6 Teams Winning College Football's Spring Transfer Portal Window

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College football’s transfer portal for the 2024 season closed on April 30, but the final tally on additions won’t end for a few more weeks as players continue to find their next team. Although the transfer adds for programs all across the nation will continue, the bulk of the movement for this year is over.

And with most of the top names off the board, the final tally produced a couple of clear winners in the spring portal movement.

Colorado and UCF made key pickups on both sides of the ball, while Oklahoma’s additions in the trenches could pay huge dividends as it moves to the SEC in ’24.

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6 Teams Winning College Football’s Spring Transfer Portal Window

AuburnMuch of the portal focus on Auburn this spring was whether or not coach Hugh Freeze would pursue a quarterback to push Payton Thorne this fall. The Tigers opted not to add a signal-caller but fortified two areas in need of help on the roster.

After a year of uneven play and drops from the receivers, Auburn’s pass catchers will look different in ’24. Robert Lewis (Georgia State) was added in the first window, but Freeze sought more help this offseason, landing Penn State transfer Keandre Lambert-Smith (53 catches for 673 yards in ’23). With Lambert-Smith in the fold to join freshman Cam Coleman and Lewis, the Tigers will have a much-improved receiving corps.

Adding depth to the defensive line was clearly a focal point in the spring window. Three players on are on their way to the Plains, including Keyron Crawford from Arkansas State, Isaiah Raikes (USC), and Philip Blidi (Indiana).

Colorado

The Buffaloes are once again undergoing another significant offseason makeover through the transfer portal. Losing cornerbacks Cormani McClain and Omarion Cooper and running back Dylan Edwards is significant, but the overall talent and depth appears to be in better shape going into the ’24 season.

Coach Deion Sanders has added nearly 40 transfers for this year and may not be finished adding this spring. But whether it was the first or spring window, there was a clear emphasis on improving both lines of scrimmage. As of early May, Colorado added nearly 20 transfers to restock the trenches, with the spring bringing Ethan Boyd (Michigan State), Zack Owens (Clemson), and Payton Kirkland (Texas) to the offensive side and Rayyan Buell (Ohio) and Dayon Hayes (Pitt) to the defensive side.

Although the roster still needs work, the portal hauls (and closing well in the spring), should give the Buffaloes a chance to go bowling in ’24.

MiamiGoing into the spring transfer window, coach Mario Cristobal’s squad already had one of the ACC’s top portal hauls after landing Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward and help for the team’s defensive line (C.J. Clark from NC State, Marley Cook from Middle Tennessee, and Elijah Alston from Marshall).

But Cristobal and staff weren’t done with that first haul, as the Hurricanes added several key pieces this spring. Running back Damien Martinez (Oregon State) is a missing piece in the backfield, and Houston transfer Sam Brown (62 catches for 815 yards in ’23) adds to a receiving corps already featuring Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George.

And on defense, Miami added impact players at all three levels. Tackle Simeon Barrow (honorable mention All-Big Ten in ’23 at Michigan State), linebacker Jaylin Alderman (Louisville), and cornerback Dyoni Hill (Marshall) solidify a defense that held teams to 22.8 points a game last year.

Oklahoma

With the Sooners on the move to the SEC in 2024 and holes to fill on both lines of scrimmage, solidifying the trenches has been a top priority all offseason for coach Brent Venables.

After acquiring four offensive linemen in the first portal window, Oklahoma added more depth and talent by landing Branson Hickman in April. Hickman could be the best of the OL transfers landed by the Sooners this spring, especially since the Texas native has started 26 games at center for SMU over the last two years.

Former Arizona State and Louisville lineman Jermayne Lole was the first defensive portal addition this spring, but the bigger impact up front is likely to come from TCU standout Damonic Williams. The California native started all 15 games as a true freshman in ’22 and followed up his solid debut with honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and five tackles for a loss last year.

OregonCoach Dan Lanning’s squad filled their needs in the first window, so the spring was all about adding more depth and talent to a roster capable of winning a conference title in its Big Ten debut.

Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was pursued by several power conference teams in need of help on the interior, but Lanning was able to close the deal in early May. Harmon graded out as a standout run stuffer (per PFF) and accumulated 3.5 tackles for a loss in 12 games with the Spartans last year.

The secondary has been a point of emphasis for Lanning all offseason, as the Ducks added four defensive backs in the first window. More help is on the way in the form of Alabama transfer Peyton Woodyard – the No. 115 player per the 247Sports Composite in the ’24 class. Woodyard transferred after spending the spring in Tuscaloosa and is a valuable addition for the future.

UCF

The Knights made a big splash in the first window by landing Arkansas transfer quarterback KJ Jefferson, who should be a perfect fit for coach Gus Malzahn’s offense.

But Malzahn wasn’t satisfied with just adding Jefferson and a handful of transfers in the first window, as UCF added contributors on both sides of the ball this spring. Receiver Jacoby Jones (Ohio) and running back Peny Boone (Louisville/Toledo) add to a group of playmakers that should be among the best in the Big 12. Also, Miami transfer Jacurri Brown solidifies the backup spot behind Jefferson.

A struggling defense also got needed reinforcements. Sheldon Arnold II (East Tennessee State), Tre’Quon Fegans (USC), and Cedrick Hawkins (Ohio State) help a secondary that allowed 7.3 yards per pass attempt in the Big 12 last season. Also, Miami transfer Nyjalik Kelly adds a talented pass rusher to the front.

Steven Lassan is the senior college football writer and editor for AthlonSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.