The college football transfer portal has completely changed the landscape of the sport. The 2022 College Football Bowl Season may be just around the corner, but plenty of players across the country are already in search of a new school and team for next year. Several talented tight ends are among the players that have already entered the college football transfer portal. Regardless of how one feels about the portal itself, there’s no denying that it has added a new layer of drama to the sport’s offseason.
What is the College Football Transfer Portal?
Launched in the Fall of 2018, the college football transfer portal is an online database designed to manage and facilitate the process of student-athletes transferring between member institutions. Those athletes who desire to transfer to a college football program can place their names in the portal. Once this is done, coaches from other NCAA institutions can contact the players regarding their desire to transfer. This contact can include scheduling campus visits and offering scholarships.
Although it has been around for a handful of years now, the stature of the college football transfer portal increased dramatically last year. In the spring of 2021, the NCAA Division I Council approved a rule change that allows student-athletes to transfer and be eligible to play immediately. Prior to this decision, transfer athletes were required to sit out a year before being eligible to play for their new school.
With the rule change, college football essentially now has its own version of the free agency signing period that takes place in the NFL and other professional sports leagues. Although entering the college football transfer portal does not guarantee that a student-athlete will in fact transfer, roughly 30% of the more than 3,000 players to enter during last year’s cycle found new homes.
This year marks the first time in which specific dates have been implemented by the NCAA for student-athletes to express their desire to transfer. The 2022-23 college football transfer portal cycle for FBS players officially began on December 5th and will last through January 19th. A second window to enter the portal will take place in the spring, lasting from May 1-15.
Top TEs Who Have Entered the College Football Transfer Portal 2023
After the first official day of the college football transfer portal cycle, more than 1,000 student-athletes had officially entered their names. Plenty of pass-catching tight ends are among the group of players in search of a new home for the 2023 season.
The following identifies five of the top TEs in the college football transfer portal whose future landing spots will be worth noting.
Jaheim Bell Transfer From South Carolina
Age: 21
Class: Junior
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2
As a former 4-star recruit, tight end Jaheim Bell certainly has the talent to find a new home. Bell made a huge impact in South Carolina’s upset win over Tennessee with a pair of touchdown receptions. He became the second Carolina TE to enter the college football transfer portal 2023, following Austin Stogner. While the latter has already completed a transfer to Oklahoma, it is believed that Florida State could be the frontrunner to land Bell.
Rivaldo Fairweather Transfer From FIU
Age: N/A
Class: Sophomore
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2
Rivaldo Fairweather was one of the few bright spots for FIU this past season. The sophomore tight end closed out his Panthers career with a head-turning 152-yard performance in the season finale against Middle Tennessee. Fairweather also caught a trio of touchdown passes in that outing. The former 3-star recruit announced his intentions to transfer days later and has already received an offer from Auburn to take his talents to the SEC where he will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Erick All Transfer From Michigan
Age: 22
Class: Senior
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 1
Senior Erick All only caught three passes for 36 yards prior to having his 2022 season cut short by injury. However, Michigan fans saw firsthand how important All can be to an offense a year ago when he finished with 38 receptions and over 400 yards. All has already announced that he will be visiting Iowa. With former Wolverines QB Cade McNamara already transferring to Iowa City, the Hawkeyes are considered the frontrunner to land All as well.
Kyle Morlock Transfer From Shorter (Division II)
Age: N/A
Class: Sophomore
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2
Despite being a 4-star recruit coming out of high school, Kyle Morlock wound up beginning his collegiate career at the Division II level. The Georgia native finished with 30 receptions for 446 yards and six touchdowns in his sophomore campaign at Shorter College. His size (6’7″, 250 lbs) will serve him well as he makes the jump to playing college football at the highest level. Morlock has already visited Florida State and has also been linked to Tennessee and Auburn.
Seydou Traore Transfer From Arkansas State
Age: N/A
Class: Sophomore
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2
Seydou Traore was a relatively late addition to the college football transfer portal. However, he certainly stacks up well compared to other TEs in terms of talent. Born in London and raised in Clearwater, Florida, Traore was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school. He broke out this past season as a sophomore at Arkansas State, finishing with 50 receptions, 655 yards and four touchdowns. Traore’s late entry into the portal could alter the TE market for other players seeking to transfer.
CJ Dippre Transfer From Maryland
Age: N/A
Class: Sophomore
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2
In a Maryland offense full of weapons and playmakers, CJ Dippre was able to make a consistent impact during the 2022 season. After finishing with only three receptions as a freshman, Dippre hauled in 30 catches for over 300 yards and three scores as a sophomore. The Scranton, Pennsylvania, native announced that he was entering the college football transfer portal after the regular season. Dippre has already visited and received an offer from Alabama.
AJ Barner Transfer From Indiana
Age: 20
Class: Junior
Years of Eligibility Remaining: 2
After starting 10 games and finishing with nearly 200 yards receiving and catching three touchdowns last season at Indiana, AJ Barner is among the plethora of TEs to jump into the college football transfer portal 2023. His numbers as a Hoosier the past two years were relatively modest. As such, it will be interesting to see what sort of demand is out there for Barner. The Ohio native was a 3-star recruit coming out of high school.
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