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The transfer portal has almost become the “free agency” period of college football. Every season, top recruits transfer to a different school to find more playing time and the best resources to prepare them for a potential career in professional football.
Last season, impact players like Travis Hunter, Adonai Mitchell, and Keon Coleman all took advantage of the portal to establish themselves as top prospects.
In this piece, we will examine three presumptive QB1s who will seek to take the next step in their development at their new university.
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Dillon Gabriel 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Gabriel spent the past two seasons at Oklahoma and will now replace Bo Nix, who started the past two seasons for the Ducks.
At Oklahoma, Gabriel took a significant step forward last fall as he threw for 3,660 yards through the air and picked up 375 on the ground, both career highs. He scored 42 total touchdowns, 32 being through the air, which was the first time he had eclipsed the 30-passing touchdown mark in a season.
Dillon Gabriel DEEP BALL pic.twitter.com/bssKglfPtC
— Hammer DAHN (@HammerDAHN) November 24, 2023
Much of his success this season will credited to newly recruited wideout Evan Stewart. Stewart was considered one of the top pass catchers in the transfer portal after totaling 1,163 yards and six touchdowns across 18 games in the past two seasons at Texas A&M.
Stewart will play alongside Tez Johnson, who enjoyed a big 2023 season behind Troy Franklin with 1,182 yards and ten touchdowns.
These two reviewers should give Gabriel the chance for many spike weeks in DFS and, more importantly, lead the Ducks to a spot in the now expanded College Football playoffs.
Cam Ward 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Ward will join the Hurricanes after starting the past two seasons with Washington State. As a Cougar, Ward threw for 3,732 yards and 25 scores last season. However, he did tally eight scores with his legs and a career-high 144 rushing yards.
Canes fans and people in this space know how I feel about Cam Ward. He has every winning QB trait in the book, including a bazooka right arm.
55 yards in the air vs 2-man coverage (man with 2 deep safeties). And Ward doesn’t get to fully step into the throw. pic.twitter.com/VOZBYJYdOH
— Jeremy Marks-Peltz (@JMP1063) July 30, 2024
Ward will throw to two returning Miami wideouts, Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George. Restrepo took a significant step forward last season, catching 1,092 yards compared to his previous career-high of 373.
More importantly, Ward will be set up for success with transfer running back Damien Martinez. Martinez has totaled 2,167 yards on the ground over his past two seasons at Oregon State and will likely be the bell-cow for the Hurricane offense.
Riley Leonard 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
The Fighting Irish acquired Riley Leonard from Duke in the transfer portal this offseason.
Leonard enjoyed a big season in 2022, posting a strong 2,967 passing yards, 699 yards on the ground, and 33 total scores. However, Leonard was limited to just seven games last season due to an ankle injury.
Riley Leonard nailing the throw from a tight spot in the pocket pic.twitter.com/ep7t28MgLO
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) April 23, 2024
Leonard has a much weaker receiving room than the other two QBs on this list, which will limit his upside.
Florida International University transfer Kris Mitchell will likely take the lead as he eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time last fall with the Panthers. Sophomore Jaden Greathouse could also compete for the lead role as he caught five scores in his freshman season.
A name to watch is Jordan Faison, who caught a touchdown in the final three games of the season last year, including a breakout game in the final game against Oregon State, where he tallied 115 yards with a score.
Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will see most of the touches in the backfield after they had limited roles last season behind Audric Estime.
