Why Drew Mestemaker and other transfers could turn college moves into bigger NFL paydays
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- The 2026 NFL Draft produced nine first-round picks who transferred at least once in college, underscoring how portal moves can elevate draft stock.
- Drew Mestemaker went from North Texas walk-on to Oklahoma State starting QB in two years; the 6-foot-4, 211-pound signal-caller is not draft-eligible until 2027.
- Christian Alliegro transferred from Wisconsin to Ohio State to replace Sonny Styles; the 6-foot linebacker, a former lacrosse All-American, broke a bone in his arm against the Buckeyes last season.
- Terry Moore joins Ohio State's secondary after missing all of 2025 with a torn ACL suffered in Duke's bowl game, meaning roughly 20 months will have passed since the injury by kickoff.
- Terrance Green left Oregon for Alabama's defensive front after three reserve seasons, bringing a 6-foot-5, 319-pound frame to replace Bear Alexander and A'Mauri Washington.
- Luke Reynolds followed coach James Franklin from Penn State to Virginia Tech; the five-star recruit and former basketball player posted an 8.6% drop rate last season per TruMedia.
- Jalen Mayo lands at Houston after stops at Virginia Union (three seasons) and Stephen F. Austin, bringing 6-foot-2 size and sideline coverage skills to a Power Four defense.
Why it matters: Nine of last year's 31 first-round picks leveraged a transfer portal move to climb draft boards, giving agents and programs a playbook: position a prospect in a scheme that highlights his traits and surround him with NFL-caliber teammates. For the 10 players profiled — including five-star recruits like Luke Reynolds and a former walk-on in Drew Mestemaker — the upcoming season is a showcase audition against higher-level competition, with 2027 draft positioning and contract value on the line.
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