Though the 2024 fall transfer portal window doesn’t officially open until Monday, Dec. 9, a number of North Carolina college football players have announced intentions to switch schools for 2025.
This page will (try to!) track the latest updates and provide a comprehensive list of players leaving and/or joining programs across the Old North State. Bookmark this page and check back for the latest news. (If you forget to bookmark, click on the Recruiting tab in the menu bar and search for the Transfer Portal Tracker link)
Tuesday, Dec. 3 Updates
With less than a week to go before the portal officially opens, more and more names are jumping in. Here are the latest transfer portal updates. Please tag us on Twitter/X if we’re missing someone!
After two FBS stops, DB Dontae Balfour on the move again
Dontae Balfour has played defensive back for both North Carolina and Charlotte. In two seasons with the 49ers, the junior from Starke, Fla. (Bradford HS) recorded 103 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions and 24 pass breakups. Balfour had nine stops in his final game with Charlotte, a two-point win over UAB. He intercepted passes against James Madison and Memphis.
App State’s Kanye Roberts will take his rushing talents into the portal
A career 1,155-yard rusher while with the Mountaineers, Roberts will have two years of eligibility left. Roberts hails from Wallace and played his high school football at Wallace-Rose Hill. His biggest game this past season came against Louisiana: 26 carries for 148 yards.
Wingate WR Evan McCray will play final year elsewhere
We wrote yesterday about Wingate all-conference quarterback Brooks Bentley entering the transfer portal. Today, Bulldog wide receiver Evan McCray made a similar announcement.
McCray earned first-team All-Piedmont this season, making 42 catches for 634 yards and seven touchdowns. McCray, from Raleigh (Knightdale HS), had a monster game at Lenoir-Rhyne, hauling in 10 passes for 140 yards and a score.
For his career, McCray has caught 89 balls for 1,198 yards and nine scores.
Campbell tight end Aiden Valdez aims to enter portal
The sophomore from Hacienda Heights, Calif. (Bishop Amat Memorial HS) has played in 21 games for the Camels the past two seasons. He caught two touchdown passes in a game against Stony Brook earlier this fall. He finished the 2024 campaign with 10 catches for 90 yards and three scores. Valdez will have two years left on his eligibility.
Safety Jordan Favors will explore transfer options from App State
The redshirt junior from Griffin, Ga. (Griffin HS) has five career interceptions, including four last season. He finished the 2024 campaign with 39 tackles and one pick. Favors was honorable mention All-Sun Belt after 2023.
Western Carolina WR Calvin Jones opts to transfer for grad season
The Forest City product (East Rutherford HS) has been a regular contributor for the Catamounts since the 2020 season. For his career, he has made 111 catches for 1,445 yards and seven touchdowns. This season, Jones accumulated 249 receiving yards and another 249 yards in kickoff returns. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining.
Reserve running back Caleb Hood plans to depart UNC
The senior from Rockingham (Richmond Senior HS) has played in 25 games across four seasons for the Tar Heels. During that time he has compiled 393 rushing yards and 157 receiving yards, with a combined three touchdowns.
Hood’s best season came in 2022, where he rushed for 250 yards over the first seven games before sustaining an injury and missing the rest of the year.
More Davidson players head to portal following head coach departure
These are Wildcat players we learned today who have announced plans to transfer via social media:
- Adam Zouagui, a two-year starter at place-kicker and punter, will still have two years of eligibility left. This past season Zouagui averaged 43.27 yards per punt, hit four field goals and made 42 of 44 PATs
- Cam’ron Willis, an outside linebacker, made 37 tackles, and also had 4.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining
- Josiah Jackson, a defensive lineman, recorded 22 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, and two sacks for the season. He’ll have two years left to finish out his eligibility
More Transfer Portal Announcements
- Javious Bond (East Carolina): The running back missed the final eight games of the season due to injury. He also missed time in 2023. He’ll depart Greenville having rushed for 323 yards and two touchdowns on 54 carries.
- Zach Greenberg (North Carolina): The center/interior offensive lineman will be a mid-year graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.
- Santana Hopper (Appalachian State): The redshirt sophomore defensive end from Shelby (Shelby HS) was a second-team freshman All-American in 2023 as well as an honorable mention All-Sun Belt pick. This season Hopper provided 36 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss and five sacks.
- Jordan Louie (North Carolina): Running back did not appear in a game for the Tar Heels this past season and had one carry in 2023.
- Kendall Stanley (Charlotte): The offensive lineman will have three years of eligibility left.
- Demon Clowney (Charlotte): A defensive lineman who also has played at Ole Miss before transferring to the 49ers.
- Nick Ragano (Wake Forest): The wide receiver from Centreville, Va. will graduate this semester and will have one year of eligibility left.
- Jonah Kurker (Chowan): The linebacker/defensive back led the Hawks in sacks, QB pressures and tackles-for-loss. He’ll graduate from Chowan in December.
Sunday, Dec. 1 Updates
The FBS regular season concluded on Saturday, and already we’re hearing of one big name from NC State hitting the portal. A 1,000-yard running back from North Carolina Central also intends to leave for his final year of eligibility. Here are details:
NC State receiver KC Concepcion to enter portal
When KC Concepcion’s little brother Arrion Concepcion decommitted from NC State last month, pundits saw that as an indication older brother might be on the move from the Wolfpack. Turns out they were correct.
News broke Sunday that KC Conception, the 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year, intends to transfer. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.
A school to watch: Kansas State. Arrion Concepcion committed to the Wildcats on Nov. 24.
NC Central RB J’Mari Taylor will rush into transfer portal
One of the top running backs in HBCU football will leave NCCU for this final season of eligibility. J’Mari Taylor from Charlotte (West Mecklenburg HS) became a pivotal piece of the Eagles’ offense this season. He rushed for 1,146 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 271 yards and two more scores.
Taylor was first-team all-conference and was nominated for MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. Steven Gaither of HBCU GameDay wrote that he believes Taylor has potential to be on an FBS Power 4 roster next season.
“As J’Mari Taylor explores new opportunities through the transfer portal as a graduate transfer, he leaves behind a legacy of excellence and electrifying performances that will be remembered not just at NCCU but across HBCU football,” Gaither wrote.
Charlotte’s top pass-catching tight end Colin Weber on the move
The redshirt junior from Hopkins, Michigan (Hopkins HS) became the first tight end to lead Charlotte in receiving yards in 2023. He caught 34 passes for 362 yards, catching a pass in all 12 games.
Weber received preseason all-conference honors over the summer and finished 2024 with 21 catches for 213 yards. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining.
More Charlotte 49ers players share intentions to transfer
Long-snapper Adam Booker has been with Charlotte for three seasons and played in every game this past fall. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining…
Offensive lineman Jonny King, a redshirt junior, played in 31 games with Charlotte. From Greensboro (Southeast Guilford HS), he’s been a team captain and a starter…
Paris Wilkins is a 6-7, 340-pound redshirt freshman offensive lineman. He will transfer with three years of eligibility remaining. He played in 11 games this season after redshirting in 2023…
Lakota Dippre, a redshirt freshman defensive end, plans to leave Charlotte as it undergoes a coaching change. Dippre made 25 tackles this season, including 3.0 tackles-for-loss.
Friday, November 29 Updates
Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday! Several college football teams are going to be thankful and get great deals from a number of NC players who announced plans to jump into the portal the past few days. Here’s the latest:
Campbell’s VJ Wilkins earned freshman All-America status in 2023
The wide receiver from Pfafftown (Reagan HS) has been a key playmaker on offense and special teams for the Camels the past two seasons. He caught 38 passes for 510 yards and six touchdown passes this season. He rushed for another score. Stats Perform and FCS Football Central named Wilkins a freshman All-American in 2023 after he tallied 616 kick-return yards along with 546 receiving yards and four TDs.
Charlotte QB Max Brown leaving after one season
Max Brown won the starting quarterback job in the preseason after transferring to the Queen City from Florida. But an injury against North Carolina dinged up his season, and he only appeared in three games afterward as Deshawn Purdie assumed command of the offense. Brown completed 43 of 93 passes for 561 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions while wearing 49ers green and gold.
NC A&T CB Karon Prunty exploring options after two big seasons with Aggies
A former freshman All-American at Kansas, Prunty transferred to North Carolina A&T in 2022. He’s been a staple for the Aggies defense the past two years. This season, he made third-team all-conference in the CAA, recording 27 tackles, an interception and four pass break-ups. He’ll be a graduate transfer.
Davidson linebacker John Tessman has been a three-year starter
The middle linebacker from Lookout Mountain, Tenn. (McCallie School) has racked up 138 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, a sack, four interceptions and 12 passes defended over the past three seasons as a cornerstone piece of the Wildcats defense. Tessman will be a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elon tight end Tyler Devera on the move again
The redshirt senior from Wayne, NJ (Bergen Catholic) started his career in 2019 at Maryland. He spent 2020-22 playing for Stony Brook, seeing action in 22 games, then went to New Mexico State for the 2023 campaign. This past season for Elon, Devera only appeared in one contest. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Other NC college football players announcing intentions to transfer
Campbell redshirt sophomore safety Idris Williams saw action in three games this past season, recording a tackle. He made 16 tackles in six games in 2023 … Campbell redshirt sophomore Davyn Reid recorded two tackles across six games after not playing in 2022 or 2023. Reid has three years of eligibility remaining… Campbell redshirt junior wide receiver RJ Jackson caught 12 passes for 163 yards, starting in six games. He’s seen action in 28 games from 2021-24.
Elon redshirt junior defensive back Jonathan Robinson played in 10 games in 2023 and all 12 this season. He compiled 20 tackles, including a season-high five against Western Carolina… Elon redshirt junior linebacker Nic Veloz came back from injury to play a complete 2024 season. He had 26 solo tackles and 49 total stops, including a nine-tackle, 2.0 tackles-for-loss performance against Hampton.
Western Carolina running back Camury Reid earned 2023 Southern Conference All-Freshman but did not play in a game this season. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining… Davidson tight end Sam Hedrick has one year of eligibility remaining. He started for two seasons for the Wildcats, making four grabs for 98 yards and a touchdown this past fall.
Tuesday, November 26 Updates
The top offensive lineman from the D2 South Atlantic Conference, plus a host of FCS standouts, announced plans to jump into the portal today. Here are details:
Wingate’s Erwil Anthony, top blocker in SAC, intends to transfer
The junior from Kannapolis (AL Brown HS) earned the Jacobs Blocking Trophy last week, given to the top offensive lineman in the South Atlantic. Wingate finished 9-2 and lost just once in conference play.
Shamar Baker, standout DB from Johnson C. Smith, plans to transfer
The first-team All-CIAA selection from Charlotte (Mallard Creek HS) had a big year for the 8-2 Golden Bulls. He picked off three passes and compiled 40 tackles through 10 games. Baker has been well-traveled, starting his college career at NC Central, then going to Charlotte before landing at JCSU.
WCU LB Antarron Turner taking his tackles to the portal
The redshirt sophomore, a former star at AL Brown High, was one of the leading tacklers for the Catamounts this past season. The linebacker had 61 stops, along with 6.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks.
Catamount OL Caleb Carter, Derek Simmons intend to transfer
Western Carolina will lose a pair of veteran offensive trench workers to the portal. Caleb Carter, a redshirt junior from Jacksonville (Southwest Onslow HS), and Derek Simmons, a senior, from Jacksonville, Fla. (Fletcher HS), will leave Cullowhee. Simmons originally transferred to WCU from Abilene Christian. A second-team all-conference pick this season, Simmons reportedly has an offer already from NC State (per Pack Insider).
Veteran TE Cody Hardy will forgo final year of eligibility at Elon
The junior from Monroe (Parkwood HS) gave Elon a bullish presence on the line (6-5, 265). He played in 32 games with the Phoenix and started 16.
Part-time starter RJ Jackson will leave Campbell
The redshirt junior from Albemarle (Anson HS) started six games in 2024, catching 12 passes for 163 yards. He will graduate from Campbell in December and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Multiple Charlotte players hit the portal following coaching change announcement
Defensive back Cornell Allen, linebacker Aidan Kaler, running back Rod Gainey Jr. and offensive lineman Mo Clipper Jr. were among those from Charlotte announcing intentions to transfer. The 49ers released coach Biff Poggi earlier this month.
Clipper transferred to Charlotte from Tennessee before this season. Gainey was a redshirt this season and played sparingly in four games. Kaler will be a graduate transfer. He was third-team all-CAA at Stony Brook in 2023 before joining the Niners. Allen was a member of Charlotte’s freshman class in 2024.
Monday, November 25 Updates
A trio of defensive standouts from Elon, Gardner-Webb’s starting quarterback and a long-range kicker from Charlotte are among those who indicated their intentions to transfer.
Charlotte kicker Stephen Rusnak will play Saturday despite transfer announcement
Two days after racking up 15 kicker points – including a 50-yard field goal to help beat FAU – Rusnak declared for the portal. Rusnak, the AAC’s specialist of the week, came to the 49ers from Michigan State. He has made all 11 field goal attempts this season, including a 54-yarder against Gardner-Webb, and is 25-of-25 on PATs. Reports are that Rusnak will play in Charlotte’s season finale Saturday against UAB.
Gardner-Webb QB Tyler Riddell on the move again
Riddell, who came to Boiling Springs from East Tennessee State, told On3 that he intends to transfer out of Gardner-Webb. Riddell played in 12 games for the Bulldogs, completing 216 of 344 passes for 2,573 yards, 16 TDs and 10 interceptions.
Defensive standout Cazeem Moore will forego final year at Elon, enters transfer portal
The junior defensive end from Vanceboro (West Craven HS), a preseason All-CAA selection, has been a key piece of Elon’s defense over the past three seasons, appearing in 35 games. Moore has amassed 106 total tackles, including 21 tackles-for-loss and 13 sacks during his career. This season, he stood out with 51 stops, 12 TFLs, six sacks, and three forced fumbles, solidifying his reputation as one of the conference’s top defenders.
Elon linebacking duo Marco Patierno and Brandon Tyson announce transfer plans
Marco Patierno, a redshirt sophomore from Wake Forest (Heritage HS), has played in 22 games for Elon over the past three seasons, including eight in 2024. He has compiled 109 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, a sack and three fumble recoveries, according to Elon’s official stats.
Patierno earned freshman All-American status a year ago by FCS Stats Perform, FCS Football Central and Phil Steele. He also landed on the 2023 midseason Jerry Rice Award watch list, one of 22 candidates for national freshman of the year honors. Patierno has two years of eligibility remaining.
Brandon Tyson, also a redshirt sophomore, has seen action in 21 career games with the Phoenix. He made 25 tackles this season with an interception. For his career, the Whiteville standout (Whiteville HS) has amassed 98 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, one pick, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Tyson earned second-team All-America status a year ago from Phil Steele and was third on the team in tackles with 73.
NC A&T’s Leading Tackler, Kade Moledor, Signals Intention To Transfer
The sophomore inside linebacker from Dawsonville, Ga. (Dawson County HS) had a monster season for the Aggies, leading the team in solo tackles (36) and total stops (84). Moledor had a 16-tackle game against Towson and made 13 stops in conference action against William & Mary. Moledor has two years of eligibility left.
Connor Stanley To Forgo Final Season At Barton
One of the founding members of Barton’s revived football program, Connor Stanley plans to transfer for his last year of eligibility. Stanley, from Garner (Cleveland HS), has started 24 games at the Wilson school since his 2020 debut. He has accumulated 129 tackles, five interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks. Stanley scored a touchdown on a blocked punt return in the season opener against West Virginia State.
Playmaking D2 running back Sincere Baines hits the portal
The Fayetteville rushing standout (Jack Britt HS) earned 2023 Mountain East Conference freshman of the year honors. He galloped for 714 yards and eight touchdowns this season, including a 166-yard outburst against West Virginia Wesleyan. He has more than 2,500 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returns) at the collegiate level over two seasons.
Elijah Starkey intends to transfer from Elizabeth City State
The junior wide receiver made 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown this past season. He made nine grabs for 179 yards and two scores in 2023. Elizabeth City State is searching for a new coach after dismissing Marcus Hilliard a few weeks ago.
Bryce Robinson from Livingstone jumps into transfer portal
The junior from Massapequa, NY is listed as a wide receiver and defensive back on the Blue Bears 2024 roster. He caught three passes for 58 yards and a TD this past season for the 6-4 Bears. He also made one tackle.
READ MORE: D2 Standouts DeAree Rogers, LJ Turner Announce Transfer Plans
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