Here's what you might have missed from the 2024 FCS transfer portal

Preseason FCS football training camps are nearing around the country, and plenty of FCS rosters will have a new look this fall after players moved in and out of the transfer portal all offseason. 

Let's look at what you may have missed from FCS teams in the transfer portal heading into 2024.

Defending champs retool in the trenches

South Dakota State enters 2024 with the last two FCS titles to its name — and a big part of its run has come from its dominant offensive line. While Gus Miller and Evan Beernsten return, star offensive linemen Mason McCormick and Garret Greenfield are gone to the NFL, and John O'Brian has departed, too. 

The Jackrabbits have retooled with the additions of Sam Hagen, the starting guard at North Dakota last season, and Marcus Hicks, a former four-star recruit transferring from Oklahoma. Those two figure to compete for starting jobs to protect reigning Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Mark Gronowski, who turned down transfer portal offers this offseason.

BACK-TO-BACK: How South Dakota State repeated as FCS champions in 2023

Montana quarterbacks find new homes, but the Griz add depth to its defense

Quarterback Clifton McDowell led Montana to the FCS title game last year in his lone year with the Grizzlies, but he transferred to McNeese after a stop at Temple this offseason. One of McDowell's backups, Sam Vidlak, also hit the portal this offseason and is headed to Stephen F. Austin. The opens up Montana quarterback for highly regarded freshman Keali'i Ah Yat.

Defensively, the Grizzlies will have to replace elite defensive lineman Alex Gubner, so they brought in Patrick Hayden from Monmouth and Andres Lehrmann from Youngstown State. Another interesting defensive transfer came in-state as defensive back Kade Culter went from Montana State to the Grizzlies.

A new coach means new players for ETSU

ETSU hired Tre Lamb from Gardner-Webb as its new head coach after Lamb led GWU to the playoffs last season. Lamb brought his guys with him as 20 players from Gardner-Webb transferred to ETSU.

One of those players was quarterback Jaylen King, the starter for the Runnin' Bulldogs last fall. However, he'll face competition from fellow transfer quarterback Cole Doyle of Saint Francis (PA). Doyle was the 2022 NEC Offensive Player of the Year and a Walter Payton Award finalist before transferring to ETSU.

Interestingly, former ETSU quarterback Tyler Riddell transferred to Gardner-Webb.

The FCS QB carousel continues

After helping Mercer to its first-ever FCS playoff berth and win, quarterback Carter Peevy transferred to Maine in the offseason. There also was a trio of quarterbacks from the FBS that used to play in the FCS that transferred back to the FCS.

Bronson Barron played at Weber State in 2022, leading the Wildcats to the second round before transferring to Western Kentucky in 2023. Now Barron is headed to Southern Utah in 2024. Carlos Davis threw for 433 yards and six touchdowns in a game while at Western Carolina in 2022 before transferring to UMass for the 2023 season. He'll play for Towson in 2024. Ren Hefley threw for an FCS single-game record 10 touchdowns in 2021 before playing JuCo in 2022 and playing for Middle Tennessee State in 2023. Hefley's back in the FCS in 2024 at Gardner-Webb.

NEW FACES, NEW PLACES: Tracking FCS conference realignment changes in 2024

Proven offensive skill position transfers to watch

Big-time playmakers made big-time moves in the transfer portal this offseason. All-American running back Malik Grant is headed to Rhode Island from Sacred Heart. At wide receiver, 2021 Jerry Rice Award finalist Jacari Carter will return to the FCS, transferring to UAlbany from Georgia State. Carter will fill a void for the Great Danes after Roy Alexander transferred to UIW.

Two of the best HBCU wideouts in recent years, Devin Smith (North Carolina Central) and Romon Copeland (Hampton), will also have new homes. Smith heads north to Villanova and Copeland heads west to Austin Peay.

CHANGES: What the past FCS playoffs might've looked like under 2024's new 16 seeded teams change

Top FCS DB finds new home

In 2022, Khalil Baker was one of the top cornerbacks in the entire FCS, with an argument as the best. While Baker dropped off slightly in 2023, he was still very good last fall. Now, the former Celebration Bowl Defensive MVP, Aeneas Williams Award winner, MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-American heads from North Carolina Central to Elon. Baker will stay in North Carolina but head to the CAA.

Impact players transfer within HBCU ranks

Quarterback Andrew Body, linebacker Rico Dozier and defensive back Robert McDaniel all transferred from one HBCU to another during the offseason. Alabama State picked up Body from Texas Southern and Dozier from Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Both former All-SWAC players could have an impact from Day 1. Meanwhile, Jackson State snatched McDaniel from rival Alcorn State.

2024 HBCU football: Following the 2024 HBCU football season from start to finish

Top FCS talents find new FBS homes

If those transfers weren't intriguing enough, here's a look at 50 notable FCS players who have played their final FCS snaps by transferring to the FBS level.

• CB Adrian Maddox | Alabama State to UAB
• QB Dematrius Davis | Alabama State to UTSA
• WR Kisean Johnson | Alabama State to Western Kentucky
• Edge Anton Juncaj | UAlbany to Arkansas
• QB Reese Poffenbarger | UAlbany to Miami (FL)
• CB Aamir Hall | UAlbany to Michigan
• RB Jevon Jackson | Austin Peay to UTEP
• QB Zevi Eckhaus | Bryant to Washington STate
• QB Sam Huard | Cal Poly to Utah
• QB Hajj-Malik Williams | Campbell to UNLV
• RB Jalen Hampton | Elon to Western Kentucky
• DB Tevin Griffey | Florida A&M to Boise State
• DT Gentle Hunt | Florida A&M to Illinois
• Edge Anthony Dunn Jr. | Florida A&M to Toledo
• QB Tyler Huff | Furman to Jacksonville State
• Edge Ty French | Gardner Webb to West Virginia
• LB Jacob Dobbs | Holy Cross to James Madison
• OL Luke Newman | Holy Cross to Michigan State
• QB Matthew Sluka | Holy Cross to UNLV
• LB Rodney Dansby | Houston Christian to Memphis
• OL Da'Metrius Weatherspoon | Howard to Syracuse
• CB Marcus Harris | Idaho to Cal
• QB Gevani McCoy | Idaho to Oregon State
• RB Anthony Woods | Idaho to Utah
• WR Chedon James | Idaho State to Fresno State
• DT Devonta Davis | Jackson State to FAU
• Edge Eric O'Neill | LIU to James Madison
• WR Dymere Miller | Monmouth to Rutgers
• OL Omar Aigbedion | Montana State to Baylor
• DT Sebastian Valdez | Montana State to Washington
• QB Max Brosmer | New Hampshire to Minnesota
• OL Da'Quan Thomas | North Carolina Central to Akron
• CB Jason Chambers | North Carolina Central to Appalachian State
• OL Torricelli Simpkins III | North Carolina Central to South Carolina
• QB Tommy Schuster | North Dakota to Michigan State
• WR Eli Green | North Dakota State to Iowa State
• RB Jobi Malary | Portland State to James Madison
• OL Jalen Travis | Princeton to Iowa State
• RB Jawarn Howell | South Carolina State to South Carolina
• TE Bauer Sharp | Southeastern Louisiana to Oklahoma
• CB Kriston Davis | Southern to Houston
• LB Monroe Beard III | Tennessee State to MArshall
• Edge Terrell Allen | Tennessee State to Tulane
• RB Sam Franklin | UT Martin to Oklahoma
• Edge Daylan Dotson | UT Martin to UCF
• WR Beau Sparks | Utah Tech to Texas State
• RB Desmond Reid | Western Carolina to Pitt
• S Andreas Keaton | Western Carolina to Pitt
• Edge John Pius | William & Mary to Wisconsin
• LB Eli Purcell | Wofford to Tennessee