2025-26 North Carolina D2 Football Transfer Portal Tracker

The 2025 NCAA Division II football season has ended for North Carolina’s 13 D2 programs, and transfer news is already circulating across social media and news outlets. Unlike Division I college football, there is no formal transfer portal window at the D2 level. Players may transfer at any time up through the summer, though many choose to signal their intentions publicly via X or other platforms.

This D2 football page will track:

• Notable North Carolina D2 football players announcing plans to transfer
• Players who receive significant D1/D2 offers after announcing intentions
• Transfers IN to North Carolina D2 football programs (added once movement begins)

This is a living tracker and will be updated regularly as more information becomes available.

More Transfer Portal Content

🔗 North Carolina FBS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina FCS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 Tiered NC Transfer Portal Rankings and ACC Transfer Portal Coverage (from NC Sports Network)

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🏫 School-By-School Transfer Portal Entrants

Below is a running list organized by school. Scroll further for detailed regular updates. Know of a North Carolina D2 portal entrant not listed here. Tag us on X/Twitter to let us know:

🟦 Barton Bulldogs

DB Javon Wesley
DB Savionne Rogers
DE/OLB Jalile Elliott
LB Keno Jones: Committed to Troy (FBS)
LB Kade Kennedy
RB Jackson Parrish
WR Corey Peterson
WR Khavarie Hightower
WR Ronnie Christian

Incoming Transfers: QB Cam Estep (UNC Pembroke)

🟦 Catawba Indians

DB Alexander Evans
DB Nigel Gay: Committed to Mercer (FCS)
OL James Miller: Committed to Christopher Newport (D3)
QB Hunter Sheppard
QB Preston Brown
RB Tank Green

🟦 Chowan Hawks

ATH Maurice Smith: Signed with Illinois (FBS)
DB Darryl Harris
DB Isaiah Fulton
DB Nizail Robinson
LB Alix Ulysse: Committed to St. Thomas University (NAIA)
LB Omari Kinsler
LB Sam Tagg
OL Alphonso Ughu
OL Otis Ingram
WR Dominic Haney: Committed to Gardner-Webb (FCS)

Incoming Transfers: OL Ronny Astudillo (Bluefield State), QB Tyler Adkins (Aurora)

🟦 Elizabeth City State Vikings

DL Henry Hicks
RB Traquan Johnson
WR Ka’Trez Bracey: Announced commitment to NCCU (FCS)
WR Terrance Holland

Incoming Transfers: DE Ajani Farmer (Harding)

🟦 Fayetteville State Broncos

DB Keyshawn Monk
DB Nehemiah Prince
DE Kaydin Thomas
OL Benjamin Hicks
RB Bryce Council

Incoming Transfers: OL Mason Purcell (Bluefield State), QB Jaylan Brown (Georgia Military College)

🟦 Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls

DB Walter Jackson
DB Trevar Williams
DB Greg Pressley
DL Steny Joseph
DT Cadricus Stanley: Committed to North Carolina A&T (FCS)
DT Robert Wilkerson
K Lukasz Smolen
LS James Lyons
QB Jamere Cherry
WR Brevin Caldwell
WR/KR Isaiah Perry

Incoming Transfers: RB Fabian Duncan (Allen University),

🟦 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears

DB Desmond Greene
DB Nigel Pate Jr.
DL Quincy Smith
OL Paris Smith Jr.
OLB/MLB Rashad Boyd
P Stewart Simmons
RB Cole Billings
RB Zayvion Turner-Knox
TE Jack Moseley
TE Tate O’Bryan
QB Amari Yelding: Committed to Tuskegee
WR Zion Agnew: Signed with Old Dominion (FBS)

🟦 Livingstone Blue Bears

ATH Calvin Scott
DB Bruce Jones
DB Dallas Johnson: Committed to South Alabama (FBS)
DB JJ Gonzalez
DB Kahmari Hill
DB Manny Moss: Announced return to Livingstone
DL David Jones: Committed to Mississippi Valley State (FCS)
DL Jordan-Lebron Downey: Committed to New Mexico State (FBS)
DL Kenyon Garner: Committed to Florida Atlantic (FBS)
LB Eysaw Parrish: Announced return to Livingstone
OL Omoruyi Aliu-Otokiti
QB Alfredo Sotelo
WR Chris Washington
WR De’Maurion Stewart
WR RJ Lindsey III: Announced return to Livingstone
WR Rkisch Hyppolite: Committed to Lane College
WR Samir Cherry

🟦 Mars Hill Lions

ATH Cherron Holt
DB Amari Brown
DB Nissi Mukulu
RB Jon Gullette: Signed with Campbell (FCS)
OL Riley Rushing: Committed to Tulane (FBS)
WR David Hargro
WR Edward Louis Jr.

🟦 Shaw

RB Dasan Anderson

Incoming Transfers: DB Tazion McQueen (Wheeling)

🟦 UNC Pembroke

DL Isi Etute
K Taylor Harris
LS Carson Perusse
QB Cam Estep: Committed to Barton
QB Marcus Martin
WR Jamauri Knox

🟦 Wingate Bulldogs

DL Elihu Lipscomb
DL Mandjou Berte: Signed with Georgia State (FBS)
LB David Squires
LB Diego Aviles: Committed to Georgia Southern (FBS)
LB Ryan Green: Signed with Georgia State (FBS)
OL Will Hart: Announced on X he will return to Wingate for 2026
QB Elijah Holmes: Reports multiple FBS offers and upcoming visits
RB Xavier Pugh
P Rivers Teeter: Committed to Georgia State
WR Jaylen Himes

🟦 Winston-Salem State Rams

OL Zaire Falls
QB Daylin Lee: Committed to Tennessee State (FCS)
RB/ATH Aaron Foster
RB Tre’Von Hester
WR Christian MacDonald
WR Kaleb Washington: Committed to UT-Martin (FCS)

‼️‼️ https://t.co/HA1nLS6c3b

— JON (@practiceiskey3) November 21, 2025

SOURCES: Social media, D2Football.com, CIAA columnist Kris Ferguson, On3, 247Sports, GunSlingerBuzz.com

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🔁 January 5, 2026 Updates

Former Chowan quarterback Maurice Smith has signed with Illinois, making a rare jump from North Carolina Division II football to the Big Ten. Several other NC D2 quarterbacks — including Preston Brown (Catawba) and Elijah Holmes (Wingate) — are also pursuing FBS opportunities. Holmes reported January visits to Georgia State, Buffalo and Wyoming. Read More:

Four members of Livingstone’s defense will make the jump to Division I football in 2026, including three to FBS schools. Edge rusher Kenyon Garner, CIAA Defensive Player of the Year, has committed to Florida Atlantic. Fellow linemen Jordan-Lebron Downey (FBS New Mexico State) and David Jones (FCS Mississippi Valley State), and defensive back Dallas Johnson (FBS South Alabama) will join Garner in the D1 ranks.

🔁 December 30, 2025 Updates

Winston-Salem State fans hoped the announcement of former QB Tory Woodbury as the Rams’ new head coach would keep current quarterback Daylin Lee in the fold. Lee announced on social media Dec. 30 that he has committed to Tennessee State, a Division FCS program. Lee has thrown for 5,616 passing yards over three seasons, with 55 TDs.

Johnson C. Smith got a transfer commitment from a native son. Charlotte’s Fabian Duncan, a running back who played at North Meck, announced he will transfer from Allen University for 2026. Duncan is a big pickup for the JCSU offense. He was the SIAC player of the year after rushing for 1,143 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Former Campbell TE Aiden Valdez, who transferred to New Mexico for the 2025 season, has indicated he plans to enter the portal after redshirting this past fall.

🔁 December 13, 2025 Updates

Will Hart, who earned first-team all-conference for Wingate and is one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award, has entered the portal. Hart was part of the Wingate program for four seasons, helping the Bulldogs win a 2024 conference title and return to the D2 playoffs this season.

Wide receiver Ka’Trez Bracey, who caught four touchdown passes for Elizabeth City State this past season, has committed to North Carolina Central for 2026. Bracey reported more than 10 offers from Division I programs.

Georgia State signed a pair of 2025 Wingate standouts out of the D2 portal on National Signing Day earlier this month: linebacker Ryan Green and defensive lineman Mandjou Berte. That’s a big step for the pair, who help Wingate return to the playoffs for the second year in a row.

🔁 December 2, 2025 Updates

Wingate quarterback Elijah Holmes, the top D2 passer in our state and one of the most productive in the nation, is the latest Bulldog standout to enter his name in the portal. Holmes completed 190-of-320 passes for 3,040 yards and 24 touchdowns this past season, helping Wingate to a 9-3 record.

Holmes is a 6-2, 215-pound redshirt sophomore who played at Charlotte’s Olympic High. He’s been in the Wingate program the past three seasons, taking over as the starter in 2025.

🔁 November 25, 2025 Updates

Wingate’s Jaylen Himes finished 2025 as one of the most productive receivers in the state at any level. Himes caught 66 passes for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns through 12 games. He averaged nearly 100 yards per game receiving.

Keyshawn Monk, a first-team all-conference defensive back from Fayetteville State, will test the portal. Monk intercepted three passes this season, logged 46 tackles and blocked a pair of kicks. Monk has played in 26 games for FSU across three seasons, with 85 tackles and 4.0 TFLs

Fayetteville State running back Bryce Council has entered the portal after four seasons with the Broncos. He rushed for 587 yards and 5 TDs in 2025 and logged 1,100 rushing yards and 294 receiving yards from 2022-25, with his redshirt junior campaign this fall being his most productive.

Rivers Teeter, Wingate’s punter for most of the past three seasons, has entered the portal for his final year of eligibility. Teeter has logged 97 punts over 32 games, averaging 39.1 yards per kick with 14 of 50 yards or more. This season, he punted 35 times for a 40.2 yards-per-kick average.

Linebackers Ryan Green and David Squires were among the Bulldogs’ leading stoppers this season. Green paced the Bulldogs with 84 stops, while Squires added 43. The two veteran standouts, who have spent multiple years in the program, helped Wingate to nine wins and a return to the playoffs in 2025.

Daylin Lee, who already ranks among Winston-Salem State’s top passers, has reported an offer from Tennessee State, an FCS program that competes in the OVC/Big South.

🔁 November 23, 2025 Updates

Both co-Defensive Players of the Year in Conference Carolinas have now announced their intentions to transfer. UNC Pembroke defensive end Isi Etute has joined Barton linebacker Keno Jones in entering the transfer portal. Etute, an agile 6-4, 225-pounder, finished this past season with 50 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks. Etute forced three fumbles and recovered another. 

Etute reports on his social media that he has offers from FCS schools like Wagner and East Texas A&M.

Running back Jon Gullette has been an all-purpose machine for Mars Hill the past three seasons. The three-time all-conference performer has more than 2,200 rushing yards and more than 1,000 receiving yards. 

Wide receiver Kaleb Washington, who played the past three seasons at Winston-Salem State, has entered the portal. Washington made 21 catches in 2025 for 449 yards and 5 TDs

🔁 November 20, 2025 Updates

Where will prolific QB Daylin Lee make his throws in 2026?

WSSU quarterback Daylin Lee entered the NCAA transfer portal Thursday after throwing for 2,043 yards and 23 TDs this season. A former Shelby HS standout who tossed five TDs in the 2021 2A title game, Lee finishes with more than 5,600 career yards and 55 TDs. His move comes shortly after head coach Robert Massey’s resignation, adding to the program’s uncertainty.

Lenoir-Rhyne sees multiple players enter portal, including WR Zion Agnew

Lenoir-Rhyne’s second-leading receiver in 2025 has entered the portal. Zion Agnew made 41 catches for 655 yards and five TDs. Agnew had a two-TD game against Anderson and made four catches for 112 yards in the opener against D2 playoff favorite West Florida. He reports two years of eligibility remaining.

Tight end Tate O’Bryan, who caught 16 passes for 271 yards and three TDs for Lenoir-Rhyne, has entered the portal as a grad transfer. Also announcing for the portal is 2025 Bears punter Stewart Simmons, who averaged 41.9 yards per kick this season.

Barton all-conference return specialist Khavarie Hightower plans to transfer. He accounted for 1,196 yards this season, including 1,008 on kick returns.

🔁 November 18, 2025 Updates

⭐ All-American WR Brevin Caldwell to transfer from Johnson C. Smith

Heading into the 2025 campaign for Johnson C. Smith, Brevin Caldwell was named a preseason all-conference wide receiver and preseason HBCU All-American by BOXTOROW. Caldwell saw action in just one game for the Golden Bulls, however, an injury in the opener derailing his chance to contribute on the field to JCSU’s conference championship march.

Caldwell announced on Monday, Nov. 17 that he had entered the transfer portal. He caught 85 passes in 2024 for 1,090 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 109.0 yards per game in receptions. For his career, Caldwell has hauled in more than 2,500 yards in passes with 16 TDs. He was named to the D2 Elite 100 team after last season.

Barton College linebacker Keno Jones broke school record for tackles

247Sports reporting that linebacker Keno Jones, who recorded a school-record 114 tackles this season for Barton College, has entered his name in the transfer portal. Jones was Conference Carolinas Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Jones surpassed Barton’s single-season tackling record held by Shane Perry (102 tackles in 2023). He earned 57 solo stops and finished with nine tackles-for-loss and three sacks. He forced one fumble and recovered three others, including a 36-yard TD return against Shorter.

Other notable names to announce for the portal included defensive back Javon Wesley (Barton) and defensive end Kaydin Thomas (Fayetteville State). Wesley made 43 tackles this season, with one interception. Thomas earned 8 TFLs and 7.5 sacks during FSU’s six-win season.

Nothing but gratitude !!

Officially in the portal. pic.twitter.com/CwIZk007Od

— Brevin Caldwell (@brevin_c) November 17, 2025

🔁 November 13, 2025 Updates

Garner planning visits to Texas Tech, Florida State; ECSU’ leading rushing to transfer

It didn’t take long for Livingstone edge Kenyon Garner to start attracting big-time Division I attention. Garner, who leads D2 football in tackles-for-loss, entered his name into the portal at the start of this week. He reportedly is planning to visit Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Boston College and Florida State, according to 247Sports. Read more about Garner in the Nov. 11 update below.

Elizabeth City State’s leading rusher, Traquan Johnson, announced Thursday his intentions to transfer. Johnson, a junior from St. Petersburg, FL, rushed for 640 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 12 passes for 210 yards and two more scores. Johnson’s biggest game came in the finale, a 192-yard rushing effort against Bluefield State. He scored five touchdowns.

Elizabeth City State running back Traquan Johnson has entered the transfer portal.

The 6’0” RB totaled 850 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2025 season. 👀

(@Traquanjohnson6) pic.twitter.com/YvYPVm9iWY

— LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports) November 13, 2025

It has been a busy first week of portal action for players from Livingstone’s 2025 roster. 

One of Blue Bears’ top receivers has joined the minor exodus of players from the Salisbury school jumping into the transfer portal. 247Sports reported Thursday that RJ Lindsey III intends to transfer. Lindsey made 22 catches for 450 yards and five touchdowns during the 2025 campaign. He also started at cornerback.

Other players we’re learning who are entering the portal:

• Fred Sotelo (Livingstone): The redshirt junior quarterback, who transferred to Livingstone from Campbell, played in eight games this past season. He completed 45-of-88 passes for 561 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs.
• Omoruyi Aliu-Otokiti (Livingstone): The 6-4, 315-pound sophomore started on the offensive line for the Blue Bears and saw action in eight games.
• Ka’Trez Bracey (Elizabeth City State): The redshirt junior receiver made 31 catches for 417 yards and four touchdowns for a resurgent Vikings offense. Bracey hauled in a 91-yard TD pass against Johnson C. Smith and finished that game with a season-high 142 receiving yards.
• Dallas Johnson (Livingstone): The defensive back made 28 tackles and broke up six passes this past season. He spent one year with the Blue Bears after transferring from an NAIA school, where he picked off three passes.
• Jordan-Lebron Downey (Livingstone): The 6-3, 275-pound defensive lineman has two years of eligibility left and boasts a 4.0 GPA. 
• David Jones (Livingstone): The 6-2, 350-pound defensive tackle has two years of eligibility left and boasts a 3.8 GPA. 

The amount of times people have asked me this question is comical..

The rebuild is already well under way 🤷🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/g1gWDairpg

— Damani Neal (@BallCoachNeal) November 13, 2025

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🔁 November 11, 2025 Updates

Livingstone edge Kenyon Garner already attracting FBS attention

Kenyon Garner was the ultimate backfield disrupter this season for Livingstone, finishing the regular season with 27.0 tackles-for-loss – the most in D2 football coming out of Nov. 8 games. The 6-4, 225-pounder from Okeechobee, FL, ranks third in the nation in sacks with 14.0. He posted 54 total tackles. 

Garner was twice named our North Carolina College Football Player of the Week. He also earned multiple CIAA weekly honors. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Per Garner’s social media, as of November 11, he has already received offers from Colorado State (FBS) and Sacramento State (FCS).  

Kenyon Garner

6’4 225
2 Years of Eligibility + Redshirt
2025 Highlights pic.twitter.com/rf2LtQasad

— Kenyon “PCH⭐️” Garner (@thekenyongarner) November 11, 2025

More Livingstone Players Planning to Enter Portal

Per social media, other players from Livingstone’s 2025 roster have announced intentions to transfer. The Blue Bears finished 5-5 overall, 3-4 in CIAA play this season:

• Manny Moss: Senior safety earned CIAA defensive back of the week after the Blue Bears’ Oct. 18 win over Winston-Salem State. He recorded eight tackles, a forced fumble and a tackle-for-loss.
• Calvin Scott: Sophomore running back, with two years of eligibility, played in all 10 games and recorded 95 rushing yards on 29 carries.
• Kah’mari Hill: Senior defensive back recorded 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, 2 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery across nine games.
• Johnathan Gonzalez: Senior safety played in nine games, recording 17 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, 1 pass breakup and 1 forced fumble.
• Javon Pray: The sophomore safety made four tackles in five games. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

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