ACC Spotlight: Five programs that won the early transfer window
The transfer portal has continued to become a bigger and bigger part of how college football programs build out their rosters. Here are the five ACC programs that bolstered their 2024 teams the most during the early transfer window.
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1. LOUISVILLE
Louisville has been the most aggressive with a stunning 17 additions, including three tight ends — San Diego State’s Mark Redman, Kentucky’s Izayah Cummings and Ball State’s Tanner Koziol — four offensive linemen.
Redman caught 38 passes for 408 yards and three scores, and Koziol caught 34 passes for 295 yards and three scores at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds.
The wide receiver room is also getting South Alabama’s Caullin Lacy and Alabama’s Ja’Corey Brooks, with ex-Oregon/Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough lined up to be the team's new signal caller.
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2. SYRACUSE
Syracuse landed Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, who completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns with just six interceptions in 2023. He threw for over 300 yards in three games, with a season-high 335 yards and three scores in a 38-3 win over Michigan State on Nov. 11.
Texas A&M junior defensive line transfer Fadil Diggs had 36 tackles and four sacks. Ex-Buffalo safety Devin Grant had 79 tackles and five interceptions, including three in one game against Central Michigan.
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3. NC STATE
NC State got its quarterback for 2024 with Coastal Carolina sixth-year senior Grayson McCall. He threw for 1,919 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games, but four of the picks came in a 38-28 loss at Georgia Southern on Sept. 30.
McCall will get help from UConn sophomore tight end Justin Joly, Notre Dame senior center Zeke Correll, Wake Forest sophomore wide receiver Wesley Grimes and Duke running back Jordan Waters.
The Wolfpack are in the running for Ohio State freshman wide receiver Noah Rogers and Oklahoma freshman running back Daylan Smothers.
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4. BOSTON COLLEGE
Boston College is bringing in a proven running back in former Florida State and Kansas State back Treshaun Ward. He has 1,884 career rushing yards and 17 scores, plus 45 catches for 339 yards and three scores.
Sophomore wide receiver Jayden McGowan caught 36 passes for 383 yards at Vanderbilt this past fall. Ohio State defensive backs Ryan Turner and Cameron Martinez were both former Rivals.com four-star prospects.
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5. PITTSBURGH
Pitt hired Western Carolina offensive coordinator Kade Bell, and he’s bringing two of his top sophomore players in running back Desmond Reid and wide receiver Censere Lee.
Reid rushed 131 times for 897 yards and 13 scores, plus caught 21 passes for 283 yards. Lee caught 46 passes for 792 yards and eight scores.
NC State interior lineman Lyndon Cooper has past starting experience and Clemson defensive end David Ojiegbe was a four-star prospect in the class of 2023.