• Dillon Gabriel leads the way: The former Oklahoma QB has transferred to Oregon and should be seen as a Heisman contender next season.
• Dante Moore's upside: Even though his freshman was up and down, Moore flashed enough talent to be highly coveted in the transfer portal.
• Tyler Van Dyke transfers to Wisconsin: The former Miami Hurricanes QB hopes to find more success in the Big Ten.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
With more than 1,000 college football players in the transfer portal, it can be difficult to parse through all the talent, but PFF's advanced stats for 365 teams ranging from the FBS to Division III aim to do exactly that.
After going over our top 25 players in the transfer portal, here are the 10 best quarterbacks who are searching for new homes.
1. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma Sooners (Next School: Oregon Ducks)
Gabriel’s 91.4 PFF grade this season trailed only Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and Carson Beck among FBS quarterbacks. His 118.9 passer rating ranked fifth in the nation as well. Gabriel will now replace the aforementioned Nix at Oregon and should be seen as one of the top Heisman contenders next season.
2. QB Cameron Ward, Washington State Cougars (Next School: Undecided)
Ward was ninth among FBS quarterbacks this year with a 78.6% adjusted completion rate. His 23 big-time throws ranked third among Pac-12 signal-callers as well. While Ward has a high ceiling, he still tends to be a bit of a rollercoaster. The junior’s 41 turnover-worthy plays over the last two seasons are the most among Power Five quarterbacks.
3. QB Dante Moore, UCLA Bruins (Next School: Undecided)
Moore had an up-and-down true freshman season, earning just a 58.0 PFF grade on six starts. However, he did show off the arm that made him the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2023 class. His 6.4% big-time throw rate ranked fourth among Pac-12 signal-callers this year. Moore still has a ton of potential and must play at least two more years of college football, making him a very valuable player in the portal.
4. QB DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State Beavers (Next School: Undecided)
Uiagalelei’s first season as Clemson’s starter in 2021 couldn’t have gone much worse. The then-sophomore posted a 64.4 PFF passing grade that was 62nd among 73 qualifying Power Five quarterbacks. While that year soured many on the former five-star recruit, Uiagalelei has done a nice job of rebuilding his image.
His 85.4 PFF grade in the two years since then stands 23rd among 98 qualifying Power Five signal-callers. While he still struggles with consistent accuracy, Uiagalelei’s massive arm allows him to make any throw asked of him.
5. QB Riley Leonard, Duke Blue Devils (Next School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish)
After taking in Sam Hartman from Wake Forest last offseason, Notre Dame once again poaches a quarterback from an ACC school.
Leonard struggled with multiple injuries this season on his way to just a 63.9 PFF passing grade. He’s a quarterback who doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way, as his 2% turnover-worthy play rate since 2022 is tied for 13th among Power Five quarterbacks. He also is a threat with his legs, with 1,164 rushing yards in just 20 games over the past two seasons (ninth among Power Five quarterbacks). That’ll be an element at quarterback that Notre Dame’s offense hasn’t had under center since Ian Book. If Leonard can make some more big throws down the field, he can become Notre Dame’s first signal-caller to go in the first round since Brady Quinn in 2007.
6. QB KJ Jefferson, Arkansas Razorbacks (Next School: Undecided)
Jefferson had a somewhat down season, posting a 77.6 PFF grade that was eighth among SEC quarterbacks. In his two previous seasons as a starter, his 91.4 PFF grade was tied for ninth among all quarterbacks in the country.
Jefferson’s a hard-nosed runner, as evidenced by his 1,798 yards after contact since 2021 trail only Jayden Daniels among FBS quarterbacks.
7. QB Kyle McCord, Ohio State Buckeyes (Next School: Syracuse Orange)
While McCord might not be an eventual first-round pick like his three predecessors at Ohio State (C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields and Dwayne Haskins), he was still very solid for the Buckeyes this season. The junior’s 18 big-time throws and 108.8 passer rating were both second among Big Ten quarterbacks this season.
McCord is moving from the Big Ten to the ACC, as he’ll start for Syracuse next season.
8. QB Will Howard, Kansas State Wildcats (Next School: Undecided)
Howard is a proven winner, quarterbacking Kansas State to its first Big 12 title in a decade last season. He also excels off play action, as his 91.6 PFF grade off play-action is eighth among FBS quarterbacks. Going to a scheme that heavily utilizes play-action, like Jeff Lebby’s at Mississippi State, would make the most sense for him.
9. QB Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL) Hurricanes (Next School: Wisconsin Badgers)
Van Dyke was once seen as a potential first-round pick before struggling to a 67.7 PFF passing grade last season.
He seemed to recapture the magic in the first half of this season. TVD earned a 91.5 PFF grade with 17 big-time throws and five turnover-worthy plays through the first six games. He proceeded to fall apart in the final five though, posting just a 63.0 PFF grade with seven big-time throws and eight turnover-worthy plays in that stretch. Van Dyke will try to stay consistent during his fifth season, now at Wisconsin.
10. QB Malachi Nelson, USC Trojans (Next School: Undecided)
The only backup on this list, Nelson played just four snaps this season as USC’s third-string quarterback. He’s placed this highly due to the immense potential he possesses as a former five-star recruit in the 2023 class who must play at least two more years of college football.
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