The NCAA transfer portal window is now officially open, marking the start of a two-week window that will shape the 2026 college football season across North Carolina.
While the portal opened at midnight on Friday, Jan. 2, movement has been building for weeks. Dozens of players across the state had already announced their intentions to enter the portal, and now those decisions will become official.
Division I players have until Jan. 16 to put their names into the portal, though players are not required to commit to a new school by that date.
With transfer portal season officially underway, NC Football News will be tracking North Carolina FBS and FCS transfer portal entries (as best we can!) and will provide regular updates through the start of the 2026 campaign.
Bookmark our Transfer Trackers by division
🔗 North Carolina FBS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina FCS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina D2 Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 Tiered NC Transfer Portal Rankings and ACC Transfer Portal Coverage (from NC Sports Network)
Appalachian State Leads Early Portal Movement
No North Carolina program has seen more names announce intentions to enter the portal than Appalachian State.
The Mountaineers, coming off a 5-8 season in Dowell Loggains’ first year as head coach, have 31 players set to enter the transfer portal per December reporting from outlets like 247Sports and The North Carolina Sports Network — the highest number in the state.
Among the most notable departures: all three quarterbacks who started games this season. AJ Swann and JJ Kohl split starts during the regular season, while Matthew Wilson started the bowl game loss to Georgia Southern. All three have announced plans to explore transfer options.
Welcome to the Transfer Portal. HERE WE GO! #GoApp
— AppStateNews (@WestonScambler) January 2, 2026
FBS Portal Numbers Around the State
Several other North Carolina FBS programs have seen significant early activity. Here were numbers of players, per school, who announced transfer intentions before the portal opened Jan. 2:
- UNC: 24 players set to enter the portal
- Wake Forest: 18 players
- Charlotte: 15 players
- ECU: 12 players
- NC State: 11 players
- Duke: 6 players, including All-ACC safety Terry Moore, who missed the 2025 season due to injury
These numbers are expected to fluctuate as additional announcements are made during the opening days of the window.
Notable North Carolina FBS Players Entering the Portal
Several high-profile contributors headline the early FBS portal list:
- RB Hollywood Smothers (NC State): One of the ACC’s top rushers, finished the regular season with 939 rushing yards and six touchdowns
- QB Katin Houser (ECU): Guided ECU’s turnaround under Blake Harrell; threw for more than 5,300 yards and 37 touchdowns during his time with the Pirates; one year of eligibility remaining
- LB Khmori House (UNC): Honorable mention All-ACC performer recorded 78 tackles in 2025
- S Ja’Marley Riddle (ECU): First-team all-conference selection, two-year starter with six interceptions and 134 career tackles
- WR Chris Barnes (Wake Forest): Finished with 547 receiving yards and three touchdowns; also had a 98-yard kick return TD vs. NC State
- WR Yannick Smith (ECU): Posted 1,017 career receiving yards and eight touchdowns over two seasons
- WR Noah Rogers (NC State): Rolesville High standout transferred from Ohio State in 2024 and recorded 919 receiving yards and three touchdowns in two seasons with the Wolfpack.
FCS Spotlight: Taron Dickens, Western Carolina Headline Names
At the FCS level, Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens stands out as the most prominent name entering the portal.
Dickens delivered an electric 2025 season, throwing for 3,508 yards and 38 touchdowns, setting the Southern Conference single-season TD record while throwing just two interceptions. During one stretch, he completed 50 consecutive passes across two games (a new NCAA record).
Western Carolina will also lose key receiving production, including:
- WR James Tyre: 68 catches, 832 yards, 11 TDs, plus 1,051 all-purpose yards in 2025
- WR Malik Knight: 72 career catches, 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns over three seasons
Other notable FCS names to watch in the coming weeks include:
- S Josiah Harris (Gardner-Webb): Second-team All-OVC/Big South defensive back with five interceptions in 2025
- EDGE Thomas Davis (North Carolina Central): FCS All-American recorded 18 tackles-for-loss and 12 sacks during a dominant 2025 season
- OL Trevon Humphrey (North Carolina Central): First-team All-MEAC lineman and three-year starter on the Eagles’ offensive line
- WR Chris Lofton (Gardner-Webb): One of the state’s top receivers finished with 934 receiving yards and 5 TDs for a 7-5 team
What Comes Next?
The opening days of the portal often bring the heaviest volume of announcements, with another wave expected following the weekend. Expect many commitment announcements soon as well, with players aiming to be on their new campuses in time for the start of the spring semester.
One big name that will not be in the portal? Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, who announced his intentions to return to Durham in 2026 after leading the Blue Devils to nine wins, the school’s first ACC title since 1989 and a Sun Blowl victory.
Keep up with the latest statewide transfer portal news:
🔗 North Carolina FBS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina FCS Transfer Portal Tracker
🔗 North Carolina D2 Transfer Portal Tracker
