NCAA football transfer portal update: April 17

The spring transfer portal opened on Tuesday, and many key players are looking for a new team and home. Rumors have gone around that this window could be more chaotic than the original window from December to January.

This is the last big chance for teams to add to their roster after spring practice, so let’s look at some of the key players in the portal.

Kadyn Proctor: OT Iowa (No. 2 Overall Player, No. 1 OT)

Proctor left Alabama during the winter transfer portal window after the retirement of Nick Saban. Rumors swirled that he would head back to Alabama in this portal window. It is expected that he will head back to Tuscaloosa, which will be a big re-acquisition for the Crimson Tide under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer.

For Iowa, it leaves a big question mark on the offensive line for a team that has struggled to score points for multiple years.

Jason Zandamela: IOL USC (No. 7 Overall Player, No. 1 IOL)

Zandamela was the highest-ranked recruit to sign with USC in 2024 as the No. 46 overall prospect and top interior offensive lineman. As he is from Clearwater, Florida, multiple Florida schools are expected to be in play including Florida, UCF and Miami.

For USC, it leaves a hole to fill in one of their weakest spots from last year which was their offensive line. They struggled to protect Caleb Williams and averaged giving up 2.75 sacks per game which ranked 106^th in the regular season.

Cormani McClain: CB Colorado (No. 22 Overall Player, No. 5 CB)

McClain was the top recruit in Deion Sanders’ first high school recruiting class at Colorado as a five-star recruit. He showed his talent last year with action in nine games and still has three years of eligibility left. The question comes in with his discipline.

McClain’s discipline was called into question by Sanders due to a lack of effort and showing up late to practices and meetings. A potential suitor for McClain is Utah.

If discipline is the area where he needs to improve the most, Kyle Whittingham and Utah would be a great fit.

Damien Martinez: RB Oregon State (No. 34 Overall Player, No. 2 RB)

Martinez is not the first key player from Oregon State to hit the portal, and it comes as no surprise after Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State in November.

Martinez could be a crucial ingredient for an offense to either boost its running game or get it going as he has rushed for over 2,000 yards over the last two years. Possible new teams for Martinez include Mississippi State, Kentucky, Miami, Ole Miss and Tennessee.

Sam Brown: WR Houston (No. 61 Overall Player, No. 10 WR)

Brown is the highest-ranked receiver to enter the transfer portal this spring. He started his career at West Virginia before transferring to Houston where he had 815 receiving yards last season and was one of the best at his position in the Big 12.

His size and ability to get yards after the catch could make him a versatile option for his new team. Florida State is a team to look out for as head coach Mike Norvell has been great at acquiring portal talent since he’s been in Tallahassee.

Keandre Lambert-Smith (No. 69 Overall Player, No. 13 WR)

Lambert-Smith departing from Penn State came as no surprise. He was the most productive receiver for the Nittany Lions with 673 yards last year. His production dropped late in the year, however, and his transfer could be attributed to only having two catches in the last four games.

Despite the dip in production, Lambert-Smith could still be a valuable addition to a receiving corps, especially with his ability as a deep threat. He is set to visit Auburn and Texas A&M this week with USC, Colorado and West Virginia also showing interest.

Jacob Rudy is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.