College football transfer portal: Small-school transfers poised to be big-school stars

While the spring transfer portal might not have the big names of the winter period, there are still top-commodity players with proven Power 5 production and ESPN 300 recruiting rankings.

Not every prospect in the portal is as heralded as OT Kadyn Proctor, but many players from smaller schools who have recently entered the spring portal are talented enough to propel a Power 5 program if they find the right scheme and opportunity. Just look at 2023, when OT Ajani Cornelius signed with Oregon out of FCS Rhode Island. He started all 14 games at right tackle in his first season with Ducks, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention recognition.

Here are seven players from smaller colleges who might have been overlooked as high school prospects but offer good value in the portal.

Keyron Crawford, DL

Transferring from: Arkansas State

HT: 6-4 | WT: 243 | Class: Junior

Crawford played one year of high school football and signed with Arkansas State despite some late offers from Power 5 programs. The former three-star was a basketball player most of his prep career and hit the gridiron only in his senior season at Briarcrest Christian (Memphis, Tennessee). He was an immediate rotational player for Arkansas State in 2022 before bursting onto the scene in 2023. Last season, Crawford started all 12 games and finished with 44 tackles and 6.5 sacks, while forcing and recovering 2 fumbles. His sack numbers ranked eighth in the league, 20th in the Group of 5 and 46th nationally among edge rushers.

Crawford is oozing with talent, and while his technique finally matched his raw talent in 2023, he still has a very high ceiling for development. His terrific blend of length and speed off the edge should warrant heavy attention in the portal as a rotational pass-rusher. Crawford is still developing the anchor strength he needs for runs at him but has good pursuit speed and effort.

Auburn would be an ideal landing spot. The Tigers finished ninth in the SEC in total defense in 2023, and while they have brought in experienced defenders (Philip Blidi, Gage Keys, Trill Carter), they could use more pass-rush help.

Dyoni Hill, DB

Transferring from: Marshall

HT: 6-0 | WT: 172 | Class: Junior

Hill was a lightly recruited cornerback out of the Sunshine State from the 2022 recruiting class. He played in 10 games as a freshman for Marshall and worked his way into a starting role this past season. He finished 2023 with an interception while breaking up 10 passes in 13 games (nine starts).

Hill ranked 10th in the Sun Belt Conference in passes defended and utilized his height and long arms to reroute receivers and take away leverage. He was also a strong tackler (34 solo), excelling at setting the edge and breaking down in the open field.

He ran 11.3 in the 100 meters out of high school, which is good but not the 10.5 coveted in a blue-chip lockdown corner. What recruiters missed was a strong 400-meter runner with a long stride that translates to great range and endurance on the football field.

Hill's former defensive coordinator (Lance Guidry) and cornerbacks coach (Chevis Jackson) both left Marshall this past offseason for Miami. The Canes would benefit from Hill's range and quickness in the secondary.

Anthony Dunn Jr., DL

Transferring from: Florida A&M

HT: 6-4 | WT: 250 | Class: Junior

Dunn was a three-star out of Seminole High School (Sanford, Florida), which annually produces Power 5 prospects. Marshall was his only FBS offer, and he didn't make an impact his first year on campus. Dunn redshirted, then transferred to Florida A&M, where he was a rotational player in his first season in Tallahassee. In Year 2, he broke through at FAMU with 46 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks.

While there should be questions on the level of competition Dunn faced, he demonstrated an FBS-level skill set as an edge rusher. He has an explosive first step, good bend and closing speed off the corner. Dunn also has strong hands to shed blockers against the run.

Former FAMU director of player personnel Devin Rispress recently left for Colorado, so he has some familiarity with Dunn's game. While the Buffs already brought in some portal players up front (Dayon Hayes and Rayyan Buell), depth is still an issue at edge.

Raylen Sharpe, WR

Transferring from: Missouri State

HT: 5-9 | WT: 172 | Class: Junior

Sharpe was a talented quarterback out of Texas power Allen High School and owns the school record in the 300-meter hurdles. Originally committed to SMU, he ended up at Houston, where he participated in both track and football. After seeing no action with the Cougars, he transferred to Missouri State, where he became an explosive playmaker.

In 2023, he finished with 73 receptions for 991 yards and 7 touchdowns. He returned 10 punts for 116 yards and earned FCS third-team All-America honors. He is slight in stature but ultra-quick and elusive both as a route runner and after the catch.

Sharpe should be highly sought after at the FBS level, at least as a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver who can return kicks. Iowa lacked an explosive playmaker in 2023 and finished last in the Big Ten in total offense. While Iowa rebuilds its offense under first-year coordinator Tim Lester, Sharpe could provide some help.

Brandon Lane, DL

Transferring from: Stephen F. Austin

HT: 6-3 | WT: 300 | Class: Junior

Lane originally signed with South Dakota State out of the 2020 class. He spent one season with the Jackrabbits before transferring to Stephen F. Austin. Lane began the 2022 season as a rotational player before finishing with 11 tackles and a sack. He broke out in 2023 with 45 tackles, 6.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks. He is explosive off the snap and powerful with his hands shedding blocks at the point of attack. His motor in pursuit of the ball might be his best asset.

Lane was under-recruited out of high school but now has a host of FBS schools showing attention. Space-eating defensive tackles who can also run and disrupt are coveted in the transfer portal.

With Lane hailing from Missouri, Michigan State would make sense, but Washington is the team to watch here given the Huskies' high need at the position and other defensive line targets, such as Philip Blidi (Auburn), coming off the board.

Kiael Kelly, QB

Transferring from: Ball State

HT: 6-2 | WT: 210 | Class: Sophomore

One of the more intriguing prospects in the portal, Kelly signed with Ball State in the 2021 class and was the No. 43-ranked pocket passer in FBS. A three-sport athlete, he threw for more than 5,000 yards with 60 passing touchdowns and 21 rushing touchdowns in his prep career. He started the 2023 season as Ball State's backup and rotated in more as a running threat than a passer. After Ball State started 1-5, Kelly was inserted as the full-time starter and went 3-3 down the stretch. His passing numbers do not jump off the page (66-124 for 577 yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs) but he emerged as a weapon on the ground. Kelly finished the season with 724 rushing yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry with seven rushing scores.

On tape he is fun to watch for his size and physical tools. Kelly can improvise and take off when the play breaks down but is also effective on designed QB runs. He has deceptive speed and elusiveness in the open field and the strength to break the tackles of smaller defensive backs.

To remain at QB at his next stop, he'll need to be in a spread scheme that can utilize his legs. However, he could have larger programs recruiting him as an H-back or receiver given his size, speed and ball skills.

Javon Denis, DL

Transferring from: Georgia State

HT: 6-0 | WT: 272 | Class: Senior

Denis signed with Georgia State coming out of Florida power Deerfield Beach in 2019. At only 6-0 and 248 pounds in high school, he had no FBS offers but did run a verified 5.1 40 and an impressive 4.6 shuttle, showing his side-to-side quickness. He played four years for the Panthers (47 games with 38 starts) and was extremely active and productive in the trenches (25 TFLs and 11.5 sacks in his career).

He is one of only three players in Georgia State history with two defensive scores and has four career fumble recoveries. Denis has only one season of eligibility left but is an immediate plug-and-play defender who can lineup anywhere on the front and win with explosive quickness and leverage. Denis is undersized but could be a solid rotational player at an edge position.