Shaking Up the ACC: Key Transfers Set to Make an Impact in the 2024 Season (Pt. 2)
The 2024 college football season will kick off in August, and the ACC will have a new look with three additional teams joining the conference. Across the conference and college football, the transfer portal has sparked a new wave of recruiting.
Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting some transfers heading to the ACC that we expect to make an immediate impact on the 2024 season. The portal opens again for the spring transfer period from April 15-30, so there could be more additions by the start of fall camp.
- Shaking Up the ACC: Key Transfers Set to Make an Impact in the 2024 Season (Pt. 1)
- Shaking Up the ACC: Key Transfers Set to Make an Impact in the 2024 Season (Pt. 2)
Upcoming:
- Shaking Up the ACC: Key Transfers Set to Make an Impact in the 2024 Season (Pt. 3)
- Shaking Up the ACC: Key Transfers Set to Make an Impact in the 2024 Season (Pt. 4)
- Shaking Up the ACC: Key Transfers Set to Make an Impact in the 2024 Season (Pt. 5)
Miami Hurricanes
Cameron Ward, QB: After originally declaring for the NFL Draft, Cameron Ward committed to Miami and gave the Hurricanes one of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal cycle. Ward totaled 48 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns in just two seasons with Washington State, throwing for 6,968 yards.
C.J. Clark, DT: Former NC State defensive tackle C.J. Clark committed to Miami in December. Clark is currently considered the No. 13 defensive lineman in the 247Sports Transfer Portal Rankings. Clark spent five years in Raleigh as a member of the Wolfpack football team and started 23 games over the course of his career. Over the last two seasons, Clark has been accredited with 7.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.
Other top portal acquisitions for Miami
- Mishael Powell, DB from Washington
- Savion Riley, DB from Vanderbilt
- Zach Carpenter, OL from Indiana
- Elijah Alston, DL from Marshall
- Isaiah Taylor, DB from Arizona
Louisville Cardinals
Ja'Corey Brooks, WR: After spending three years at Alabama, Ja’Corey Brooks committed to Louisville. Brooks caught 57 passes for 896 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Crimson Tide. He is currently rated by 247 as the No. 44 player overall in the transfer portal and the No. 8 wide receiver coming out of the portal.
Tyler Baron, DE: Tyler Baron, a defensive end who spent the first four years of his collegiate career with Tennessee, flipped from Ole Miss to Louisville in January. Baron was the second transfer to flip their commitment to Louisville from Ole Miss. Also, the third former Volunteer to transfer to the Cardinals, following former safety Wesley Walker. He recorded 16 solo tackles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Overall, Louisville is bringing in 26 transfers, continuing the trend we’ve seen since Jeff Brohm took over last season. All in all, Brohm has acquired 51 players from the portal since taking over in December of 2022.
Other top portal acquisitions for Louisville
- Peny Boone, RB from Toledo
- Caullin Lacy, WR from South Alabama
- Thor Griffith, DL from Harvard
- Mark Redman, TE from San Diego State
- Jordan Guerad, DL from FIU
- Donald Chaney Jr., RB from Miami (FL)
- Jaleel Skinner, TE from Miami (FL)
- Wesley Walker, DB from Tennessee
NC State Wolfpack
Grayson McCall, QB: McCall was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year three years in a row, leading Coastal Carolina to memorable seasons from 2020-22. His Coastal career included setting the NCAA passer rating record in 2021 and a 29-4 record as a starter. Injuries limited his playtime at Coastal Carolina in the 2023 season, but he is an important piece of a portal class that has made NC State one of the teams to watch in the ACC in 2024.
Donovan Kaufman, S: The former Tiger spent the last three seasons with the Auburn program and is coming off a year where he recorded 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, and picked off one pass. Kaufman brings some much-needed depth and experience to the Wolfpack defense.
Other top portal acquisitions for NC State
- Noah Rogers, WR from Ohio State
- Justin Joly, TE from UConn
- Jordan Waters, RB from Duke
- Wesley Grimes, WR from Wake Forest
- Daylan Smothers, RB from Oklahoma
Check back in later as we continue to unpack and highlight some more key transfer players that will make an impact across the ACC.