NJDuck Moderator No. 1 Share Posted 5 hours ago While annual College Football Playoff contenders like Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State are ace recruiters, elite recruiting isn't the only path to becoming a top program. The transfer portal has changed how programs build rosters. Some schools go all-in every offseason to overhaul their rosters through the portal, while others use the portal to add depth to a position or target major transfers who could take a team from great to national champion. And now that spring football and the spring transfer portal period are over, we can look at the best groups of newcomers. When looking at modern roster development, it's important to consider the combination of recruiting class and success in the portal. This ranking is the top 25 groups of newcomers -- recruits and transfers combined -- based on who could see the most impactful immediate returns for 2025. 1. Oregon Ducks In 2024, freshman receivers Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Ryan Williams (Alabama) made immediate impacts. Moore, a five-star prospect, looks like the next breakout star at the position. Moore has elite big-play speed, runs excellent routes and has a high football IQ and fierce competitive demeanor. All of those tools can make him a featured target right away for a playoff contender that lost three of its top four pass-catchers from 2024. Defensively, Offord and McNutt are players to watch. They were both versatile two-way players in high school and bring strong playmaking skills to Oregon's secondary. With the Ducks needing to reload on the back end, both have a strong chance to contribute in Year 1. Top transfers: RB Makhi Hughes, OL Isaiah World, OL Emmanuel Pregnon, S Dillon Thieneman, CB Theran Johnson, DT Bear Alexander, OL Alex Harkey, TE Jamari Johnson. Fresh off a Big Ten title, Oregon signed a top-five recruiting class and an elite group of transfers as it prepares for another national title run. Signing Offord was helpful for the Ducks when his half-brother, running back Makhi Hughes, entered the portal. Hughes was one of the top transfers available after running for nearly 3,000 yards at Tulane. He should help replace 1,000-yard rusher Jordan James in Oregon's backfield. To help open running lanes, the Ducks pulled several offensive line starters out of the portal. Both World and Pregnon are poised to anchor the left side of the offensive line. Thieneman was a top-25 portal prospect who brings Big Ten experience from Purdue and looks like a plug-and-play addition. Oregon also pulled out several other transfers who, at a minimum, should provide quality depth and play contributing roles. College football's top 2025 newcomer classes - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM Building a roster isn't just about recruiting. Combining prep talent with great transfers is key in college football and these teams did it best. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph Moderator No. 2 Share Posted 5 hours ago Thank You, NJ! I note that OBD is not leading the recruiting rankings for the 2026 class. This ranking matters on signing day in December, period. Today, OBD is No.4 in the average ranking of 2026 recruits 'committed' to Dan and the program. With the transfer portal available for plugging holes on a contender's roster, a cumulative ranking, like this one from ESPN, matters today, not just in December. Follow the $$$ - 12 SEC teams and 7 B1G Teams are in ESPN's top 25. 7 of last season's 12 PO teams, including Boise State, will have a new starter at QB in 2025. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatOrlando No. 3 Share Posted 4 hours ago (edited) Until this transfer portal situation gets cleared up, I can't look at a roster until August and be convinced all the guys on the roster will be season long contributors. An injury to a key starter at a place like Oregon, Ohio State or Georgia would make me nervous if I was a Washington State or Beavis. Washington State has lost it's last two starters at QB in Ward and Mateer. Lane Kiffin has lived in the portal. FSU tried to do the same but old stone faced Norvell butchered it. How can I get excited for a recruiting or transfer class when nothing is set in stone? Until guidelines are put in place and a commitment is a commitment. I will put little faith in class rankings unless it's at a few select places where the coach and program are at a point where you can't transfer to a better situation like Oregon, Georgia or Ohio State. How long until we see trades? Imagine Lanning giving up a future scholarship to Alabama or Texas for a starting CB before a playoff run. Edited 4 hours ago by GatOrlando 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
