In the new age of college football, the transfer portal has become a major piece of roster construction. Throughout the college football season, On3 is breaking down the top 10 transfer portal impact players based on weekly performances. Here are the most impactful transfer portal players from Week 6:
The Tennessee transfer quarterback had his best performance yet back home at UCLA. Nico Iamaleava was 17 of 24 for 166 yards and two touchdowns with a 70.8% completion percentage as the Bruins stunned No. 7 Penn State. Iamaleava also rushed for three touchdowns with 128 yards on the ground as UCLA broke its winless streak to open the season.
In another top-25 matchup, Carson Beck delivered for Miami. The former Georgia transfer quarterback was 20 of 27 for 241 yards and four touchdowns against Florida State. Beck is starting to look like the first-round draft pick many expected him to be a year ago.
Former Alabama transfer Justice Haynes has rushed for 100 yards or more in six consecutive games to open the 2025 season. The Michigan running back kept the streak going against Wisconsin, rushing for 117 yards on 19 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He also added two touchdowns on the ground and is now averaging 7.7 yards per carry on the season.
A former Middle Tennessee transfer, Jakobe Thomas, emerged as a contributor for Tennessee in 2024. And now in his first season at Miami, the safety has not missed a beat. Against Florida State on Saturday night, Thomas posted five tackles along with a sack, forced fumble and interception to go with two passes defended. His 91.3 Pro Football Focus grade was second among all FBS safeties.
The Stanford transfer pass rusher has been a dominant threat all season for Texas Tech as his NFL draft stock continues to rise. Against Houston over the weekend, David Bailey had one of his best performances yet with the Red Raiders. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound EDGE posted two sacks and a forced fumble in the win. He registered six hurries and three hits, too.
Oregon transfer cornerback Rodrick Pleasant has been one of the stars of UCLA’s defense this season. He delivered against Penn State on Saturday, allowing just two catches on six targets and posting three tackles, including a tackle for loss. He also posted a fumble recovery forced by UCLA safety Key Lawrence on Penn State’s opening drive of the second half.
In his first season at Virginia since transferring in from Ohio State, Mitchell Melton has emerged as one of the Cavaliers’ top pass rushers. The pass rusher registered six hurries and two sacks in the overtime win over Louisville. The 6-foot-4, 256-pound EDGE also posted a forced fumble and a pass breakup, causing havoc for the Louisville offense.
Cal transfer wide receiver Nyziah Hunter broke multiple tackles on a bubble screen late in the fourth quarter Saturday, going 59 yards against Michigan State to seal the win for Nebraska. Hunter was clocked at 21.9 MPH on the touchdown. He finished the game with four catches for 93 yards.
A former Stanford transfer, Bear Bachmeier, is starting as a true freshman this season for BYU. He earned his third Freshman of the Week honor in a 38-24 win over West Virginia. Bachmeier threw for 351 yards and a touchdown in the win, setting a new career high. He also rushed for 43 yards on the ground and set the program’s freshman quarterback record for rushing touchdowns in a season with five.
A former Sacramento State transfer, Danny Scudero, currently leads the nation in receiving yards. The San Jose State wide receiver has 40 catches for 665 yards and four touchdowns on the season. Against New Mexico last Friday, the wideout had seven catches for 151 yards, averaging more than 21 yards per catch.
