The transfer portal opened on Wednesday with a flurry of activity. Here are the biggest transfer announcements from day eight of the 2025 spring transfer window.
RELATED: UNC DE Beau Atkinson picks defending champions Ohio State
MORE TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer search | Transfer Team Ranking | Football Player Ranking
1. BEAU ATKINSON CHOOSES OHIO STATE
Ohio State addressed an important need on Wednesday night when it landed a commitment from defensive end Beau Atkinson. The former North Carolina standout was the top available prospect in the transfer rankings. Atkinson has posted impressive freshman and sophomore campaigns - logging over 600 snaps, 39 QB pressures, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles. Now he’ll join the defending national champions with two years of eligibility remaining.
2. QB STEVE ANGELI TRANSFERS TO SYRACUSE
Syracuse is back in the transfer portal landing a quarterback after signing Rickie Collins earlier this cycle. Former Notre Dame quarterback Steve Angeli didn’t drag out his decision to transfer to Syracuse. He entered the portal last week, took a visit to Syracuse on Monday, and announced his commitment on Wednesday evening. It will be interesting to see how Syracuse handles the two quarterbacks.
3. WR JER’MICHAEL CARTER IN DEMAND
There is still a big market for receivers in the transfer portal and much of the focus is on Jer’Michael Carter right now. The former McNeese State standout is going to visit Baylor, Oklahoma, Utah and Vanderbilt but other visits are still possible. Last season, Cater hauled in 37 catches for 537 yards and three touchdowns.
4. ARIZONA LB JUSTIN FLOWE ENTERING THE PORTAL
Justin Flowe was one of the highest-ranked high school linebackers in the history of the Rivals250 and expectations were predictably high when he signed with Oregon in the 2022 recruiting class. His career got off to a fast start but after his sophomore season he transferred to Arizona, where he’s been for the last two years. Flowe had a productive first season in Tucson but missed a great deal of this past season with a knee injury. Now he is entering the portal looking for the second time hoping to bounce back at his next stop.
5. ALL-AAC DB BRIAN NELSON ENTERING THE PORTAL
Thanks to Brian Nelson, the transfer portal now features another big-time defensive back prospect. The All-AAC cornerback out of North Texas announced he is entering the transfer portal on Wednesday. This past season Nelson was the third-highest graded player on the North Texas defense. He finished the season with 53 tackles, two tackles for a loss, four interceptions, seven pass breakups and one fumble recovery. Expect Nelson’s market in the transfer portal to be robust.
6. DB EMMANUEL KARNLEY TO VISIT AUBURN
Miami’s class of defensive back transfers took a hit when Emmanuel Karnley decided to put his name back in the transfer portal. The former Arizona Wildcat transferred to Miami in December. Michigan and Ole Miss were among the programs pursuing Karnley in December but it appears his focus is on Auburn now and will be on campus this week.
7. DT ISAIAH JOHNSON SCHEDULES TO VISITS
Former Arizona defensive tackle Isaiah Johnson didn’t play many snaps for the Wildcats last season but he was very disruptive when he was on the field. Johnson was credited with nine quarterback pressures and two sacks with just 170 snaps according to Pro Football Focus. That kind of efficient play makes him an intriguing prospect. He has visits to North Carolina and Tennessee coming up.
8. QB JEREMY HECKLINSKI TO IOWA
Iowa already signed transfer quarterbacks Mark Gronowski and Hank Brown and now the Hawkeyes have dipped into the portal to get another quarterback in Jeremy Hecklinski. The Georgia native signed with Wake Forest as part of its 2024 recruiting class and redshirted last season. Hecklinski’s interest in Iowa was helped along by the relationship he had with new Hawkeyes off-field analyst Warren Ruggiero, who was his offensive coordinator and quarterback coach last season at Wake Forest.
9. WR JOHNTAY COOK WILL VISIT ARKANSAS
Arkansas is the next stop for Johntay Cook as he looks for his next team. Syracuse hosted the former Texas and (briefly) Washington receiver earlier this week and Arizona State had him on campus this past weekend. Cook, a five-star in the 2023 recruiting cycle, transferred from Texas to Washington earlier this offseason but he was dismissed from the team in January. He has had two run-ins with law enforcement this offseason.
10. DB DEANDRE BOYKINS OKLAHOMA STATE
Boykins started to show his potential in the 2022 season but injuries have derailed him over the last two seasons. In that 2022 season, Boykins accounted for 52 tackles, six quarterback pressures, one interception and five pass breakups while playing 931 snaps. Boykins signed with Oklahoma State on Wednesday, giving the Cowboys three defensive backs in this transfer class.
