakes and some of the best teams in the nation on the docket. That means their quarterback will have the chance to run up his numbers against bad teams while being afforded the opportunity to put on a show against good ones. A Week 2 matchup with the Oregon Ducks will be an excellent early test, while a Week 10 home date against the Texas Tech Red Raiders gives Mestemaker a chance to face one of the best defenses in the nation to cement a potential breakout season. With new weapons, clear talent, and a solid schedule, Mestemaker is a name to watch this year.

2. QB Sam Leavitt, LSU

Admittedly, using Leavitt on a list like this is close to cheating. The former Arizona State Sun Devil had a fantastic 2024 season before his 2025 was derailed by a foot injury. Regardless, Leavitt's first campaign in Baton Rouge should represent a significant step forward, even from his best year of work in Tempe.

At Arizona State, all of the pressure was on Leavitt to make the offense work. He was the focal point, and the quality of the weapons around him left something to be desired. That will certainly not be the case at LSU. Tight end Trey'Dez Green, who figures to have a breakout season of his own, highlights a group of talented offensive skill players, supported by running backs Harlem Berry and Caden Durham. The receiving room is a little less star-heavy, but of the 10 new transfers at the position, a few have to emerge from the pack as good additions. Leavitt has immense talent around him, which should help him deal with the step up in competition that comes with his transfer.

With a roster as talented as LSU's, Leavitt has a legitimate chance at capturing a national championship. The Heisman Trophy is also not out of reach for a player with his level of talent. Both are obviously long shots, but a year after Indiana shocked the college football world by winning it all, it feels as if the ceiling is limitless for a team and player as talented as LSU and Leavitt.

1. WR Cam Coleman, Texas

Just like Moore in Colorado, Coleman enters one of the most advantageous situations in all of college football. Usually, transferring to a team like Texas would mean a tenacious positional battle with a crew of experienced four and five-star players. However, two of the Longhorns' top receivers, Moore and Parker Livingstone, both transferred in the offseason. That pair accounted for 67 catches last season, creating a huge target vacuum for an offense that has a chance to be one of the best in the nation.

The 6-foot-3, 197-pound Coleman will also benefit from a massive upgrade at quarterback. His previous team, Auburn, had one of the most frustrating quarterback rooms in college football last season. Now, Coleman gets to play with Arch Manning. That upgrade should feel like moving from a 1990 Honda Civic to a Maserati, especially with the uptick in targets that comes with it.

Skill-wise, Texas's most important weapon has every tool necessary to be successful. The classic combination of size and speed makes him a tough cover for any defensive back in the nation, and his excellent hands only serve to increase his viability as a premier target. The Longhorns did not have a receiver of Coleman's caliber on the roster last season, so they should take full advantage of his presence as they contend for a title.

New Place, Bigger Impact

This list encapsulates every archetype found in the portal. Lagway is looking for a fresh start after underperforming at his first school, while Moore is heading from a school where he was a chess piece to a program that will make him the star. Meanwhile, Mestemaker will make his impact felt at a bigger school than his last one as Leavitt chases a title. Lastly, Coleman left a situation that was not properly utilizing his skills to one that will do so while fighting for a championship.