ESPN analyst names top ‘quarterbacks to watch’ in transfer portal this offseason
By David Wasson
Published:
The college football transfer portal officially opens Friday, with hundreds of players across the sport entering the portal to find new homes and upgraded situations.
ESPN analyst Max Olson ranked the top quarterbacks to watch among those hundreds of players, which includes multiple SEC signal-callers.
Among them, Olson listed Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss as a QB to watch, even though Chambliss has not signaled he will enter the portal. Chambliss and the Rebels play Georgia on Thursday in the Sugar Bowl (8 pm ET, ESPN) in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, and is seeking an NCAA waiver for a sixth year of eligibility to compete in 2026. Should Chambliss be granted the sixth year, he could hit the portal and wind up somewhere other than Oxford.
Another SEC quarterback on the move is Florida’s DJ Lagway, who will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Lagway turned in a stellar freshman campaign for Billy Napier’s Gators, but injuries plagued Lagway early in 2025 and he is in search of a fresh start in 2026 after posting a 10-9 record with 4,179 passing yards, 237 rushing yards, 29 total touchdowns and 24 turnovers.
Although some of these players haven’t officially announced intentions to enter the portal, here’s ESPN’s list of the top potential QB targets this offseason:
- Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
- Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
- Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
- Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
- Byrum Brown, South Florida
- Josh Hoover, TCU
- Rocco Becht, Iowa State
- Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
- DJ Lagway, Florida
- CJ Bailey, NC State
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
