CFB Transfer Portal Highlighted by Record NIL Deals, SEC Dominance

The transfer portal has essentially created free agency at the collegiate level. The initial window closed days before the start of the College Football Playoff—and it came with record-breaking NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals.

Freshman Darian Mensah, the former Tulane signal-caller ranked as the No. 7 transfer quarterback by 247Sports, received a two-year, $8 million deal from Duke. His reported $4 million average annual salary makes him the unofficial highest-paid player in the history of college football, according to CBS Sports. The report also indicated that Washington State transfer QB John Mateer, the No. 1 overall player in the portal, received a deal “in a similar neighborhood” as Mensah from Oklahoma.

The deals are a continued sign of the rising market for players in college football, as NIL payouts for last year’s top transfer quarterbacks—like Miami’s Cam Ward—were reportedly worth less than half of the deals Mensah and Mateer received. Player pay could rise further depending on the House v. NCAA settlement that will trigger revenue sharing between schools and players.

SEC Winners

Another story of the winter transfer portal is the success of three SEC schools that missed out on Year 1 of the expanded playoff format.

LSU was ranked as landing the No. 1 transfer class by 247Sports after securing 14 recruits, eight of whom are four-stars, the most of any school. Their group was highlighted by No. 2 overall player Patrick Payton, an edge rusher from Florida State.

Ole Miss and Auburn were ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, with each bringing in six four-star recruits. The Rebels were the only team to secure two top-ten recruits (edge rusher Prince Umanmielen, offensive lineman Patrick Kutas), while the Tigers class was highlighted by Georgia Tech transfer wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. 

The strong recruiting classes could help bolster the conference after a disappointing showing in the CFP so far—with some believing the gap is closing between the perennial top conference in the nation and the rest of the field.

Not Over Yet

The roster shuffling is far from over, as the portal will open again in the spring for 10 days, starting on April 16.

Former USC wide receiver Zacharian Branch closed out the winter session, however, by announcing that he and his brother Zion would commit to Georgia. Zachariah is one of the most explosive athletes in college football and as widely regarded as one of the 10 best players available. The two are also known for being the first college football players to sign with Jordan Brand.