September surprises: Our unexpected all-portal team

Not everybody had the luxury of working with budgets of $30 million to $40 million (or more!) when building out their college football rosters for 2026. Most programs had a ton of work to do during the January transfer window and had to move quickly while spending their money carefully.

No matter how much the market has changed in the past few years, successful transfer recruiting still comes down to sharp talent evaluation and the ability to identify under-the-radar or undervalued players capable of becoming good fits. And when more than 7,000 Division I transfers become available in a two-week window, lots of good players are going to slip through the cracks.

It's time once again for us to celebrate the September surprises. This is our annual all-sleeper team we put together four weeks into the season, composed of players who did not make ESPN's top 100 transfer rankings but have made strong first impressions in nonconference play.

The squad we put together last September featured unexpected Ole Miss stars Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy. Our 2024 team had a transfer QB on the rise at Vanderbilt named Diego Pavia and seven future NFL draft picks.

This year's September surprises include more hidden gems from the Group of 6, FCS and Division II among the many transfers making the most of their new opportunities early on this season.

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Offense| Defense | Special teams

Offense

QB: Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville

Transferred from: Ohio State

Jeff Brohm has taken a transfer quarterback every year at Louisville and hasn't missed yet. This time, he and his staff made a big bet on an unproven quarterback who had logged only 36 career pass attempts over three seasons at Ohio State. But it sure seems like they hit the jackpot with Kienholz.

The dual-threat playmaker lit up Ole Miss' defense in his debut with 307 passing yards, 69 rushing yards and three touchdowns while leading a fourth-quarter comeback and a game-tying drive in the final two minutes of a 41-38 defeat. Kienholz faced another major test to open ACC play against No. 16 SMU and was up to the challenge with 219 total yards and three TDs in a 41-31 win.

Kienholz ranks No. 11 nationally in total offense, he's averaging an impressive 11.2 yards per attempt and he's tied for the ACC lead with 15 completions of 20-plus yards. Best of all, he has zero turnovers over his first 177 snaps. Kienholz has the Cardinals all the way up to No. 16 in the AP poll, even with a loss, and looking poised to be a serious threat in the ACC title race.

RB: Dilin Jones, LSU

Transferred from: Wisconsin

Who would've guessed Jones would show up in Baton Rouge and totally take over the Tigers' running backs room? The Wisconsin transfer ran for 300 yards over seven games in an injury-shorted 2025 season. But he made a big impression on Lane Kiffin and his coaches right away this offseason and has clearly earned a ton of trust in a short period of time.

The 5-foot-11, 206-pound redshirt sophomore rushed for 113 yards and two scores in his debut against Clemson. He was just as productive against Ole Miss on Saturday, turning 23 carries into 106 yards and another score, and is the SEC's fourth-leading rusher. Jones and UCF transfer Stacy Gage have come in and totally supplanted LSU's two highly regarded returning backs, Harlem Berry and Caden Durham, so far this season.

RB: Jaylin Carter, Memphis

Transferred from: Southern Miss

Carter committed to coach Charlie Huff at Marshall, followed him to Southern Miss and flashed potential in a limited role with 38 carries and 20 receptions. After he made the move to Memphis along with 16 of his teammates, Carter has taken his game to another level.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore ranks No. 4 nationally in rushing yards with 437 yards and has scored seven touchdowns over his first four games with the Tigers. He produced 201 total yards against Arkansas State, hit an 80-yard touchdown run against Boise State and is averaging 8.4 yards per touch on the year.

WR: Gavin Freeman, Baylor

Transferred from: Oklahoma State

Freeman has had a wild ride of a college career. The 5-foot-9, 181-pound wideout walked on at Oklahoma and earned a scholarship with the Sooners in 2023. Freeman transferred to rival Oklahoma State in 2024 and broke out last year during the Cowboys' miserable 1-11 season with 481 receiving yards on 53 catches.

Amid the Cowboys' coaching change, Freeman went back in the portal and initially committed to Tennessee before flipping and staying in the Big 12. Freeman burned Auburn's secondary in the season opener with 154 receiving yards on 12 catches and delivered the clutch touchdown grab on fourth-and-goal with nine seconds left. He's the FBS leader in receptions (ahead of Miami's Malachi Toney!) with 29 catches for 305 yards in a passing attack that has turned to backup quarterback Nate Bennett while DJ Lagway recovers from an ankle injury.

WR: Chris Marshall, Arkansas

Transferred from: Boise State

The 6-foot-3, 213-pound wideout put on a show Saturday against No. 2 Georgia with seven catches for 136 yards while playing with two quarterbacks in a 45-17 loss. If you follow recruiting closely, you might remember the name.

Marshall is a former top-25 recruit who began his career at Texas A&M in 2022. He got suspended during his freshman season, transferred to Ole Miss and was dismissed from the program after spring practice. Marshall got a fresh start at Kilgore Junior College, transferred to Boise State a year later and missed most of 2024. He stepped up last season with 574 receiving yards on 30 catches for the Broncos. Now he's back in the SEC and reminding everyone why he was such a highly regarded prospect.

WR: Justin Bowick, Oklahoma State

Transferred from: Illinois

The massive 6-foot-5, 209-pound wideout transferred up from Eastern Illinois to Ball State and then to Illinois but caught just 22 passes for 265 yards as the fourth-leading receiver for the Illini in 2025. Bowick transferred to Oklahoma State with the hopes of earning a high-target role in his fifth year and found just what he needed under coach Eric Morris.

Bowick had five catches for 81 yards against Oregon's blue-chip secondary in the Cowboys' 39-31 upset win and went off last week against Murray State with nine catches for 178 yards and two TDs. He's the fourth-leading receiver in the Big 12 and is sure to be a tough cover in conference play as another go-to receiver for star QB Drew Mestemaker.

TE: Hunter Tipton, Memphis

Transferred from: Middle Tennessee

Tipton is at his fifth school in five years and is making the most of his opportunity at Memphis. The 6-foot-5, 241-pound senior is leading all FBS tight ends with 307 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 16 receptions, thanks in large part to a monster performance against Boise State.

Tipton turned nine catches into 229 yards against the Broncos, highlighted by an 87-yard catch-and-run over the middle for a score. Only five other FBS tight ends have surpassed 200 receiving yards in a game in the past decade, according to ESPN Research, and four of them are NFL starters today: Dalton Kincaid, Isaiah Likely, Tyler Warren and Harold Fannin Jr. Tipton is hoping a strong year will give him that opportunity after making stops at Tyler Junior College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee.

OT: Paki Finau, BYU

Transferred from: Washington

After two seasons with the Huskies and four starts at left guard in 2025, Finau has brought much-needed versatility to BYU's offensive line unit. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound big man can capably play any guard or tackle spot, but the Cougars needed him to be their left tackle and he has aced that test so far. Finau has allowed one pressure and zero sacks, ranks first among Big 12 starting tackles in PFF grading and has helped the Cougars rank No. 7 nationally in yards per play (7.9) over their 3-0 start.

OT: Monroe Mills, Virginia

Transferred from: Louisville

We're making an exception here for Mills because of his circumstances. The 6-foot-7, 322-pound tackle transferred to Virginia last year after stints at Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Louisville but suffered a torn ACL in spring practice that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. Mills has held down the right tackle spot in his comeback season and has been the ACC's highest-rated starting offensive lineman in PFF grading this season. Mills and right guard Makilan Thomas both coming back strong from season-ending injuries has been huge for the early success of the Cavaliers' veteran offensive line.

OG: Dylan Sikorski, Texas

Transferred from: Oregon State

Texas inked a transfer class loaded with star talent, but Sikorski has proved to be one of the Longhorns' most important pickups. The 6-foot-4, 335-pound lineman came in with just six career starts over two seasons at Oregon State, but he won the competition for the left guard job and has impressed coaches and teammates with how he has solidified that spot. Sikorski proved himself early in playing all 78 snaps against Ohio State and has been terrific in pass protection, doing his part to keep Arch Manning clean with zero pressures allowed through three games.

OG: Charlie Adams, Kansas State

Transferred from: Cal Poly

Adams began his career at El Camino College in California and was a 10-game starter at the FCS level for Cal Poly in 2025. He won the starting left guard spot for the Wildcats and has made a big impression on coach Collin Klein and his staff through three starts. The 6-foot-2, 327-pound junior hasn't allowed a pressure or sack on 110 snaps and has been a force up front for a K-State offense that ranks among the top 10 nationally in rushing (269.3 yards per game) and yards per rush (6.7).

C: Brock Riker, Penn State

Transferred from: Texas State

Penn State staffers believed they landed one of the biggest steals of this portal cycle and a future pro in Riker. So far, so good. The 6-foot-4, 291-pound redshirt sophomore came in with just one year of starting experience at Texas State but has transitioned nicely into the Big Ten and looks poised for a strong season. Riker has allowed zero pressures, sacks or blown blocks and has just one penalty over 130 snaps with the Nittany Lions. He was dinged up in the win over Buffalo and is hoping to return for the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin.

All-purpose: Michael Hawkins Jr., West Virginia

Transferred from: Oklahoma

Hawkins was thrown into the fire early at Oklahoma with three SEC starts as a true freshman quarterback after coach Brent Venables benched Jackson Arnold. He started again in the Sooners' bowl loss to Navy and got one more chance to start in 2025 for an injured John Mateer. After that challenging two-year run in Norman, Hawkins hit the portal and found the perfect fit for his talents at West Virginia.

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The 6-foot-1, 205-pound playmaker ranks No. 2 in QBR (94.7) after putting up 190 passing yards, 123 rushing yards, two passing touchdowns and three rushing TDs in a 38-27 upset win over No. 25 Virginia in Charlotte. Hawkins' 322 rushing yards through three games lead all FBS quarterbacks, and 272 of those yards have come on designed runs. The dynamic duo of Hawkins and Jacksonville State transfer Cam Cook has produced the nation's No. 6 rushing offense and a 3-0 start for the Mountaineers.

Defense

Edge: Emmanuel Oyebadejo, Florida

Transferred from: Jacksonville State

New coach Jon Sumrall and his staff didn't take many transfers from the Group of 6 when they made their move to Gainesville, but it sure looks like they landed a steal in Oyebadejo.

The rise of the 6-foot-6, 299-pound pass rusher is one heck of a story. He's a native of Manchester, England, and was a med student playing university football in England before he started getting recruited and moved to the U.S. in 2024 to play at Jacksonville State. Oyebadejo earned All-CUSA honors in 2025 for the Gamecocks after producing 32 pressures and 4.5 sacks. He got everyone's attention Saturday with 2.5 sacks and lots of pressure on Byrum Brown during a breakout performance and 44-39 win over Auburn.

Edge: Amaree Williams, Mississippi State

Transferred from: Florida State

The former ESPN 300 recruit was a two-way player over his two years at Florida State, primarily playing tight end as a freshman and then transitioning to defense over the course of the 2025 season. Williams was focused on trying to become an impact pass rusher when he entered the portal this offseason and Mississippi State took a chance on him. The Bulldogs are loving what they're seeing so far.

Williams has started all three games in the "Jack" role in Zach Arnett's defense and earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors after recording 10 tackles, two TFLs and a sack against South Carolina plus a red zone interception of LaNorris Sellers that was negated by a penalty. He's well on his way to developing into an every-down player and a disrupter for the rising Bulldogs.

DT: Jireh Moe, Utah

Transferred from: San Jose State

The 6-foot, 280-pound sophomore transferred to Utah after a promising first season at San Jose State and is developing into a force up the middle for the Utes' defensive line. Moe has started all three games and put together a dominant night against Arkansas with a team-high eight tackles, two TFLs and a sack off a spin move in the 43-10 rout of the Razorbacks.

DT: Eli Coenen, Michigan State

Transferred from: Illinois

Coenen spent two years at the Division II level at Bemidji State and one at Illinois before making his move to Michigan State. He has leveled up so far as a disrupter for the Spartans with 12 tackles, nine pressures and a team-high three sacks through three games. New coach Pat Fitzgerald and his staff had to reload along the defensive line via the portal and are getting good contributions from Kenny Soares Jr. (NC State) and Keahnist Thompson (Weber State) as well.

LB: Sammy Omosigho, UCLA

Transferred from: Oklahoma

Omosigho was a solid contributor for Venables at Oklahoma who started three games in 2024 and recorded 50 tackles last fall. At UCLA, he's getting his chance to be a starter and leader and putting up the kind of numbers that will command All-America honors at the end of the year if he keeps it up. Omosigho has recorded 33 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and an FBS-best four forced fumbles for the Bruins over their 3-0 start. No other linebacker in the country has more TFLs, and Omosigho's seven run stops at or behind the line of scrimmage are tied for second most in FBS per ESPN Research.

LB: Anthony Palano, Boston College

Transferred from: Washington State

Palano went from South Dakota State to Washington State with Jimmy Rogers and his staff and had a productive first season as a starter in Pullman. Now he's playing like one of the top linebackers in the ACC with 34 tackles (third most in the FBS), five tackles for loss and two interceptions through his first three games. Palano was named the Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week after a 28-21 victory over Rutgers in which grabbed two fourth-quarter interceptions and had TFLs for stops on fourth downs.

LB: Owen Chambliss, Nebraska

Transferred from: San Diego State

Chambliss began his career at Utah, developed into an All-Mountain West performer at San Diego State and followed his defensive coordinator, Rob Aurich, to Nebraska this offseason. He got off to a slow start with turf toe in the spring and a hamstring issue in fall camp that held him out for the season opener, but the 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior has flashed big-time talent in his first two games with the 3-0 Huskers, compiling 10 tackles and half a sack. If he can stay healthy, Chambliss looks poised for a big year in the Big Ten.

CB: Jalen Mayo, Houston

Transferred from: Stephen F. Austin

Mayo played two seasons at Division II Virginia Union before transferring to Stephen F. Austin, where he had four interceptions last season. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior followed his position coach, Marcus Trice, to Houston this offseason and certainly looks ready to compete at this level. Mayo has allowed catches on five of 11 targets with two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a one-handed interception grab in his Big 12 debut on the road against Texas Tech.

CB: Sione Laulea, Missouri

Transferred from: Oregon

Laulea, a former junior college transfer, provides intriguing size at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds and played in six games for Oregon last year before a season-ending injury. He earned a starting role with the Tigers and has fared well so far with four completions allowed, four pass breakups and an interception against Troy that he returned 28 yards to set up an easy touchdown drive. He'll face a major test this week against quarterback Kamario Taylor and Mississippi State's top-10 ranked scoring offense.

S: Kingston Lopa, Cal

Transferred from: Oregon

Lopa is well on his way to an All-America caliber season after a ridiculously hot start with five interceptions through his first three games at Cal. He's an impressive athlete at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds who made the move from Oregon to Berkeley with coach Tosh Lupoi after playing a reserve role and on special teams over his two seasons in Eugene.

In his first career start, Lopa picked off UCLA's Nico Iamaleava in the red zone. He followed that up with an epic three-interception afternoon against Syracuse. Lopa had a go-ahead pick-six with less than five minutes left and then had the game-sealing interception in the final minute of the Bears' 21-18 road comeback victory, earning him multiple Defensive Player of the Week honors. Lopa grabbed another pick against FCS Wagner and almost scored on his 27-yard return.

S: Kaleb Beasley, Louisville

Transferred from: Tennessee

Beasley earned Walter Camp Player of the Week honors this week after a big day against SMU that included a team-high 10 tackles and two critical interceptions of SMU's Kevin Jennings. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior played in every game over his two seasons at Tennessee and was ready for an opportunity to start. He's leading the Cardinals with 21 tackles on the year and has given up just two catches in coverage, per ESPN Research.

S: Dejuan Lane, Tennessee

Transferred from: Penn State

Lane stuck with secondary coach Anthony Poindexter and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles when they made their move from Penn State to Tennessee this offseason and that decision is paying off. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior earned three starts last year with the Nittany Lions and is playing well now that he's in a full-time starting role with five tackles, two catches allowed, two pass breakups and a 41-yard pick-six against Georgia Tech that helped swing the Vols' 45-27 victory.

PK: Manaki Watanabe, Fresno State

Transferred from: Ashland

Watanabe was a Division II All-American at Ashland who went 21-of-22 on field goal tries with a long of 59 yards last season. He's already off to a prolific start with the Bulldogs. He has converted three attempts from 50-plus yards and just earned Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting from 52, 51, 44 and 40 yards out in a 26-10 victory over San Jose State.

P: Gabe Russo, Pitt

Transferred from: Idaho State

Russo, a former Auburn walk-on who earned All-Big Sky honors in his lone season at Idaho State, has booted five 50-plus yard punts for the Panthers and has dropped punts inside the 10-yard line, including a 51-yard coffin corner punt against Miami (Ohio) that went out at the 3. Russo's average hang time of 4.21 seconds ranks third best in the ACC, according to ESPN Research.

Returner: Zay Robinson, Penn State

Transferred from: Iowa State

Robinson redshirted in his lone season with the Cyclones before following his coaches and transferring to Penn State. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound wideout ranks fourth in the FBS with 230 total return yards through three games and has been especially dynamic on punt returns, averaging 13.2 yards per return with three 20-plus yard returns. Robinson also delivered a 39-yard touchdown catch in his Nittany Lions debut against Marshall.

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