Transfer Portal Tracking: Day 1 included players following coaches to new teams

January 2, 2026, was a day circled on many calendars. However, very little was learned on day one that we did not already know. Day one did not deliver and big-name signings that moves the needle. Friday seemed to be more about positioning and setting up visits than actual signings.

Many of the names' viewers are excited about have made yet to make moves this early. While names like DJ Lagway, Dylan Raiola, Quintrevioun Wisner, Dylan Edwards, Omarion Miller, DeAndre Moore Jr, Nick Marsh, Chaz Coleman, Jayden Woods, Koi Perich and Boo Carter have not yet made any public indications, several others have.

Of the names that have indicated their transfer intentions, you should begin to see a theme revealing itself. The majority of players who are aligned with new teams, can be connected back to their previous head coach, continuing to be their future head coach at a different location.

The following are confirmed by 247Sports as of the end of business on January 2^nd, 2026.

Quarterbacks

Late season darling and the nation's leading passer Drew Mestemaker plans to leave North Texas and follow his coach Eric Morris who is taking over at Oklahoma State. South Florida QB Byrum Brown is leaving USF to follow his former coach Alex Golesh to Auburn. Rocco Becht is leaving Iowa State to follow his Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell to Penn State.

The remaining quarterbacks simply have new destinations without necessarily following their previous coach to a new location. Josh Hoover is leaving TCU and intends to sign with Curt Cignetti’s No. 1 playoff ranked Indiana Hoosiers. Kenny Minchey is leaving Notre Dame for Nebrasks, potentially to compete for the spot vacated by Dylan Raiola. Finally, Aaron Philo is leaving Georgia Tech and intends to sign with Florida.

Running Backs

While the list is not as long, there are two running backs who have also confirmed they are leaving their existing team to follow their coach to the coach’s new team. Caleb Hawkins of North Texas, like Mestemaker, is leaving North Texas to join Eric Morris at Oklahoma State. Carson Hansen of Iowa State is leaving to join Matt Campbell at Penn State.

Issac Brown from Louisville intends to sign with the Texas Longhorns. While Turbo Richard plans to sign with the Indiana Hoosiers. The running back group is not as loaded as the quarterback group, but like the quarterback group, they have some serious names who have yet to make their intentions known. The Wide Receiver and Offensive lineman position groups have not included any significant names by the end of the day on Friday.

Tight Ends

The Tight End group is more of players following coaches or a player in one case, to new destinations. Luke Reynolds is leaving Penn State and following James Franklin to Virginia Tech. Benjamin Brahmer is leaving Iowa State for a reunion with Matt Campbell at Penn State. The player following a player should also not come as a surprise. USC TE Walker Lyons is leaving Los Angeles to join his brother, 5-star QB Ryder Lyons in Provo Utah with BYU.

Defense has shown very little movement

The Defensive line players in the portal have given no indications of their intentions. With plenty of 4 and even some 5-star lineman and edge rushers are poised to make a decision, no decisions have been confirmed yet. Linebackers are almost the same story. Liona Lefau has confirmed to 247Sports that he intends to leave Texas for BYU. As it pertains to the defensive backfield, only two names have revealed who they intend to sign with. Donovan Starr will leave Auburn for Vanderbilt. Marcus Neal Jr will leave Iowa State and follow Matt Campbell to Penn State. However, after one open Transfer Portal window day is in the books, that is the list.

Most teams expected to be rather active in the Transfer Portal have yet to announce any official signings. Instead, a fair amount of those teams has confirmed visits in the immediate future. For example, the Colorado Buffaloes and Deion Sanders who have lost over 25 players to the portal and who’s defensive line has been decimated, have confirmed four visits from four defensive lineman over the next five days. Coach Sanders, almost famous for his activity in the portal, has not publicly acknowledged any signings as of yet. 

Expect more portal movement news as those moves are confirmed over the next 14 days. College football is now in the only open portal window of the 2026 calendar.

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